When students return to Manteca High today, they’ll notice a street-like sign located along the breeze way directed at the nearly year-old expanded Dawson Center.

‘McCreath Way’ was unveiled on Tuesday as a show of appreciation to former principal Doug McCreath, who recently moved on to the San Joaquin County Office of Education to serve as the assistant superintendent of educational services.

“I’m truly shocked and honored,” he said.

McCreath was invited back to MHS on this day to serve as a judge for the second-ever rib and chili cook-off that he helped initiate as a kick-off to the new school year. He was surprised to see his wife, Susie, and children, Jake, Josh, Madison and Samantha there.

“I knew that they were planning some sort of dedication but not anything like this,” said Susie McCreath.

According to Assistant Principal Raul Mora, MHS staff came up with the idea to honor Doug McCreath, who often looked at ways to beautify the campus.

“When we got over the shock of Doug leaving (last May) we wanted to find a way to show how much we appreciated all that he’s done,” Mora said.

McCreath indicated that the beautification effort was actually a three-year process, involving the entire MHS community.

Sam Dolson’s Architectural Design class, for example, came up with the plan deemed “technical and artistic” by the teacher. One key element of the group project was getting rid of the wall that once separated the outdoor cafeteria quad from that of the nearby classroom wing.

It also opened up that part of the campus, making way for an expanded outdoor area that included more tables with umbrellas and trees.

“Doing away with that wall made (the Dawson Center) open and more friendly,” said McCreath, who now hopes that future plans will include paying tribute to other campus contributors in similar fashion.

Mora along with his new boss, Principal Frank Gonzales, Vice Principal Troy Fast, and Manteca Unified director of secondary education Clara Schmiedt were on hand for the special event as was Steve Winter, who is another former MHS principal, Kathy Ruble and many teachers, coaches and staff members.

“I used to joke with Steve Winter about getting a toilet stall named after me,” McCreath said.

On a serious note, he indicated that the campus improvement was always intended for students as a way of taking pride and ownership.

“It was never about me,” McCreath added.