TJ has its very own antique 2-dollar bill that was donated by TJ Alumni Timothy McClaughry.
Photo by Leanna Ramirez
Hanging on the wall of Principal Sandra Just’s office is a newly framed 1917 two-dollar bill.
The antique currency was given to TJ in September of 2010 from Spartan Alumni Timothy McClaughry, who thought it would be an appropriate gift since this 2010-2011 school year is the school’s 50th year anniversary. “It is kind of my way of paying back for all the generosity that my brother and I received while at TJ (1966-1970),” said McClaughry.
McClaughry was able to find and buy this very valuable object at a Tucson coin store bid board. The two-dollar bill is dated back to 1917, so it’s unique and very valuable. “I bought it because it has the best small portrait of TJ that I have ever seen. That portrait is an absolute classic,” stated McClaughry. It is something that represents TJ very well since it displays the third United States President, Thomas Jefferson, for whom our school is named.
Principal Just said she is very honored by the two-dollar bill and many other donations that were given to the school by McClaughry. “We are very thankful for alumni like Timothy McClaughry and we are also proud to know TJ pride still exists,” stated Just. You can find the two-dollar bill in Principal Just’s office in a nice frame with a plague that states, “Thomas Jefferson High School, 50 years of excellence in education to the students of Denver.”
“We are proud to be able to display the two dollar bill; it helps beautify the school,” said Just. “The two-dollar bill brings a ‘homey kind of feel to the school’ because we are able to display and bring out our school spirit with Thomas Jefferson hanging around.”
McClaughry has also been donating money to the school for the past ten years. The money he has been donating has been helping beautify TJ, including purchasing some of the trashcans and other materials around TJ. “Donating to the school has impacted me for the better because I now have a ‘pet’ project. I can see first hand the good done by the donations,” said McClaughry.
Sandra Just and Assistant Principal Scott Lessard have nothing but great things to say about the donations and how very thankful they are for all the kindness and great things McClaughry has done to support TJ. Lessard stated, “It’s cool; it’s a reflection of the positive impact TJ has had on our alumni.”
