Ken Dickson

Ken Dickson

Class of 1943
Composer of the school song

On a cold winter evening, Southwest junior Ken Dickson sat down at the family piano and worked out the words and music to what was to become the Southwest Rouser.

Ken's composition was in response to a challenge issued by the faculty for, "someone to come up with a school song". Not only a decent musician, Ken was on the Wagistanian staff. He would become the Editor-in-Chief of the Wagistanian and part of the Arrow staff in his senior year. Ken had a way with the written word as well as musical notes, and his success was no fluke.

So, Ken Dickson won the contest in 1942. As a result, every SW student, every SW athlete, every SW athletic team, and every SW Band for 76 YEARS has learned and enjoyed the unique, energetic, and stirring song that Ken wrote. The Hall of Fame Booster of 2018, Ken has boosted the spirits of all Southwest kids along the way for 76 years and counting. Stop and think of the events and changes that have taken place in this world in the past 76 years, yet Southwest spirit is still summed up perfectly by Ken's rousing song. Ken Dickson, as much as anyone, has "spread her fame and her fair name"!