Dolores Ratcliff Expands Her Horizons
    By Isaac Parras, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, May 4, 2009

On Thursday afternoon, Monahans bade farewell to Dolores Ratcliff, a friend and an iconic educator, with a reception at Ward County Convention Center.

With this chapter of her life behind her, she will now continue her journey, which leads her to Forney, where she will join family.

Dolores retired in May 2004 after teaching and serving her community for many years.  Among  her accomplishments, while teaching at Monahans High School are:  Department Chair for 20 years, Student Council Sponsor for 17 years, Delta Kappa Gamma member (Honor Society of Women Educators), one of six teachers in the state to be honored wit the Outstanding Humanities Teacher Award in 2003, and President of Classroom Teachers Association.

Retirement has not slowed Delores, she continues as a member of the Desert Sands Garden Club, was a member of the former Wednesday Study Club, Retired Teachers Association, Close Up Washington Program, and a Board Member of the Friends of Sandhills State Park.

She also served as the Women's Mission Union Director of First Baptist Church.

As a child, she attended various elementary schools before her family settled in San Antonio.  Dolores spent the next few years there until her family moved again.

Tivy High in Kerrville was where she finished her high school education.

Dolores was hesitant about moving her senior year.  Looking back, she felt as though she had, "died and gone to heaven."  She went on to participate in several activities including the newspaper staff, singing in the A Cappella choir, and rooting for her team during the homecoming bonfire.

Dolores began her college education at Baylor University and transferred to Howard Payne, where she graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science and Minor in Secondary Education.

Never being one to settle, she received her Masters of Education in Secondary Supervision from Stephen F. Austin in 1975, majoring in history with a minor in English.

Dolores married John Ratcliff in 1964 at the Buckner Baptist Boys Ranch in Burnet.  Her father, a Baptist minister, performed the ceremony.

Dolores "Ratcliff" began teaching in Eagle Pass.  After teaching English six months, she moved to the history department, where she taught until 1967.

During a state review of the school, Dolores and her husband met Lathan Walker, who extended an invitation form them to teach in Monahans.

The Ratcliff's were initially unsure of moving to Monahans.  But once again Dolores found a place that felt like home.

During her first year, she taught junior English and World Geography.  The next year, she began teaching World History.

In 1969, Dolores took a group of 14 students to The University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Scotland, the third oldest university in the English-speaking World founded in 1413.

This was the first of many overseas travel / study fieldtrips.  While there, students studied in the morning, and in the afternoon, were given the chance to see landmarks they had learned about, such as places Shakespeare had included in his writings.  Dolores recalls, "The boys would play golf on Old Course, I knew they would be there every afternoon."  The girls (who were not allowed in the clubhouse) would shop and dine at Old Course Hotel.

In 1975, the Ratcliff's welcomed the addition of son, Reagan Tyler.  Following his birth, Dolores took a break from teaching, until she received a call in 1981.

Jim Jordan, then assistant superintendent, requested that she return to the History Department.  She declined, but with some creative bargaining, she returned to the classroom.  Planning only to finish the semester, Dolores taught for 23 more years.

After settling in Forney, Dolores plans to continue her travels in the U.S. and abroad.

She has made many friends in Monahans throughout the years, one of which is Elizabeth Heath.

Heath has left a lasting impression on Dolores.  "She was like a second mother to me," Dolores said, "She was my mentor."

Heath also served as a co-sponsor of the student council, and encouraged Dolores to go on the travel / study fieldtrips.

Since her retirement, Dolores say she misses the students and lengthy discussions held in her class, and "sometimes after class."

She also misses lecturing on the French Revolution, the Renaissance, the turn of the century in the U.S., and she misses her classroom tea parties.

As for Monahans, Dolores says she will miss many things such as the people, West Texas sunsets, and the night sky.

She will always remember First Baptist Church and the congregation, "They are a loving and caring group of people.   They have given me a tremendous amount of support," she said.

Dolores leaves those in Monahans with her philosophy of life...

"Live life to the fullest.  Expand your horizons by trying new things and visiting new places.  Never stop learning!  Live with integrity and strong character.  Tell your family and friends often how much you love them.  But most of all, love and trust God to direct your paths."