Correspondent photos / Sean Barron ... People line up for a tour of the former South High School, which was part of a citywide celebration of the Youngstown City Schools on Saturday on the lawn of the 113-year-old building.

YOUNGSTOWN – Lynn Johnson-Williams and Trina Turner-Williams likely have forgotten much of the pomp and circumstance that surrounded their high school graduation day, but more than four decades later, they certainly haven’t forgotten each other.

“We’re still close friends; we’re like sisters,” Johnson-Williams said excitedly.

The two South High School Class of 1980 graduates found themselves in a nostalgic mood as they ticked off memories of their years at the iconic three-story building during a tour, which was part of Saturday’s citywide celebration of the Youngstown City Schools.

Hundreds of South High grads and others from all parts of the city attended the three-hour festive gathering, which resembled a large outdoor class reunion. Part of its importance was to remember and “reconstruct” the Youngstown City Series from 1950 to 2007 that encompassed sports rivalries among eight high school teams: the North Bulldogs, South Warriors, East Golden Bears, Chaney Cowboys, The Rayen School Tigers, Woodrow Wilson Presidents (later Redmen), Ursuline Fighting Irish and Cardinal Mooney Cardinals, Jon Howell, event organizer, noted.

“We wanted to bring these schools together to remember the past, but also, we have a need to fill an education void,” Howell said, referring to what he and others see as important to celebrate the YCS’ achievements, but also necessary to get more parents and other stakeholders to further realize the connections between one’s education and success in life.

Also at Saturday’s three-hour celebration was Youngstown Jubilee Urban Development, which bought the former high school for about $500,000 and is restoring it to be used as a career, technical and workforce development facility. The building opened in 1911 and closed at the end of the 1992-93 school year.

A better education often is a ticket out of poverty, Howell, a 1980 South High grad, said.

Years ago, education also was a powerful forefront measure of parents’ priorities, because many of them pushed for their children to achieve a level of success that exceeded theirs, Howell continued.

Among those committed to attaining that benchmark are Maureen Donofrio and Monica Jones, principals of Rayen Early College Middle School and Rayen Early College High School, respectively.

“We’re recognizing that all leaders of the Youngstown schools are all fighting for the same thing — that is, to strive to show everybody what we are all about,” Donofrio said. “We are alive and well and doing some great things.”

Among the high marks the district has received are a five-star rating on the state report card for Rayen Early College High School, along with 4.5-star ratings for Rayen Early College Middle School and Choffin Career & Technical Center, as well as in a math program, she noted.

“I want people to see that we are re-emerging as a community coming together,” Jones said.

She pointed to the district’s expanded Y-STAR scholarship program, which is a partnership between YCS and the Youngstown Foundation at Youngstown State University. Students who have been in the district at least four years and carry a minimum 2.0 grade-point average are eligible to receive four-year scholarships to YSU that cover tuition, room and board and fees, Jones, a 1991 Ursuline High grad, noted.

The event Saturday also included 20-minute tours of the building’s first floor, which includes several classrooms as well as the office and auditorium. Among those who stepped more than 50 years back in time was Gwenn Clark of Youngstown, who brought to the occasion her yearbooks from 1969 to 1971.

Clark, who returned to the area from Chicago and retired from YSU, said one of her endearing school memories were those of having James Kane as her art teacher all three years. In addition to fostering her love of art, Kane was instrumental in securing a series of scholarships for Clark, along with a night job at Hillman Junior High School. He also made it easier for her to attend Kent State University “with no portfolio,” she added.

She also recalled Edna Pettigrew, who taught social studies and English, and who often challenged Clark to think deeply on a variety of subjects that included the effects of littering. Their views differed considerably, however, because Clark espoused feminist positions while Pettigrew’s opinions often were more puritanical, she recalled.

Clark also was immersed in numerous extracurricular clubs and activities, such as the school’s Acapella Choir and National Honor Society. In addition, she served as secretary of student council, along with the booster and humanities clubs, as well as president of the French and Y-teens clubs.

While on their tour of the 113-year-old school, Johnson-Williams and Turner-Williams visited the classroom of Ralph Goldstein, who taught black history and attended Saturday’s gathering. The two women took cooperative and intensive office education courses that taught them valuable business and clerical skills, then primed them for the workplace that later included positions with the United Way agency and the Mahoning County Welfare Office.

They also were in many school organizations.

“We were never at home,” Johnson-Williams said.

Howell wished to thank QUICKmed Urgent Care, the Boardman Rotary Club and the Youngstown City School District for donating to Saturday’s event.

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