More than 20 years ago, he was hiding in the foliage outside Woodbridge Senior High School, waiting to ambush unsuspecting students skipping class. 10 years ago, he realized there was a photo of Woodbridge’s original building missing from the school’s halls – and went above and beyond to change that. Now, the legendary Alan Ross – fittingly nicknamed ‘Mr. Woodbridge’ – is becoming part of his own project to build bridges between the past and present.
2024 marks Woodbridge Senior High School’s 60th anniversary. For over half a century, the school has built a thriving community around spirit, sports, academics, the arts, and – most impactfully – the students, staff members, and administrators that call the Viking Village home. Each year, Woodbridge High commemorates one of its most influential community members/programs by adding their photos to the WSHS Alumni and History Wall.
Late last month, Mr. Alan Ross – former Woodridge principal, teacher, coach, master spy, mentor, friend, role model, Viking, and legend universally nicknamed “Mr. Woodbridge” – was celebrated in true Woodbridge spirit as this year’s annual addition to the Alumni Wall. In leaving one of the school’s most significant legacies in its 60-year history, his legend lives on as a vibrant reminder of how valuable commitment and humanity can be to an educational environment.
Members of the greater Woodbridge community came together to support and share their memories of Mr. Ross at his October 24th alumni recognition ceremony. In Woodbridge’s main lobby, Mr. Ross’s colleagues, former students, sports teams, and family members gathered around a picture-worthy cookie table to reconnect with one another. The room filled with laughter and conversation between longtime friends; Ross posed for group pictures, greeting everyone with a smile. Photo decks played on a projector screen, images of Ross, his time at Woodbridge, the soccer, volleyball, football, track, and wrestling teams under his watchful coaching eye, and cartoons depicting his legendary crack-down style of discipline rolling through on loop.
When asked for their favorite memories of this year’s Alumni wall addition, ceremony attendees from a wide range of past Woodbridge eras spoke to Ross’s spectacular legacy and character – and his tendency to ambush sneaky students from the treetops. Former Woodbridge students from the classes of 84′, 86′, 88′, 91′ and more reminisced most often on Ross’s shock-value disciplinary flair. Exciting tales of unexpected tree excursions and super spy missions were recounted – Mr. Woodbridge, evidently, was not just any average administrator. While there were many variations of the story, most could agree that one of their favorite memories of Ross was when he would jump out of trees on campus during his time at Woodbridge to catch students skipping school. Accordingly, he earned another nickname: ‘The Dean of Discipline’. Ross himself partially denied the allegations, assuring the crowd in his celebration speech that the tree tale never happened: “I hid behind cars, I hid behind trees, but I never hid in a tree…now, I was on the roof, I did that.”
Mr. Ross also dedicated himself to the craft of investigation. Dr. Robert Benson, a former Woodbridge student, coach, and future administrator/superintendent thanks in part to Ross’s mentorship, shared a memory of Ross tasking him with an important covert operation. “He once put me up in the gym with a box over my head. It was a sort of operation he had engineered… someone was coming in early and kicking volleyballs into the ceiling tiles.” The box plan worked – the culprit was caught, by virtue of Benson and Ross’s teamwork and undercover disguise.
More than just a legendary administrator, Ross truly left a profound impact on the history, culture, vision, and future trajectory of Woodbridge itself in each one of the roles he fulfilled. From leading multiple WSHS sports teams through spectacular seasons – including an undefeated, unscored-upon freshman football season in 1984 and regional/district Girls’ Soccer titles – to putting 110% effort into his professions as a teacher and principal, Ross can be recognized on all levels as, simply, one of Woodbridge’s biggest heroes.
“He always went the extra mile,” said current Woodbridge Health, PE, and Driver’s Ed. teacher Mrs. Meshailay Thomas, a Woodbridge student when Ross served as the school’s assistant principal. “Not only was he the disciplinarian, he was also the fun admin. We got the best of both worlds.”
Other notable additions to the Alumni Wall even came to celebrate Ross’s recognition, once again contributing to the school community and rich history they helped to build. Business Education teacher from 1966-2000, Woodbridge’s first Black educator, and celebrated Alumni Wall selection Glorine Gholson commented on Ross’ dedicated drive to accomplish goals and connect with others. Her favorite memory of him was his visits to the downstairs business hallway: she recalled, “He always had a sense of humor, and he worked hard. He worked really hard. He became principal after I retired and I thought, ‘Good Choice.’”
The decision to add Alan Ross to Woodbridge’s Alumni and History wall this year means even more than just surrounding support and celebration – because the wall itself was his idea. Ross organized the creation of the Alumni and History Wall as part of Woodbridge’s 50th Anniversary celebration after noticing that pictures of Woodbridge’s original building and major historic events weren’t on display. Each year since, Ross has met with Woodbridge’s current principal, Mrs. Heather Abney, to discuss the wall’s annual selections. As Mr. Ross noted at his widely attended ceremony, this year’s meeting was short. He already received the historic recognition, per Mrs. Abney and other major Woodbridge community members’ decision.
“I hadn’t even sat down yet [when] she told me I was this year’s addition,” Ross said, projecting through the mic to a laughing and collectively celebrating audience.
Unanimously, there was no question that Ross earned and deserved the 2024 Alumni Wall recognition. Whether it be for his character, sense of humor, established support system for others, athletic accomplishments, work ethic, or all-in-good-fun strictness towards students, Alan Ross will forever remain a legend in the eyes of a united Woodbridge family. In the words of Mrs. Abney, “That’s just the type of person he is. Each of [us] has a story about how [Alan Ross] has touched [our lives], personally and also professionally.” Now a piece of his own Alumni and History Wall ongoing project, Ross will continue to positively influence the school’s community and legacy for years to come.
In the meantime, current Woodbridge students will make sure to check the branches, overhead rooftops, and nearby empty boxes for the legendary Mr. Woodbridge before they cut class.
