End of an era

By RALPH HARDIN

ralphhardin@gmail.com

If you live near Hamilton- Shultz Stadium in West Memphis and thought you might have heard the voice of former U.S. President Richard Nixon coming from the loudspeakers last week, you’re not crazy.

No, it was actually a trip down memory lane as the hybrid East Junior High/ Wonder Junior High took to the football field against Annie Camp Junior High in what will be the final home football game for East Junior High.

Yes, the Red Imps are going away, as East and Wonder are consolidated into one school, the all-new Wonder Junior High currently under construction. The new school will fall under the single Wonder banner, to accompany the new West Junior High that opened earlier this year. For the 2023-24 school year, the West Memphis School District’s 7-9th grade students will go to either West or Wonder.

With East being closed, the Red Imps faithful were honored with a special Alumni Night last Thursday evening, with all former EJHS students, staff and faculty invited back for one last hurrah.

Red Imps players wore their signature red and white helmets, which might have clashed with their gold and black wonder uniforms, but still honored the legacy of the East athletics program. During the game, the PA announcer offered bits of nostalgia about East’s history and major world events from the East Years, including the aforementioned Nixon’s resignation, the Moon Landing, the changing musical tastes over the years and more.

Ultimately, the game did not go the home team’s way, with Annie Camp notching a 35-0 win, but the night wasn’t really about the score. It was about recognizing the end of an era and the hope that the community will do as the East faculty shirts suggest this year and “Remember the Red Imps.”

Next school year, East Junior High will be consolidated with Wonder Junior High School, meaning the Red Imps football program is coming to an end. For the past three seasons, the Red Imps have played on a combined team with Wonder. In 2023, the team will simply be the Wonder Golden Lions.