Graduates 1952 to 1980

Connally Independent School District was created in the 1950−51 school year when the already established Elm Mott School District consolidated with Lakeview School District. The new school’s title was Connally Consolidated School District in honor of Colonel James T. Connally and the former air force base of the same title. This rich tradition is carried over onto the school’s mascot, the Cadet. At the time, the school system taught only to the tenth grade but eventually expanded to teach all twelve grade levels when the first high school campus was built on a fifteen-acre tract of land. From that moment on the school began to grow rapidly until a fire destroyed it on April 8, 1974. The only structural portions of the building that survived the disaster were the gym and the home economics building. During the period of time immediately following the accident, classes were held in local churches while the new campus was being built. The construction of the new Connally High School was completed in 1976 and is still in operation today. Since its initial opening, CHS has made certain renovations including new science labs, a new athletic complex, and additions and updates to the front of the building.

Aftermath of the West Fertilizer Company Explosion 

After the devastating West Fertilizer Company Explosion on April 17, 2013, West ISD had to find buildings to temporarily relocate their middle and high school students. The decision was made to house these students at Connally ISD, and accommodations were immediately made to the high school campus in order to help house the additional people. After a few days of intense labor, CISD students, teachers, administrators, and community members had completely renovated the high school’s East Campus as well as the old Intermediate Center (5−6 grade). With the help of several donations, the buildings were made fully operational for the students from West to attend school as soon as possible. Robinson Independent School District donated banners to be placed on the buildings that read “West Middle/High School” and Bosqueville Independent School District provided lunches for the students and staff for a bit. Several other local districts sent a huge amount of support through donations of both school supplies and money. Upon arriving at Connally, the Trojans were given a warm welcome by the Cadets, and were invited to attend many events with their housing campus. The senior classes combined to attend a trip to Six Flags for a day,^[5] and the English classes attended a showing of The Great Gatsby with one another.

The largest event between the two districts occurred when they traveled out to the football stadium to have a joint PRIDE Assembly, an incentive program set up earlier in the year by CHS Principal Jill Talamantez. Despite the fact that the program typically called for students to meet certain grade, attendance, and behavioral requirements before receiving the reward (a free shirt), every individual that entered the stadium was given a free bright red T-shirt which adorned the logos of both CISD and West ISD along with the phrase “Strength in Unity”. The event continued on to include performances by a local singer, games, and additional prizes. Another act of compassion occurred during the assembly when a Connally student who had advanced to the state competition in UIL Science gave her gold medal to the student from West who she replaced. Claire Cook, a student from West, had placed 3rd at the district meet earlier in the year but was unable to attend the regional contest which fell the Saturday after the explosion. Lyndsey Wilson, the CHS student who took her spot as an alternate ended up placing 1st in the biology segment of the test and advanced to the state contest. Wilson gave her medal to Cook at her own discretion in the middle of the event in front of everyone. At the completion of the 2012-2013 school year it was announcedthat West would be returning to their own soil in portables for the next year.