Waco High School
| Waco High School | |
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| Location | |
| 2020 N 42nd St Waco, Texas, United States |
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| Information | |
| Type | Public High School |
| School district | Waco ISD |
| Principal | Clarence Simmons |
| Faculty | 139 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Number of students | 1,642 |
| Color(s) | Scarlet, White & Gray |
| Mascot | Lions |
| Website | http://wacoisd.org/wacohigh/ |
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Waco High School (original)
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| Nearest city: | Waco, Texas |
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| Coordinates: | 31°33′22″N 97°8′15″W / 31.55611°N 97.13750°W |
| NRHP Reference#: | 09000140 |
| Added to NRHP: | March 17, 2009 |
Waco High School is a Texas UIL Class 4A public high school located on N. 42 Street in Waco, Texas. As of August 2009, enrollment was 1902 with 139 teachers. The ethnicity is roughly 44.95% African American, 36.91% Hispanic, 17.19% White American and 0.95% other. The school mascot is the lion. The school colors are scarlet, white, and gray.
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[edit] History
Waco High School was originally located at 8th Street and Columbus Avenue in downtown Waco. And, later at another location on the corner of North 19th and College Drive. In 1986, Waco High School was consolidated with Jefferson-Moore High School (which was located in the building that houses A.J. Moore Academy) and Richfield High School, which was located on the former Rich Field, a World War I airfield. The newly constituted high school was renamed Waco High School.
When the schools were merged the school board agreed to take one thing from each school to form the “new” Waco High — the lion mascot from Jefferson-Moore, the school colors (scarlet, white, and gray) and the campus of Richfield, and finally the name “Waco High” from the historic Waco High School.
With the merger, Waco High was classified as a UIL Class 5A school. It was moved down to Class 4A in 2006.
[edit] Athletics
In football the Lions under coach Johnny Tusa made the playoffs in the years 1986-88, 1990–92, 1994–2002, 2004–2005, and 2006.
In 1991, Waco High's longest streak in the 5A playoffs was 5 rounds deep to the semi-finals. Waco High lost to the famed Odessa Permian Panthers before a sell-out crowd, 37-8 at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, Texas. During the playoffs that year, Waco High beat Austin Crockett, Conroe McCullough (now The Woodlands), Richardson Berkner, and Dallas Carter.
In 2006 Waco High was classified a Class 4A school and placed in District 16-4A by the UIL. The district contained fellow 13-5A rival Copperas Cove, plus Brownwood, Killeen, and Waco-area schools University and Midway. The Waco High football team won the District 16-4A Championship defeating every team in the district. Waco High made a run through the playoffs defeating Corsicana, Dallas Hillcrest, Whitehouse, Brownwood, Frenship and into the 4A Division II state championship game held at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The team lost to La Marque, 36-14.
In 2007 Waco High won the District 16-4A championship undefeated. Their only loss on the year was in non-district to Euless Trinity. Waco High lost in the first round of the playoffs in four overtimes to Ennis.
In 2008, the team made the playoffs and lost to Lancaster in bi-district. After the season, head coach Johnny Tusa retired after a long career.
In 2009, Waco ISD hired offensive coordinator Danny Ramsey from Cypress Creek High School as head coach and converted their long-time traditional power running offense into a triple spread option. That year, the team went 2-8 and tied its worst record ever.
[edit] Paul Tyson era
The “old” Waco High Tigers were known for their famous coach Paul Tyson. His career at Waco High began in 1913. He was one of the best known, and one of the most successful high school coaches in America. His teams at Waco High played in seven state championship games, including six consecutive 1922-27. Waco High was state champion in 1922, 1925, 1926 and 1927, and runner up 1923, 1924 and 1939.
In 1927, Waco High had one of the most dominant seasons in Texas high school football history. The Tigers scored an average of 56 points per game (a record that would stand until 1975, when Big Sandy High School scored 824 points for the season) while giving up only 2.4 points to their opponents.[1] On two occasions Waco High scored more than 100 points, once in a playoff game versus Houston Jefferson Davis HS. Roy Needham, Jefferson Davis' coach, said “Waco could have beaten a good college team” that day.[2]
During that same 1927 season, Waco High was recognized as the mythical national high school champions after defeating Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School of Chardon, Ohio in a postseason game by the score of 44-12.[3]
Waco High was again crowned with the honor in 1948.
[edit] Facilities
Waco ISD Stadium was built durings the year of 2000. The first game played at the stadium was Waco High vs Waco University High, September 8, 2000. Waco High won the game 22-0 in front of a crowd estimated at 14,000.
The Waco ISD Stadium replaced the historic 10,000-seat Paul Tyson Stadium. Located behind Waco High School on Lake Air Drive, Tyson Stadium is still in use today for football games and track events.
Waco ISD Stadium is located at the corner of New Road and Bagby Avenue. The address is 1401 S. New Road, Waco, Texas 76711. It is approximately one-half mile from I-35. When traveling to the complex, it is recommended to use the New Road exit from I-35 or the Bagby Avenue exit from Loop 340 (Highway 6).
[edit] Notable alumni
- Joe Barton, United States Congressman
- T. Berry Brazelton, pediatrician, author and developer of the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale
- Shannon Elizabeth, actress
- Hi-Five, R&B group
- Derrick Johnson, former University of Texas football linebacker, currently playing for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs
- Ann Richards, Governor of Texas.
- Hank Thomspon, honky-tonk musician and member of the Country Music and Nashville Songwriter halls of fame
- James "Froggy" Williams, College Football Hall of Famer.
- Jimmy Hammond, Awarded the Bronze Star Medal for service During Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- Margin Hooks, former NFL wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Leon Jaworski, Watergate Special Prosecutor and co-founder of the Fulbright & Jaworski law frim
- Reginald J. Lewis,Class of 1997, Facilitator for Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
[edit] References
- ^ Ratliff, Harold (1968). "Mr. Schoolboy Football Names His All-Time Greats". Dave Campbell's Texas Football: 101–106.
- ^ McMurray, Bill (1985). Texas High School Football. Southbend, IN: Icarus Press. p. 522. ISBN 0-89651-783-7.
- ^ Cashion, Ty (1998). Pigskin Pulpit: A Social History of Texas High School Football Coaches. Austin: Texas State Historical Association. pp. 70–71. ISBN 0-87611-168-1.
George Sauer, Jr. - class of 1961 - went on to play for the New York Jets.
