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April 4, 2008

Students meet Ross Perot

AHS drama students meet Texas billionaire to learn about his work with POWs

By Angela Weatherford

Cast members of Athens High School’s one-act play “Prisoner” met Texas politician and businessman Ross Perot Wednesday during a field trip to Plano.

Athens High School theater teacher said “Prisoner” by James Bell is based on a true story of a group of American prisoners-of-war in Vietnam.

“The students didn’t know much about the treatment of POWs in Vietnam, and they have learned a lot about the war, and the time period,” she said. “This is why I do educational theater.”

Mizell and cast visited Perot Systems in Plano to meet with Perot and perhaps gain a better understanding of the treatment POWs were subjected to.

“He told us some great stories,” Mizell said. “He told the kids about the different forms of torture, including one that we could have used in our play.”

Perot also told a story about John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and some POWs who had just returned from Vietnam. Perot said the group of men were in a hotel restaurant late at night, and Wayne told the bartender he wanted steak dinners all around. The bartender said the kitchen was closed, but after some tough words and a bit of shaking from Wayne bell boys were cooking in the kitchen and everyone received their steak dinner.

Last Saturday AHS competed in the University Interscholastic League One-Act Play competition in Chapel Hill. Cast members Michael Vaughn and Blake Rogers received All-star Cast honors, and Chase Tompkins and Gray Griffin were Honorable Mentions.

A special performance of “Prisoner” will be held Saturday, with a few new things added thanks to the visit with Perot, Mizell said.

“We had an amazing time yesterday,” she said. “It was a privilege for us to have the opportunity to go and see all the things there.”

Perot Systems is filled with memorabilia and artifacts that Perot has collected throughout his life, Mizell said.

Among the many artifacts the students saw were original pieces of artwork, a dinosaur egg and Osama bin Laden’s cane.

“We were told (Perot) was given the cane, because the FBI believed he could protect it the best,” Mizell said.

Saturday’s performance of “Prisoner” is at 7 p.m. at the Athens Annex, 708 E. College St.

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