POPE HISTORY & FUN FACTS
#1
#2
Why is Lassiter’s stadium called The Frank, and what has that got to do with Pope?
Lassiter opened before Pope in 1981. East Cobb had a rapidly growing population at the time, and Lassiter soon did not have enough room for all its students. Frank Fillmann was a Minor League baseball player and Lassiter administrator who was pivotal in the establishment of Pope High School in 1987. He eventually became a beloved Pope Faculty member. During this time, neither Pope nor Lassiter had football stadiums, though Frank Fillmann was soon to change that. Construction on the Lassiter stadium was underway by May 1987. By the time the stadium that we all know as "The Frank" was completed, Pope still did not have one of our own. Pope athletes used The Frank for years until finally building its own stadium in 1993. In fact, the Pope High School Foundation was established in 1993 to fund the construction of Pope's stadium.
~Ollie Barker, Pope Class of 2027
*as appeared in the February 27, 2025 issue of Hound Highlights*
#2
Do you know why the Zero Hallway at Pope is also referred to as the 'Pat Lamb Hall'?
In honor of 2024 Red Ribbon Week at Pope High School, the PTSA asked Pope Class of 2025 senior, Lily Mosbacher, to interview a retired Pope teacher who worked with Pat Lamb the first year Pope High School opened in 1987 to tell her story.
Patsy (Pat) Lamb was an inaugural member of the Pope staff and taught AP Literature beginning in 1987 when the school was founded. In 1988, the day before students came to campus for Pope's second year in operation, she was killed in a drunk driving accident. I spoke with her colleague, Lynne Enzweiler, who taught English at Pope for 32 years. She described Mrs. Lamb as “kind of a larger than life character, irreverent, great sense of humor.” “She was quite a force to be reckoned with,” said Enzweiler. Not long after she passed away, Kelly Henson, Pope’s first principal dedicated what is now the Zero Hall to Pat Lamb.
However, after many years of the hall being called the “Pat Lamb Hall” the school was repainted and the sign dedicating the hallway was subsequently lost. This week, October 23rd-31st the Pope community celebrates Red Ribbon Week, highlighting the importance of using our voices to stand up against drug and alcohol abuse. In honor of that and of Mrs. Lamb we will be rededicating the Zero hall as the “Pat Lamb Hall" with a new sign purchased by our PTSA. As Mrs. Enzweiler eloquently put it “it's important that we remember and honor these people who were meaningful in our lives.” By rededicating this hall, we not only honor Mrs. Lamb’s legacy but we also renew our community commitment to educating future generations about the importance of making safe and smart choices.
~Lily Mosbacher, Pope Class of 2025
However, after many years of the hall being called the “Pat Lamb Hall” the school was repainted and the sign dedicating the hallway was subsequently lost. This week, October 23rd-31st the Pope community celebrates Red Ribbon Week, highlighting the importance of using our voices to stand up against drug and alcohol abuse. In honor of that and of Mrs. Lamb we will be rededicating the Zero hall as the “Pat Lamb Hall" with a new sign purchased by our PTSA. As Mrs. Enzweiler eloquently put it “it's important that we remember and honor these people who were meaningful in our lives.” By rededicating this hall, we not only honor Mrs. Lamb’s legacy but we also renew our community commitment to educating future generations about the importance of making safe and smart choices.
~Lily Mosbacher, Pope Class of 2025
*as appeared in the October 31, 2024 issue of Hound Highlights*
Special thanks to Mrs. Sharrow for digging through yearbooks to find us these pictures and to our 2023-25 PTSA President (and Pope 1996 graduate) Beth Moore, for championing getting a new sign made and making sure we told Pat Lamb's story.
Do you know of a Pope historical story or fun fact that needs to be shared? We are always looking for article ideas for the Greyhound Tracks for students to research and write about.
Email Communications here to share your idea.
