No one planned for Pam Ware to build an award-winning drama program at Gainesville High School, said Merrianne Dyer, superintendent of Gainesville City Schools.

Destiny intervened.

"At a critical moment someone asked, ‘Would you be the drama sponsor?'" Dyer said Wednesday night.

Ware, hired as an English and debate teacher, said "Yes."

Dozens of men and women impacted over the 35-plus years since that question was first posed arrived to the school's theater Wednesday night in support of the beloved drama director.

Long known as "The Ware House," the letters spelling the woman's full name were recognized officially above the entrance as the facility's proper title, The Pam Ware Performing Arts Center.

The building was first dedicated to her with a plaque after the center opened in 1994. The more formal legacy appeared Wednesday as a resounding thank you to Ware for agreeing to a future she never intended.

"I am overwhelmed. I never thought I'd see it, but it is up there and thank you all," Ware said. "We've come along way since the cafeteria. Hopefully, we'll have many, many more years to come."

Ware, tearful at times, swapped stories with the friends, former students, colleagues and parent supporters who gathered around her. They recalled early productions held in makeshift locations ill-suited for theater yet somehow staged with excellence.

Inside the venue, hundreds, maybe thousands of photos paper the walls of Ware's classroom and office. Color paintings of the one-act plays judged as state champions mark up the black concrete floors. Couches encircle the space. So do books, scripts and programs.

"We're so close. That sounds so cliche, but it really is like a family," said Megan Johnson, a senior and participant in the drama program. "It's appropriate that the building built for her program is named after her. She deserves it for sure."

Added Taylor Hall, who is performing in "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" being staged this week: "Nothing was given to her. We didn't give her these letters. She earned every one of them."

Ware thanked one of her own teachers for guiding her at Louisiana Tech University, where she first studied engineering. The speech professor encouraged Ware to consider a path suited to her public speaking skills and charisma.

Her mother Bo Kiper was a strong influence, too, Ware said.

After learning about the school system's decision to name the building after her in 1994, she called her mom in Winnsboro, La,. and told her the news.

"She said, ‘Pamela Ruth, no one names a building after someone unless they're dead or have a million dollars. You're alive and you'll never make that much money as a public school teacher,'" Ware said.

She laughed through more tears as she retold the story about her mom who died a year later.

"I'm sure she's looking down now saying, ‘You did it kiddo!'" Ware said.