Austin High School (Austin, Texas)
Encyclopedia
Stephen F. Austin High School, or more commonly Austin High, founded in 1881, is one of the oldest public high schools west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...

, and was the first public high school in the state of Texas.

The current campus is located near downtown Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

 along the Colorado River
Colorado River (Texas)
The Colorado River is a river that runs through the U.S. state of Texas; it should not be confused with the much longer Colorado River which flows from Colorado into the Gulf of California....

. The school, originally known simply as Austin High School, was renamed in 1953 after Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...

, known as the "Father of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

." Austin High School is one of eleven high schools in the Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District is a school district that is based in the city of Austin, Texas, United States. It was established in 1881. Its current superintendent is...

.

Roughly 2,500 students attend the school in grades nine through twelve. The school's current building is the third built to house the school, following four 19th century locations in other buildings. Austin High's official motto is Mens Agitat Molem or, "Mind Over Matter." The official mascot of Austin High School is Mr. Maroo.

History

Austin High School opened in September 1881. Classes were held on the third floor of the West Austin School building at 11th Street and Rio Grande Street. Due to growth of the student population instruction was held at the First Baptist Church, the temporary State Capitol, and the Smith Opera House. The first Austin High School campus, located at 9th Street and Trinity Street, opened in 1900. In 1925 John Allan Junior High School (est. 1916) moved from 1212 Rio Grande Street to 9th at Trinity, and Austin High School moved to 1212 Rio Grande Street. In 1975 Austin High School moved to its current location. The first day of classes at the Cesar Chavez campus occurred on August 25, 1975. The Mr. Maroo Mascot was officially adopted by the Student Council in 1965-66. He has nothing to do with McDonalds. He's the most interesting mascot in the world.

Neighborhoods served

Downtown Austin
Downtown Austin
Downtown Austin is the central business district of Austin, Texas. Downtown is located on the north bank of the Colorado River. The approximate borders of Downtown include Lamar Boulevard to the west, 11th Street and sometimes Martin Luther King, Jr...

 and the family apartment complexes of the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...

 are zoned to Austin High School.

Athletics

Austin High School offers many different athletic programs for students: Football, Basketball, Tennis, Golf, Swimming, Baseball, Volleyball, Soccer, Track and Field, Cross Country, and Lacrosse. The Austin High Football team has won three state championships, most recently in 1947.

Fine arts

Austin High School also offers a wide array of Fine Arts to its students. The school's band is the largest group in the school, with over 200 students. The marching band performs at the football games during the autumn semester, while the four separate concert bands have performances throughout the spring semester. The Austin High Jazz Ensemble was one of 15 Jazz bands in the nation featured in the 2008 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival
Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition and Festival
The Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival is an annual high school jazz festival and competition that takes place every May at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. The festival is aimed at encouraging young musicians to play music by Duke Ellington and other...

 competition, hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center
Jazz at Lincoln Center
Jazz at Lincoln Center is part of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. JALC's performing arts complex, Frederick P. Rose Hall, is located at West 60th Street and Broadway in New York City, slightly south of the main Lincoln Center campus and directly adjacent to Columbus Circle. Frederick P....

 in New York City. In 2009, Austin High scored better than the previous year yet didn't make the Essentially Ellington due to a returning finalist rule, establishing itself as one of the premier Jazz schools in the country. The school offers an Orchestra class and Choir program which performs throughout the year. Also, students can participate in the Red Dragon Theater company at Austin high, that performs regularly throughout the year as well. The Red Dragon Players' production of Over the River and Through the Woods won the 2009 UIL One-Act State Championship, and their production of Over the Tavern won the 2011 UIL One-Act State Championship. The Austin High drill team, also known as the Red Jackets, performs at school football games, competes in dance contests, and puts on a show in the spring. The Red Jackets have received various awards for state and national competitions. Austin high also has three women's choirs (varsity, non-varsity, and freshmen choirs) and one of the areas largest men's choir.

Hall of Honor

Located next to the second floor administrative offices, the 'Hall of Honor' is a special room dedicated to honoring both the history of Austin High and alumni who have made significant contributions to society. Originally a rarely used dead-end hallway, the space was enclosed with glass and a pair of ornate wooden doors. The floor is covered with a deep maroon carpet and contains numerous plaques and display cases. The hall is off-limits to the general student population and can only be accessed by school administration and officers of the Hall of Honor Society. Once a year, Austin High holds 'Dedication Day', a day in which alumni and current students celebrate the dedication of the lakeside campus. On Dedication Day, alumni and faculty are inducted into the Hall of Honor. The inductees are selected by the Hall of Honor Steering Committee. In addition to honored alumni and faculty, 1% of the graduating class is inducted into Maroon Society. All students in the top 25% of the graduating class are automatically declared Maroon Society Semi-Finalists, although teachers can nominate deserving students. Ballots are sent to the faculty, asking them to rank Semi-Finalists in different categories. The Semi-Finalists with the top 5% rankings are declared Maroon Society Finalists. Another ballot is sent out to the faculty asking them to rate the Finalists. The identity of the students to be inducted is kept secret until Dedication Day.

Notable alumni

Rick Perry's two children
Jerry Jeff Walker's two children
  • Barbara Bush
    Barbara Pierce Bush
    Barbara Pierce Bush is the elder of the sororal twin daughters of the 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, and the granddaughter of the 41st U.S. President George H. W. Bush, and his wife Barbara Bush, after whom she was named...

     and Jenna Bush
    Jenna Bush
    Jenna Welch Bush Hager , is the younger of the sororal twin daughters of the 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, and a granddaughter of the 41st U.S. President George H. W. Bush. She and her sister, Barbara, were the first twin children of a U.S. President...

     - Daughters of U.S. President
    President of the United States
    The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

     George W. Bush
    George W. Bush
    George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....

  • Liz Carpenter
    Liz Carpenter
    Mary Elizabeth "Liz" Sutherland Carpenter was a writer, feminist, former reporter, media advisor, speechwriter, political humorist, and public relations expert....

     and husband Les Carpenter - Author, lecturer, presidential advisor
  • Benjamin McKenzie
    Benjamin McKenzie
    Benjamin McKenzie Schenkkan , better known as Benjamin McKenzie, is an American actor and producer. He is best known for playing Ryan Atwood in the television series The O.C. and for playing Ben Sherman in Southland. He appeared in the films Junebug and 88 Minutes which earned him a Sarasota Film...

     - American actor, star of the television program The O.C.
    The O.C.
    The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...

     Currently starring in TNT's Southland.
  • John Thomas - American football player, The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee
  • A. Boone Almanza- Basketball, 26AAAAA District Champs 1980-1981, 37-1 record, AHS Hall of Honor, Houston Baptist University, Rhodes Scholar Nominee, Academic All-American, Managing Partner, Almanza, Blackburn & Dickie, LLP Attorneys & Counselors at Law
  • Emory Blake - American football player, Auburn University
    Auburn University
    Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...

  • Don Baylor
    Don Baylor
    Donald Edward Baylor is a Major League Baseball coach currently the hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a former player and manager. During his 19-year playing career, he was a power hitter who played as a first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter...

     - Professional baseball player and manager
  • Mychal Dungey - All-American track and field runner, Texas Christian University
    Texas Christian University
    Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...

  • Kinky Friedman
    Kinky Friedman
    Richard S. "Kinky" Friedman is an American Texas Country singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, politician and former columnist for Texas Monthly who styles himself in the mold of popular American satirists Will Rogers and Mark Twain. He was one of two independent candidates in the 2006 election...

     - Comedian, politician
  • Carole Keeton Strayhorn
    Carole Keeton Strayhorn
    Carole Keeton Strayhorn is the former Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts....

     - Politician, former Texas Comptroller
  • Lloyd Doggett
    Lloyd Doggett
    Lloyd Alton Doggett II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He previously represented from 1995 to 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party...

     - United States House of Representatives
  • Richard 'Cactus' Pryor
    Cactus Pryor
    Richard "Cactus" Pryor was an American broadcaster. He received his nickname after the old Cactus Theater on Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, which was run by his father, "Skinny" Pryor....

     - Texas Radio Legend
  • Bibb Falk
    Bibb Falk
    Bibb August Falk was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians ....

     - Professional baseball player
  • Edmund Kuempel
    Edmund Kuempel
    Edmund Perry Kuempel was a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 44, based at Seguin, the seat of Guadalupe County in central Texas.-Background:...

     - State representative from Seguin
    Seguin, Texas
    Seguin is a city in Guadalupe County, Texas, in the United States. It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,011; the July 1, 2009 Census estimate, however, showed the population had increased to 26,842...

    Ed
  • Casey Marchbanks - American football player, Rice University
    Rice University
    William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...

    ,
  • Hays McEachern - American football player, Oklahoma University
  • Al Matthews
    Al Matthews (American football)
    Alvin Leon Matthews is a former professional American football defensive back who played in eight National Football League seasons from 1970-1977 for the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers.-External links:*...

     - Professional football player for the Green Bay Packers
    Green Bay Packers
    The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...

  • Harvey Penick
    Harvey Penick
    Harvey Morrison Penick was an American golf professional and coach, who coached many Hall of Fame players. Late in life, he became a best-selling writer. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002, seven years after his death.-Golf career:Penick was born in Austin, Texas...

     - Professional golfer
  • Amy from the Bobby Bones Show
    Bobby Bones Show
    The Bobby Bones Show is a morning radio show broadcast in Austin, Texas, on 96.7 KISS FM and syndicated in Wichita, Kansas, Amarillo, Texas, Lubbock, Texas, Augusta, Georgia, Waco, Texas, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Bobby Bones is accompanied by co-hosts Lunchbox, Amy, Carlos, and Alayna. Jay Shannon...

    - Co-host for a popular local radio show in Austin, Texas
    Austin, Texas
    Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

  • Ben Crenshaw
    Ben Crenshaw
    Ben Daniel Crenshaw is an American professional golfer.Crenshaw was born in Austin, Texas. He attended and played golf at Austin High School and the University of Texas, where he won three NCAA Championships from 1971 to 1973...

     - Professional golfer, two time winner of the Masters
  • Scott McClellan
    Scott McClellan
    Scott McClellan is a former White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush, and author of a controversial No. 1 New York Times bestseller about the Bush Administration titled What Happened. He replaced Ari Fleischer as press secretary in July 2003 and served until May 10, 2006...

     - Former White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush.
  • Mark Buchanan - American football player, The University of Texas
  • Keith Shinaberry - Baseball player, The University of Texas
  • Verne Lundquist
    Verne Lundquist
    Merton Laverne "Verne" Lundquist, Jr. is an American sportscaster, currently employed by CBS Sports television.-Early life and career:Lundquist was born in Duluth, Minnesota...

     - American Sportscaster, CBS Sports
  • Django Walker
    Django Walker
    Django Walker is a Texas Country singer-songwriter and the frontman for the Django Walker Band.-Biography:Named after Belgian guitarist Django Reinhardt, Walker is the son of country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker and Susan Walker. He began learning to play guitar at age 15...

     - Country music musician
  • Indy Jones - Professional downhill ski coach with the eastern division of the PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America). Also an accomplished club promoter in the central Vermont bar and nightclub scene. (broken link)
  • Carter Watkins - Artist, Musician, Graphic Designer, Creator of Sherpa Design.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK