Honoring Our Foundation
The excellence of the William M. Raines High School Class of 1970 was nurtured by the dedicated teachers, administrators, and staff who guided us during our school years. Their discipline, instruction, encouragement, and care helped shape our character and prepared us for the paths we would follow.
This page honors the educators and mentors whose influence reached beyond the classroom—those who challenged us to learn, encouraged us to achieve, and left a lasting impression on our lives. We invite classmates to share respectful tributes, memories, and acknowledgments so that their contributions to our Class of 1970 legacy may be remembered.
Dr. Andrew A. Robinson Jr. (left) served as our principal from 1966 to 1969, while Dr. Ezekiel W. Bryant (right) led our school during 1969–1970. Both men were exceptional educators, mentors, and leaders who inspired us to pursue excellence and instilled in the young African American men and women of our class a deep sense of pride, purpose, and achievement.
Dr. Robinson introduced us to the Japanese expression "Ichiban," meaning "Number One." or "The Best." That simple yet powerful message became far more than a phrase—it became a personal standard by which many of us chose to live. Throughout our lives, we have carried its enduring reminder to strive for excellence, to give our very best, and to be "Number One" in character, service, and accomplishment.