Creature of habit: Dale Irby photographed every year since 1973 in his favourite outfit (Picture: SWNS)

This gym teacher appears to be stuck in the seventies having worn the same outfit for his school yearbook photo for the past 40 years.

Dale Irby, 63, has taken the art of the running joke to another level after refusing to ditch his favourite tank top and shirt combo.

The teacher, from Prestonwood Elementary in Dallas, Texas, first donned the groovy outfit in two consecutive school photos from 1973.

When he realised his mistake, his wife Cathy dared him to repeat it for a third year and it soon became a yearly tradition.


‘It all started by mistake,’ he explained.’ After I got the photos back from the second year I realised what I had done.



‘So my wife Cathy, who I met in my first year teaching, dared me to repeat it again for a third year and we didn’t stop.

‘The shirt is now faded and the wool vest has several holes but it has all been worth a few laughs.’

The unique photo album is unlikely to get any bigger, however, with Mr Irby having just announced his retirement.

He added: ‘It really wasn’t stylish and, to tell you the truth, it was a little bit tighter in the latter years than it was in the beginning. But I could still wear it and button it.

‘I doubt that I’ll wear it again, even in a dare.’

As an overnight internet star, we’re sure the gym teacher will have plenty to keep him occupied during his retirement.