Oscar Avila – Class of 1990
Oscar Avila is a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department and has represented the United States at overseas posts in Costa Rica, Taiwan, and Iceland, and will soon be posted at the U.S. Embassy in Latvia. Oscar specializes in public diplomacy, building people-to-people connections between the United States and other nations.
Oscar is a 1990 graduate of Dodge City Senior High School. In high school, Oscar was the editor-in-chief of The Dodger in addition to serving on the Student Council and playing on the varsity tennis team. Oscar was one of two high school students from Kansas selected by the White House as Presidential Scholars.
Oscar graduated from George Washington University with a degree
in international affairs before beginning a career as a journalist, primarily at the Chicago Tribune and Kansas City Star. At the Tribune, Oscar covered Latin America as a foreign correspondent and received the International Reporting Project Fellowship from Johns Hopkins University. Oscar’s first professional newspaper job came in high school as a sports writer for the Dodge City Daily Globe. Oscar will never forget his first professional byline: a story in the Daily Globe about the St. Mary of the Plains College baseball team!
“When I talk to audiences around the world as a diplomat, I am proud to share my story of growing up in Dodge City and how my community shaped my life in such a profound way. I am truly honored and humbled to receive this recognition as a DCHS alumnus. I am especially grateful to my family, friends and teachers for all their encouragement and inspiration along the way!”
Frank “Chief” Toalson
Frank Toalson graduated from William Jewell College with a B.A. degree in 1926. He attended the University of Colorado, University of California and Columbia University before graduating from the University of Kansas with a M.A. degree in 1937.
He came to Dodge City as a teacher and coach – most notably as the Head Coach of the 1933 State Championship Baseball Team. Toalson coached the Red Demon Football program from 1930-34, compiling a record of 30-13-2. In 1944, he also worked with Head Basketball Coach Laurence Stanton to organize a basketball tournament which became known as the Tournament of Champions.
Frank served as both Principal and Superintendent in Dodge City for
34 years – earning the name “Chief” for his various leadership roles in the District. During this tenure he was influential in the building of Dodge City Junior High (now DCMS), two new elementary schools, Memorial Stadium, Demon Field, Red & Blue Fields, and the former DCHS Tennis Courts. This area still bears the name: Toalson Sports Complex.
“Chief” Toalson served on the Executive Board of the Kansas High School Activities Association and was President of the Kansas Superintendents Association. He served three years as City Commissioner and was the Mayor of Dodge City. He was inducted into the KSHSAA Hall of Fame in 1975. Toalson also received the KSHSAA Governor’s Award, Distinguished Service to Secondary Education Award, American Association of School Administrators Award for Distinguished Service in School Administration, and is a member of the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame.
Frank and Helen raised their two boys in Dodge City – Robert Toalson (class of 1950) and Dr. William “Bill” Toalson (class of 1955). Bill Toalson was a member of the two-man State Championship Team for DCHS in 1953.