Colton High School opened in 1895. It is one of the oldest high schools in the Inland Empire. In this daily feature, we celebrate Colton High’s rich history.

V. Marguerite Brooks taught music at Colton High from 1930-1964. She organized the first Yellowjacket marching band. Her first classroom was tiny room on the west side of the auditorium.

She was very talented, playing every instrument except trombone and bass fiddle. She was well-known across the Colton community, investing in her students and building a big, happy family.

Ms. Brooks retired in 1964, and passed away in 1981 at the age of 79. According to the Pepper Bough, “she left no survivors except those who remember her for her dedication to the students and community of Colton. May we all pass a torch that burns so brightly.”