Memphis University School

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Memphis University School
MUS logo.png
Motto Veritas honorque
"Truth and honor"
Established 1893
Type Private all-male college-preparatory
Students 630
Grades 7–12
Location Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Mascot The Owls (nickname The Buzzards)
     Yale Blue
     Harvard crimson
Rival Christian Brothers High School
Yearbook 'The Owl'
Newspaper 'The Owl's Hoot'
Literary magazine The MUSe
Website www.musowls.org

Memphis University School (MUS) is an all-male private school for grades 7–12, located in Memphis, Tennessee.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] The Old School

Edwin Sidney Werts and James White Sheffey Rhea founded MUS as a college-preparatory school for boys in the fall of 1893. Their purpose was threefold: to prepare boys for competitive colleges, to provide them with a liberal arts education, and to help them develop into cultured Christian gentlemen. Patterned largely after Werts’s alma mater, the University of Virginia, MUS embraced high academic standards, strong moral development, and an emphasis on athletics. The school adopted red and blue as its official colors to represent the academics standards of two universities, Harvard and Yale. In a short time, the school’s reputation was so sound that many of America’s leading colleges began to exempt MUS students from entrance examinations or allowed them to take the exams at MUS. After a disappointing initial enrollment, MUS prospered. Within three years, it outgrew its temporary quarters in the old Bethel Building in Downtown Memphis and occupied the Clara Conway Institute at 297 Poplar Avenue. Shortly after the move, the proprietors built their own building on a small campus near the corner of Madison and Manassas. There the school remained until 1936, when economic factors forced its closure.

[edit] The New MUS

The economic boom of the 1950's revitalized MUS, and classes began again in 1955 under the leadership of Col. Ross M. Lynn and a dedicated Board of Trustees chaired by Alexander Wellford. The School relocated to its current 94-acre (380,000 m2) campus at 6191 Park Avenue in East Memphis. By 1958, it graduated its first seniors. Like the first MUS, the new one emphasized academic excellence, high moral standards, strong athletic development, and gentlemanly conduct. Its student-enforced honor system became the moral heart of the school. During the 1960's, the new MUS grew to maturity. Seniors acquired off-campus lunch privileges; Hutchison School moved in next door; the Hyde Chapel was built; and sophisticated language labs were added. Leigh MacQueen became academic dean, Bill Hatchett guided annual student tours to Europe, and MUS worked at living up to its namesake. Clubs and other extracurricular activities proliferated as students increasingly helped run the school.

In the 1970's, the school added the Hull Lower School, the Hyde Library, the Fisher Fine Arts Wing, and the McCaughan Science building, fulfilling the school's basic physical plant needs. The 1970's also brought MUS racial diversity, long-haired students, and the release from study halls for students without academic or deportment difficulties. Ellis Haguewood began his irreverent and hilarious school day picture day (SDPD) talks and a sixteen-year stint as yearbook adviser. The school’s academics became stronger in a climate of diversity. Both faculty and curriculum grew much stronger through the 1970s and the 1980s, and enrollment crested at nearly 600 students.

In the 1980's, the school lost two beloved leaders with the deaths of Col. Lynn and Lower School Principal John Murry Springfield. Growth, innovation, and academic excellence continued, however, under Gene Thorn’s leadership. In 1990, the school constructed the Sue H. Hyde Sports and Physical Education Center, symbolizing that it had become as much an athletic as an academic powerhouse. Thorn retired in 1992, and William Campbell served for three years as headmaster. Then, following a meticulous national search, the Board of Trustees selected MUS Upper School Principal and Interim Headmaster Ellis Haguewood to lead the school.

Under the leadership of Headmaster Haguewood and Chairman of the Board Ben Adams (1996-2004), MUS implemented a long-term strategic plan. This included a master plan for expanding and updating the physical plant and a massive capital campaign (more than $21 million total) to fund improvements. The Crump Firm’s master plan included a new tennis center with a clubhouse, renovation and expansion of the Hull Lower School, erecting a commodious new Campus Center, and razing and replacing the Upper School and the Clack Dining Hall. Construction, including the new Dunavant Upper School, was completed by January 2003. Alumnus Trow Gillespie, who had spearheaded the fundraising, replaced Ben Adams in 2004 as chairman of the Board of Trustees. In 2008, Bob Loeb became chairman of the Board of Trustees.

[edit] Philosophy

The school's state philosophy is as follows:

Memphis University School is committed to high standards of academic performance, personal integrity, leadership, athletic accomplishment, and the transmission of Christian values. An MUS education is characterized by a vigorous curriculum, a lively exchange of ideas, and supportive teaching. Its objective is to instruct students in the basic skills and subject matter of the humanities and sciences, to cultivate the habits and techniques of learning and athletic accomplishment, and to instill in them the highest standards of morality and conduct. Non-denominational and non-sectarian, MUS seeks to foster an appreciation of the spiritual nature of man and honors the sincere expression of widely differing faiths. MUS shares through prayer, the study of the Bible, and Chapel programs the richness of its Judeo-Christian heritage but makes no attempt to convert any student from his faith. Emphasis is given to the creation of an atmosphere where students of differing races and faiths can grow in mutual understanding and respect. Religious, racial, and ethnic derision is not tolerated. The faculty and administration of MUS should respect the Christian nature of the school and should themselves value their own spiritual growth and the spiritual growth of their students. The school endeavors to provide faculty and administrators who will respect each student regardless of individual differences.

[edit] Community Creed

Written by seniors in the Class of 2001, the Community Creed was approved by the Student Council and adopted by the students as a statement of the ideals and virtues that have governed student behavior and attitudes since the inception of the school.

Community Creed

As students of Memphis University School, we share a duty to preserve our tradition of general excellence by upholding the principles that define and unify our community.

  • Truth and Honor: An MUS student tells the truth, does his own work, honors his commitments, and respects the property of others and of the school.
  • Scholarship: An MUS student actively seeks knowledge and understanding, and he encourages that pursuit among his classmates.
  • Service: An MUS student contributes his time and abilities to the welfare of his school and of the greater community.
  • Respect: An MUS student is courteous and kind and appreciates everyone in his community.
  • Humility: An MUS student may be confident but never arrogant or boastful.
  • Involvement: An MUS student develops leadership, cooperation, communication, self-discipline, and friendships in activities outside the classroom.
  • Accountability: An MUS student takes responsibility for his actions and accepts their consequences.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Athletics

Its athletic program competes within the Super Prep conference, and won state championships in football in 1985, 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2009, and basketball in 2006–2007. Their archrival in athletics is Christian Brothers High School. The football team is perennially ranked nationally, with the 2008 13–0 team receiving a standing of #25 in the nation by MaxPreps and #17 in the nation by Rivals.com. In 2009 the football team had another undefeated season. The Owls were ranked #4 in the nation by Rivals.com and #5 in the nation in a combination poll by CalPreps.

[edit] External links

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