Ila Johnston/SPUR - Ila Johnston, 94, taught math, civics, and history at Spur High School for 33 years. Though she never had children of her own, Johnston, a widow, loved her students--her "exes"--and encouraged them to try college "for just one year." Usually, it took, and many ended up with degrees.

She still attends the school's pep rallies on Friday afternoons; and she still drives with confidence, having taught a good number of the area highway patrolmen. "If anything ever happened, they'd take care of me," says Johnston, who pilots an '88 Olds.