A Conversation with a Class of ’64 Alumni Couple

George and Katherine Susman Howe met as Kinkaid students

George: We met in eighth grade. I was growing like a weed and was so skinny Coach Hanagriff called me "The Worm."

Katherine: The first time I remember seeing you, you were working in the school bookstore. You were funny, you had the most beautiful blue eyes, and you were outgrowing your shirts.

George: We really didn't get to know each other until high school, when about ten of us formed an informal group we called "the gang."

Katherine: George was a basketball player, cheerleader, pianist, singer, and mathematician. I, on the other hand, was so pathetic in sports that I received a sportsmanship award without ever having played on a team. I can't carry a tune either, but I loved history and debate. Most important, both of us were slowly being shaped by some amazing teachers. Do you remember how we chuckled over our French teacher Mme. Downs? We learned from Mr. Perkins in freshman biology about a couple of new discoveries called DNA and RNA. And we idolized two young teachers, Mr. Moss who taught English and coached the debate team and Mr. Taylor who taught AP American and European history.

George: When we were juniors, we even dated a bit.

Katherine: Until you became interested in someone else.

George: After Kinkaid, I went to Stanford and studied engineering, and Katherine went to Connecticut College and studied art history. Kinkaid prepared both of us for college and ultimately for our professions—me in construction as a senior estimator and Kath as director of Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. I still sing with the Houston Symphony Chorus and play the piano.

Katherine: We started dating again in college; and in 1971, shortly after George returned from Vietnam, we were married. Most of "the gang" attended our wedding.

George: In 1977 our daughter Kate was born. To our delight, Kinkaid accepted her for kindergarten. At all levels, Kate's teachers encouraged her to write and she, too, was challenged by Mr. Moss. Today she is a respected novelist and teacher of writing historical fiction at Cornell University.

Katherine: Since 1959 for me and 1956 for George, Kinkaid has been an integral part of our lives. What we learned, the standards expected of us, the opportunities we had, and the friends we made have shaped our family in infinite ways. For these reasons, we have decided to share our good fortune with future generations by adding Kinkaid as a beneficiary to our estate plan.

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To learn how you can make a lasting gift to support the future of Kinkaid, please contact Lisa Wood at (713) 243-5023 or lisa.wood@kinkaid.org.