Louisville Male High School
Encyclopedia
Louisville Male Traditional High School is a public secondary school
serving students in grades 9 through 12 in the southside of Louisville, Kentucky
, USA. It is part of the Jefferson County Public School District
.
A growing 19th century river city needed a place to a new high school, and so in 1861, Male was designated "The University of Public Schools in Louisville". From 1856 until 1923, Male High School conferred Bachelor degrees on its graduates, and in some instances conferred Master degrees to exceptional students. Originally open to males only, it is now co-educational.
In 1915, E.O. Holland, the Superintendent of Education, decided that Louisville would never need more than one high school so he ordered the consolidation of Male and Manual. The two schools became known as Louisville Boys High. The brown and orange and the red and white disappeared from the horizon and new colors, blue and gray, were chosen. Shortly thereafter Holland accepted a job as president of a university and left town, leaving behind the mess he had created..
By 1918 the public realized Holland had erred, and under considerable public pressure, the school board separated the schools at the end of the 1918 school year.
Male became co-ed against the protest of it's students in 1953, at which time the name was changed to Louisville Male and Girls High School. The name was never actually used and the 'and Girls' was dropped very quickly.
Male became the first magnet/optional program in Jefferson County Public Schools in the 1970s when it was chosen as the Traditional High School. The district wished to create a structured learning environment which focused on learning fundamentals. A climate of high expectations and standards was created through the combined efforts of students, faculty, administration and parents.
Male is a school built on traditional values with its program a "philosophical" magnet called the Traditional Program. The school sends 96% of its students to post-secondary schools, and it was selected as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon award winner twice in the 1990s.
The school letter is actually an H, standing for High school while the longstanding rival du Pont Manual has the M as its letter.
This building was the first home of Louisville Male High School on its opening day, April 7, 1856. The school grew to an enrollment of over 200 young men. The first principal was W. H. Harney. He served in this position from 1856–1857. The most notable principal at this first site was Maurice "Hoss" Kirby. For eleven years, 1886–1897, Kirby dedicated his time and talents to the position of principal. The first two graduates of Male High School in 1859 were Lewis D. Kastenbine (who later became a physician in Louisville) and James S. Pirtle (later became a prominent Louisville judge). The first football game was played on November 18, 1893 (Male vs. Manual) with Male beating Manual 14-12. This marked the beginning of what is today one of the oldest high school rivalries in America.
Second site - 1898-1915 - First Street near Chestnut
Two of this sites' most notable principals are Rueben Post Halleck (1897–1912) and S.B. Tinsley (1912–1915). It was at this location that Male received its first International recognition. At the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri
, a Gold Medal for excellence was given to only 5 schools in the world. Male was the only high school in America to receive this Medal.
Also at this location, High School Park was established at the later Male Brook & Breckinridge school site. This was the first high school athletic facility in America. It has been in continuous use since 1901.
Third site - 1915-1991 - Corner of Brook Street and Breckinridge Street
Male continued to receive many awards of excellence during its tenure at the famed Brook and Breck location. The band and orchestra received state and national championship awards in 1927. The journalism and physics department have received national awards as well as a 1989 American High School of Excellence Award. The gymnasium completed the high school facilities in 1939 with its official title, "Pap Glenn Gymnasium" and the High School Park was renamed Maxwell Field. Notable principals at this location include J.B. Carpenter (1919–1931), W.S. Milburn (1931–1961), Dr. Irvin Rice (1977–1979), and R. Ted Boehm (1979–1992). The building now hosts the city's main Salvation Army
center.
Fourth site - 1991-current - 4409 Preston Highway
In August, 1991, Male moved to its current campus at 4409 Preston Highway, an educational facility that doubled the instructional, laboratory, library, and campus space. Since it has moved to this location, the school has won two U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon awards. The site was previously Sallie P. Durrett High School, which became the Durrett Education Center in the early 1980s and was used by Jefferson County Public Schools
Library Media Services until 1991. The adjoining Gheens Academy
, which opened in 1983, was previously Prestonia Elementary School. Notable principals include Joseph Burks Jr. and David Wilson, who retired suddenly on September 29, 2009 after several faculty members were invited into his office to watch a video of students engaged in sexual relations caught on the cafeteria's security camera. To date no charges have been filed.
Students have an opportunity to graduate with a Commonwealth Diploma. Which is above and beyond the required units to graduate high school by Jefferson County. One of the stipulations is the successful completion (i.e., receiving a grade of “C” or its equivalent) in 4 AP courses in the areas of English, Science/Mathematics, Foreign Language, and Elective.
, with the annual contest usually determining the fate of the district champion; however, due to the state's realignment of high school football into a six-class system starting in 2007-08, Male will be in a separate district from both Manual and St. X, albeit in the same class. Male is the third winningest football program in the United States and the winningest program in Kentucky. Male also has a rivalry with Trinity High School
in football. Trinity often will not schedule Male in the regular season however.
The school offers football
, basketball
(State Championships: 1932 (Runner-up),1945, 1966 (RU),1970, 1971, 1973 (RU), 1974 (RU), 1975, 2001 (RU)), baseball
(State Championship: 1944)), and lacrosse
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
serving students in grades 9 through 12 in the southside of Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, USA. It is part of the Jefferson County Public School District
Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky)
Jefferson County Public Schools is a public school district located in Jefferson County, Kentucky and operating all but one of the public schools in the county...
.
A growing 19th century river city needed a place to a new high school, and so in 1861, Male was designated "The University of Public Schools in Louisville". From 1856 until 1923, Male High School conferred Bachelor degrees on its graduates, and in some instances conferred Master degrees to exceptional students. Originally open to males only, it is now co-educational.
Early History
In 1798 the Kentucky State Legislature authorized the creation of a college for young men to be built in Louisville. In 1816, after 18 years of bureaucratic blundering, the trustees were able to open the Jefferson Seminary. The school changed its identity on several occasions over the next 40 years until finally, in 1856, the school split into two entities. One was the University of Louisville and the other was High School. At the same time Louisville Female High School (later Girls High School) was created (eventually to be merged into du Pont Manual as a co-educational school). By the late 19th century there was a need in the community for a broader course selection because Male High School only taught academic courses and there was no place for a student to learn manual skills. In order to solve this problem, a barracks was built in 1890 in the backyard of Male High School and shop-type courses were taught to students who wanted to learn a trade. However, the barracks did not solve the problem because the demand for admission exceeded the capacity of the school. In 1892 Manual High School was created as a separate school. Male High School's major focus was on academics and du Pont Manual taught manual skills.In 1915, E.O. Holland, the Superintendent of Education, decided that Louisville would never need more than one high school so he ordered the consolidation of Male and Manual. The two schools became known as Louisville Boys High. The brown and orange and the red and white disappeared from the horizon and new colors, blue and gray, were chosen. Shortly thereafter Holland accepted a job as president of a university and left town, leaving behind the mess he had created..
By 1918 the public realized Holland had erred, and under considerable public pressure, the school board separated the schools at the end of the 1918 school year.
Male became co-ed against the protest of it's students in 1953, at which time the name was changed to Louisville Male and Girls High School. The name was never actually used and the 'and Girls' was dropped very quickly.
Male became the first magnet/optional program in Jefferson County Public Schools in the 1970s when it was chosen as the Traditional High School. The district wished to create a structured learning environment which focused on learning fundamentals. A climate of high expectations and standards was created through the combined efforts of students, faculty, administration and parents.
Male is a school built on traditional values with its program a "philosophical" magnet called the Traditional Program. The school sends 96% of its students to post-secondary schools, and it was selected as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon award winner twice in the 1990s.
Mascot and School Letter
The school's mascot is a Bulldog and it is common to refer to the school as the Male Bulldogs or even just Dogs.The school letter is actually an H, standing for High school while the longstanding rival du Pont Manual has the M as its letter.
School locations
First site - 1856-1897 - Ninth and ChestnutThis building was the first home of Louisville Male High School on its opening day, April 7, 1856. The school grew to an enrollment of over 200 young men. The first principal was W. H. Harney. He served in this position from 1856–1857. The most notable principal at this first site was Maurice "Hoss" Kirby. For eleven years, 1886–1897, Kirby dedicated his time and talents to the position of principal. The first two graduates of Male High School in 1859 were Lewis D. Kastenbine (who later became a physician in Louisville) and James S. Pirtle (later became a prominent Louisville judge). The first football game was played on November 18, 1893 (Male vs. Manual) with Male beating Manual 14-12. This marked the beginning of what is today one of the oldest high school rivalries in America.
Second site - 1898-1915 - First Street near Chestnut
Two of this sites' most notable principals are Rueben Post Halleck (1897–1912) and S.B. Tinsley (1912–1915). It was at this location that Male received its first International recognition. At the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, a Gold Medal for excellence was given to only 5 schools in the world. Male was the only high school in America to receive this Medal.
Also at this location, High School Park was established at the later Male Brook & Breckinridge school site. This was the first high school athletic facility in America. It has been in continuous use since 1901.
Third site - 1915-1991 - Corner of Brook Street and Breckinridge Street
Male continued to receive many awards of excellence during its tenure at the famed Brook and Breck location. The band and orchestra received state and national championship awards in 1927. The journalism and physics department have received national awards as well as a 1989 American High School of Excellence Award. The gymnasium completed the high school facilities in 1939 with its official title, "Pap Glenn Gymnasium" and the High School Park was renamed Maxwell Field. Notable principals at this location include J.B. Carpenter (1919–1931), W.S. Milburn (1931–1961), Dr. Irvin Rice (1977–1979), and R. Ted Boehm (1979–1992). The building now hosts the city's main Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
center.
Fourth site - 1991-current - 4409 Preston Highway
Jefferson County Public Schools (Kentucky)
Jefferson County Public Schools is a public school district located in Jefferson County, Kentucky and operating all but one of the public schools in the county...
Library Media Services until 1991. The adjoining Gheens Academy
Gheens Academy
Gheens Academy is located at 4425 Preston Hwy. Louisville, Kentucky 40213 next to Louisville Male High School. It opened in 1983 and is the home of Jefferson County Public Schools Departments of Curriculum & Assessment, Professional Development & Innovations, Instructional Support, English as a...
, which opened in 1983, was previously Prestonia Elementary School. Notable principals include Joseph Burks Jr. and David Wilson, who retired suddenly on September 29, 2009 after several faculty members were invited into his office to watch a video of students engaged in sexual relations caught on the cafeteria's security camera. To date no charges have been filed.
Programs
The school like its rival du Pont Manual runs a unique curriculum that is different from the other public high schools in the city. All students participate in the College Preparatory Program so as to guarantee the transition to higher education is as smooth as possible.Students have an opportunity to graduate with a Commonwealth Diploma. Which is above and beyond the required units to graduate high school by Jefferson County. One of the stipulations is the successful completion (i.e., receiving a grade of “C” or its equivalent) in 4 AP courses in the areas of English, Science/Mathematics, Foreign Language, and Elective.
Uniforms
Louisville Male adheres to a strict dress code requiring stipulations such as neatly tucked in shirts, belts, limited piercings (2 for girls ears only and 0 for boys) to even hair color and length (no more than 2 inch sideburns and bangs for males) no visible tattoos or markings. Students may wear solid purple, gold, white or black no logo polo shirts but must wear plain black, navy, or khaki pants. An exception is Friday (Spirit Day) on which students can choose from a variety of school "Spirit" shirts with blue jeans. The strict rules and guidelines are designed to give students a clean and professional look and to keep everyone on the same level. As a magnet school students come from all over the city and from different socio-economic backgrounds.Lottery
Getting into the high school is virtually impossible unless previous enrolled in one of the 3 traditional program magnet middle schools, Johnson Middle (south side), Jefferson Country Traditional Middle (Middle East) and Barret Traditional Middle (Northeast and East). The traditional program works on a lottery system where you are given an equal chance as everyone else to get your student into the school. Only students from the feeder schools are automatically accepted. However, if they give up their spot freshmen year they can not retain it on special status.Athletics
On Saturday, November 18, 1893, the annual Male-Manual football rivalry, the longest running, continuously played, high school football series in Kentucky, began. Their football team is a perennial state power, and in addition to its long-running rivalry with Manual, Male is also a close rival with St. Xavier High SchoolSt. Xavier High School, Louisville, Kentucky
St. Xavier High School is an all-male, Xaverian Brothers-sponsored school in Louisville, Kentucky. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville. St. Xavier, also known as St. X, was founded in 1864 by Br. Paul Van Gerwen, C.F.X. The school currently resides on Poplar Level Road...
, with the annual contest usually determining the fate of the district champion; however, due to the state's realignment of high school football into a six-class system starting in 2007-08, Male will be in a separate district from both Manual and St. X, albeit in the same class. Male is the third winningest football program in the United States and the winningest program in Kentucky. Male also has a rivalry with Trinity High School
Trinity High School (Louisville, Kentucky)
Trinity High School is a Catholic, all-boys, college preparatory high school located in St. Matthews, Kentucky, a city within the Louisville Metro governmental area. Trinity first opened its doors in 1953, when Archbishop John Floersh anticipated the growth of Louisville's eastern suburbs by...
in football. Trinity often will not schedule Male in the regular season however.
The school offers football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
(State Championships: 1932 (Runner-up),1945, 1966 (RU),1970, 1971, 1973 (RU), 1974 (RU), 1975, 2001 (RU)), baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
(State Championship: 1944)), and lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
Notable alumni
- Chris BarclayChris BarclayChris Barclay is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Wake Forest...
, professional football player - Ralph BeardRalph BeardRalph Milton Beard Jr. was an American collegiate and professional basketball player. He was born in Hardinsburg, Kentucky. Beard was a member of Adolph Rupp's "Fabulous Five" University of Kentucky basketball team...
, basketball player - Winston BennettWinston BennettWinston George Bennett III is a retired American professional basketball player and current men's basketball head coach for Mid-Continent University.-High school and college career:...
, basketball player - Porter BibbPorter BibbPorter Bibb is an American media producer and publisher. He is best known for being the first publisher of Rolling Stone magazine.Bibb is a senior investment banker specializing in media, entertainment, and technology ventures...
, the first publisher of Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J... - Emery BoppEmery BoppEmery Bopp was an artist and long-time chairman of the Division of Art, Bob Jones University.-Early life and education:...
, artist - Louis BrandeisLouis BrandeisLouis Dembitz Brandeis ; November 13, 1856 – October 5, 1941) was an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1916 to 1939.He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to Jewish immigrant parents who raised him in a secular mode...
, U.S. Supreme Court Justice - Michael BushMichael BushMichael Bush is an American football running back for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted in the 4th round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, professional football player - Trent FindleyTrent FindleyTrenton Findley is a former American football cornerback.-Early years:Findley was a standout in football, basketball, and track and field at Louisville Male High School in Louisville, Kentucky where he earned all-state honors in 1998...
, professional football player - Marcus GreenMarcus GreenMarcus Green is an American football defensive tackle who is a practice squad player for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Ohio State.-External links:*...
, professional football player - Sean GreenSean Green (baseball)Sean William Green is an American professional baseball pitcher. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky.-Biography:Green grew up in east Louisville, Kentucky, in the Fincastle community....
, Major League Baseball Pitcher - Darrell Griffith, professional basketball player
- William B. HarrisonWilliam B. HarrisonWilliam Benjamin Harrison was mayor of Louisville, Kentucky from 1927 to 1933. He graduated from Louisville Male High School in 1907 and the University of Virginia School of Law in 1910. He served as a captain in the United States Army during World War I...
, former mayor of Louisville - Neville MillerNeville MillerNeville Miller was mayor of Louisville, Kentucky from 1933 to 1937. His father, Shackelford Miller, was Chief Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals...
, former mayor of Louisville - Larry O'BannonLarry O'BannonLarry O'Bannon is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays with the club Boca Juniors. He stands 1.94 m tall and he plays at the shooting guard position.-Early life:...
, basketball player - D.J. JohnsonD. J. JohnsonDavid Allen "D.J." Johnson was a cornerback who played eight seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After retiring, he became a broadcaster for The NFL on FOX in 2001....
, Professional football player - Joseph T. O'NealJoseph T. O'NealJoseph Thomas O'Neal, Jr, was interim mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, from June to December 1927. His father was a respected Louisville lawyer who ran for mayor in 1905, losing in a rampantly fraudulent election to Paul C. Barth...
, former mayor of Louisville - Chris RedmanChris RedmanChris James Redman is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Louisville.Redman earned a Super Bowl ring with the...
, professional football player - Lee RobersonLee RobersonLee Edward Roberson , was the founder of Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Camp Joy, in Harrison, Tennessee....
, notable BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
pastor, and founder, president and chancellor of Tennessee Temple UniversityTennessee Temple UniversityTennessee Temple University is a four-year private Christian university, with its focus on liberal arts education, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Operating there, also, is Temple Baptist Seminary, the university's graduate school of Christian theology....
and Temple Baptist Seminary - Edliff SlaughterEdliff SlaughterEdward Ratliff "Butch" Slaughter, Sr. , also known as Edliff Slaughter, was an American football player, athletic coach and professor of physical education. He played guard at the University of Michigan from 1922–1924 and was chosen as a first-team All-American in 1924...
, LMHS's first All-American football player - Hunter S. ThompsonHunter S. ThompsonHunter Stockton Thompson was an American journalist and author who wrote The Rum Diary , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 .He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to...
, gonzo journalist, writer, novelist, political commentator - George Weissinger SmithGeorge Weissinger SmithGeorge Weissinger Smith was mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, the United States from 1917 to 1921. His maternal grandfather, George Weissinger, published the Louisville Journal during the controversial tenure of George D...
, former mayor of Louisville - Wilson Wyatt, former mayor of Louisville