Winston Churchill High School (San Antonio, Texas)
Encyclopedia
Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, Texas
is part of the North East Independent School District
. It is named after Sir Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
. The school serves portions of San Antonio, the city of Hill Country Village
, and the town of Hollywood Park
. It first opened for classes in 1966, funded by a 1960 school district bond that also established Roosevelt High School
and the Blossom Athletic Center
.
The school mascot is the Charger while the British Union Flag
(also referred to as the Union Jack) and lion are used as additional symbols. Alma mater for the school is Rule, Britannia!
in reference to Winston Churchill's nationality. The Churchill Charger Choir, Band, and Orchestra are well known and have won many awards. Churchill has also historically had excellent academic and athletics programs. The School is referenced in the 1996 movie Lone Star
. It has been twice named a National Blue Ribbon School, in 1982-83 and again in 1999-2000.
The 1982 Churchill High School basketball team won the 1982 State 5A Championship. The team was coached by Bobby Murphy and his brother, Assistant Coach Danny Murphy. The team ended on a nineteen game winning streak by beating Galveston's Ball High School for the State Championship. The team was led by Gary Heyland and Pat Hymel. Heyland was named MVP of the state tournament, First Team All State, and selected as the 1982 Texas High School Player of the Year. Hymel was selected first team All State. Rounding out the starting five were Jon Moseley, Jim Gallagher, and Paul Myers. Team member Tim Woods is now Head Coach at Churchill.
Churchill High went 15-0 and won the 1976 4A state championship in football (the state's largest classification until 1980).
Churchill High School's men's and women's soccer programs are also highly regarded countrywide. The Men's team won the Texas State Championship in 1989, 1998, 2001, and 2003. In 2000, Churchill's Nathan Hughes was selected as the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year.
Churchill's Men and Women's Swimming and Diving teams are also extremely successful. The aquatics program gives the high school the most state championships out of every other sport at the school, totaling up to 9 championships. Men's state champions: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2000, and 2008. Women's state champions: 1984, 1999, and 2005.
Notable Athletic Alumni:
Lyle Blackwood
- NFL Football Player (TCU - Miami Dolphins)
Glenn Blackwood
- NFL Football Player (University of Texas - Miami Dolphins)
Cody Carlson
- NFL Football Player (Baylor - Houston Oilers)
Randy Choate
- MLB Baseball Player
Scott Dunn
- MLB Baseball Player
Josh Davis
- Olympic Gold Medalist (swimming)
Alex Van Pelt
- NFL Football Player (Buffalo Bills)
Tully Blanchard
- Professional Wrestler
The founding coach of the Churchill program, Lanny Naeglin, is known nationally as one of the most respected Forensics Coaches at every level of competitive speech and debate. Naeglin, who died of a stroke in 1996, is honored on campus by the schools renovated Lanny Naeglin Theater. Additionally, the National Forensic League has named its Dramatic Interpretation National Award after Mr. Naeglin.
The Churchill Band is known statewide for its drum line and marching abilities, as they are a frequent winner of competitions at the state level. The Churchill Band have been Bands of America Grand Nationals finalists four times, and took 3rd place at the 2006 UIL
state finals. They have won numerous awards and have consistently placed high in BOA competitions (Bands Of America). The Churchill band also got invited to go to Hawaii over the 2009 spring break season, playing music on the decks of Pearl Harbor
in front of the USS Missouri
. Only two bands from each state got invited to go to this event, and Churchill was one of the bands accepted, representing San Antonio, and Texas. The Churchill color guard is also nationally recognized for its outstanding performances and high level of skill, especially under the direction of Mike Sloan who coordinated the drill for the marching band during the fall until 2009. They are one of two guards in the state of Texas to receive the honor of holding a World Class Colorguard title.
The Churchill Orchestra was selected as one of eight schools nationally to participate in Carnegie Hall's National Band and Orchestra Festival on March 21, 2008.
The Winston Churchill High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble place first the Scholastic Open World WGI Championships in 2003 and were Scholastic Open World Finalists in 2003. They were also the TCGC Scholastic Open World Champions in 2009 and 2010.
Abby Brammell
, Actress
Robert Michael Geisler, Tony- and Oscar-nominated producer
Business
Gary C. Kelly
, CEO Southwest Airlines
Music
Alan Palomo, Creator of Neon Indian
Politics
Pete Sessions
, U.S. Congressman
Bill White
, Former Houston Mayor, Gubernatorial Candidate
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
is part of the North East Independent School District
North East Independent School District
North East Independent School District is a school district located in Bexar County, Texas, . North East ISD serves the north central and northeast areas of Bexar County, covering approximately . North East ISD serves the cities of San Antonio, Castle Hills, Hill Country Village, Hollywood Park,...
. It is named after Sir Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
. The school serves portions of San Antonio, the city of Hill Country Village
Hill Country Village, Texas
Hill Country Village is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,028 at the 2000 census. It is an enclave of San Antonio and is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and the town of Hollywood Park
Hollywood Park, Texas
Hollywood Park is a town in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,983 at the 2000 census. It is an enclave of San Antonio and is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. It first opened for classes in 1966, funded by a 1960 school district bond that also established Roosevelt High School
Theodore Roosevelt High School (San Antonio)
Theodore Roosevelt High School is a high school in San Antonio, Texas. A part of the North East Independent School District, the school serves portions of San Antonio and the City of Windcrest...
and the Blossom Athletic Center
Blossom Athletic Center
The Virgil T. Blossom Athletic Center is a multi-sport athletic complex owned by the North East ISD located in San Antonio, Texas. Best known for Comalander Stadium, a 10,952-seat football stadium, the center is also home to facilities for a number of other sports. The Josh Davis Natatorium, named...
.
The school mascot is the Charger while the British Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
(also referred to as the Union Jack) and lion are used as additional symbols. Alma mater for the school is Rule, Britannia!
Rule, Britannia!
"Rule, Britannia!" is a British patriotic song, originating from the poem "Rule, Britannia" by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740...
in reference to Winston Churchill's nationality. The Churchill Charger Choir, Band, and Orchestra are well known and have won many awards. Churchill has also historically had excellent academic and athletics programs. The School is referenced in the 1996 movie Lone Star
Lone Star (1996 film)
Lone Star is an American mystery film written and directed by John Sayles and set in a small town in Texas. It features Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Kris Kristofferson and Matthew McConaughey and deals with a sheriff's investigation into who murdered one of his predecessors.-Plot:In this ensemble...
. It has been twice named a National Blue Ribbon School, in 1982-83 and again in 1999-2000.
Athletics
Churchill has won more 5-A state championships in UIL sports than any other high school in the state of Texas.The 1982 Churchill High School basketball team won the 1982 State 5A Championship. The team was coached by Bobby Murphy and his brother, Assistant Coach Danny Murphy. The team ended on a nineteen game winning streak by beating Galveston's Ball High School for the State Championship. The team was led by Gary Heyland and Pat Hymel. Heyland was named MVP of the state tournament, First Team All State, and selected as the 1982 Texas High School Player of the Year. Hymel was selected first team All State. Rounding out the starting five were Jon Moseley, Jim Gallagher, and Paul Myers. Team member Tim Woods is now Head Coach at Churchill.
Churchill High went 15-0 and won the 1976 4A state championship in football (the state's largest classification until 1980).
Churchill High School's men's and women's soccer programs are also highly regarded countrywide. The Men's team won the Texas State Championship in 1989, 1998, 2001, and 2003. In 2000, Churchill's Nathan Hughes was selected as the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year.
Churchill's Men and Women's Swimming and Diving teams are also extremely successful. The aquatics program gives the high school the most state championships out of every other sport at the school, totaling up to 9 championships. Men's state champions: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2000, and 2008. Women's state champions: 1984, 1999, and 2005.
Notable Athletic Alumni:
Lyle Blackwood
Lyle Blackwood
Lyle Vernon Blackwood played safety position in the National Football League and is best known for teaming alongside his brother, Glenn Blackwood with the Miami Dolphins as part of the notorious "Killer B's" defense...
- NFL Football Player (TCU - Miami Dolphins)
Glenn Blackwood
Glenn Blackwood
Glenn Allen Blackwood was a safety who played nine seasons in the National Football League. Blackwood attended the University of Texas. His brother Lyle Blackwood also played in the NFL, and they were teammates from 1981 through 1986 with the Miami Dolphins...
- NFL Football Player (University of Texas - Miami Dolphins)
Cody Carlson
Cody Carlson
Matthew Cody Carlson is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 3rd round of the 1987 NFL Draft. A 6'3", 203-lb...
- NFL Football Player (Baylor - Houston Oilers)
Randy Choate
Randy Choate
Randol Doyle Choate is an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Miami Marlins.-High school years:Choate attended Churchill High School in San Antonio, Texas, and was a letterman in baseball....
- MLB Baseball Player
Scott Dunn
Scott Dunn
Scott Allen Dunn is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. After graduating from Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, he attended the University of Texas at Austin...
- MLB Baseball Player
Josh Davis
Josh Davis (swimmer)
Joshua Clark Davis is a former freestyle swimmer from the United States who was team captain in 2000, he won five medals as a member of US Men's Relay Teams: three golds at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, and two silvers four years later at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney,...
- Olympic Gold Medalist (swimming)
Alex Van Pelt
Alex Van Pelt
Alexander "Alex" Van Pelt is an American football coach and former quarterback. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccanneers of the National Football League.-College:...
- NFL Football Player (Buffalo Bills)
Tully Blanchard
Tully Blanchard
Tully Arthur Blanchard is a semi-retired second generation American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen....
- Professional Wrestler
Fine arts
The Churchill Oral Interpretation Team joins with the Churchill Debate Team and Churchill Theatre Dept. to form a nationally recognized and respected forensics program. Focused on the interpretation of literature, the Interp Team competes throughout the year in many events and at many forensics tournaments in Texas and the nation. The Forensics Program also hosts the annual Churchill Classic Speech and Debate Tournament in January, providing one of the finest competitive environments in Texas. Churchill High School is known nationally by its highly successful speech and debate teams—nine time sweepstakes winners of the National Forensic League's (NFL) National Tournament. The School has produced numerous Texas Forensic Association State Champions, including Brianna Collins and Wilson Bondeson, Sarah Lavere, and Forrest Weber in 2008, who also were NFL National Finalists. The speech and debate teams are respectively coached by Brian Eanes and Karen "Kandi" King.The founding coach of the Churchill program, Lanny Naeglin, is known nationally as one of the most respected Forensics Coaches at every level of competitive speech and debate. Naeglin, who died of a stroke in 1996, is honored on campus by the schools renovated Lanny Naeglin Theater. Additionally, the National Forensic League has named its Dramatic Interpretation National Award after Mr. Naeglin.
The Churchill Band is known statewide for its drum line and marching abilities, as they are a frequent winner of competitions at the state level. The Churchill Band have been Bands of America Grand Nationals finalists four times, and took 3rd place at the 2006 UIL
University Interscholastic League
The University Interscholastic League is an organization that creates rules for and administers almost all athletic, music, and academic contests for public primary and secondary schools in the American state of Texas....
state finals. They have won numerous awards and have consistently placed high in BOA competitions (Bands Of America). The Churchill band also got invited to go to Hawaii over the 2009 spring break season, playing music on the decks of Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
in front of the USS Missouri
USS Missouri
Four ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Missouri in honor of the state of Missouri:, a sidewheel frigate launched in 1841 and destroyed by fire in August 1843, a Maine class battleship in service from 1900 to 1922., an Iowa class battleship in service from 1944 to 1998; site of the...
. Only two bands from each state got invited to go to this event, and Churchill was one of the bands accepted, representing San Antonio, and Texas. The Churchill color guard is also nationally recognized for its outstanding performances and high level of skill, especially under the direction of Mike Sloan who coordinated the drill for the marching band during the fall until 2009. They are one of two guards in the state of Texas to receive the honor of holding a World Class Colorguard title.
The Churchill Orchestra was selected as one of eight schools nationally to participate in Carnegie Hall's National Band and Orchestra Festival on March 21, 2008.
The Winston Churchill High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble place first the Scholastic Open World WGI Championships in 2003 and were Scholastic Open World Finalists in 2003. They were also the TCGC Scholastic Open World Champions in 2009 and 2010.
Notable alumni
ArtsAbby Brammell
Abby Brammell
Abby Brammell is an American television and stage actress.-Personal life:Brammell was born in Kentucky and raised in San Antonio, Texas, where she graduated from Churchill High School in 1997. She graduated from the Carnegie Mellon University drama school in 2001...
, Actress
Robert Michael Geisler, Tony- and Oscar-nominated producer
Business
Gary C. Kelly
Gary C. Kelly
Gary C. Kelly is the chief executive officer and chairman of Southwest Airlines. He first joined the company in 1986 as Controller. In 1989, Gary was promoted to Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance. In 2001, he was promoted to Executive Vice President...
, CEO Southwest Airlines
Music
Alan Palomo, Creator of Neon Indian
Politics
Pete Sessions
Pete Sessions
Peter Anderson Sessions is a politician from the state of Texas. He is a Republican, and currently represents the 32nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is the current Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee-Personal:Sessions was born in Waco,...
, U.S. Congressman
Bill White
Bill White
-Politics:* Bill White – former mayor of the city of Houston and a candidate for the Texas gubernatorial election in 2010...
, Former Houston Mayor, Gubernatorial Candidate