My journey this week takes me to Bobby Dupree, whose memories of the San Marcos Academy cover over 50 years. A graduate of San Marcos High School in 1956 and of Southwest Texas State Teachers College in 1960, with a degree in secondary education and P.E., Dupree played baseball for both schools and was recruited for professional baseball but turned it down in order to continue his desire to teach and coach.
In 1967 he joined the administration at the Academy as assistant principal. Later, Dupree became involved in Admissions and Recruitment. His forte was concern and care for the individuals he recruited, and he did not categorize or stereotype any students. The recruitment position required extensive travel within Texas, to major United States cities and all over the world — Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, Europe, South America and Mexico — often alone.
Dupree was very articulate about sharing the role of the Academy in developing/ molding individual students. Life at the Academy offered students an education but also gave them a sense of home, stability, security and self-confidence.
