In May 2009, a $15.9 million construction project was approved by the citizens of Abernathy for renovations of their high school.
The school is now ready to open their doors and show the public exactly what they've been working on.
"We completely renovated our high school and about $3 million actually went to the school, and then we put in four new classrooms and the gym is new," Herb Youngblood, superintendent of Abernathy ISD, said. "Across the street, we are building a new field house, weight room and vocational facility which will be ready October 30."
Future, present and past Abernathy students gathered for the reveal of the new gym; a place where championship basketball not only played but also honored.
"We wanted to open a new gym, and we dedicated it to all of our state champions from 1958-1991 and then hopefully that winning tradition that they've started will rub off on this new gym and the new players that will be playing here," said Youngblood.
Chad Shadden, who cut down the nets in Austin in 1991, said that Abernathy High School had something that no other 2-A school in the state does.
"It's important to have events like this especially in a community with as much tradition as Abernathy has," Shadden said. "We have been to the state 2-A championships more than any school in the state."
Whether people came to view the new gym or to sneak a peek at the new classrooms, everyone at the dedication had one thing in common: Abernathy High School Pride.
"There's so much pride, at least for ourselves, and the '91 team knew from a young age that eventually we'd end up in Austin," Shadden said.
"It's a great place to work and the environment is just great," Judy Leuce, an English and Speech teacher at Abernathy High School said. "It is so positive here. What we saw in the gym today just made me so proud to work and live here. The history, the tradition, it's all just great."
Leuce said the new renovations brought technology to every classroom whereas the old building only had technology in random classrooms.
"Pretty much we're in a new building," Leuce said. "It's the same floor plan in many ways but all of its brand new and really pretty, and we're enjoying every single bit of it."
Youngblood said that at least three classes that he knew of planned their high school reunions around this open house event.
