Samuell High School
Encyclopedia
W. W. Samuell High School is a public secondary school
located in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas
, Texas
(USA
). Samuell High enrolls students in grades 9
-12
and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District
.
The school serves portions of southeast Dallas and a portion of the city of Balch Springs
.
annexed Pleasant Grove ISD
in 1955, and Pleasant Grove High School was replaced by Samuell High School the same year. In the 1950s and early 1960s, a number of new housing developments in the Pleasant Grove area made Samuell one of Dallas' largest high schools; a new wing was opened in the mid-1960s to handle the increase in population. H. Grady Spruce and Skyline high schools were opened in 1963 and 1971 to help reduce attendance at Samuell.
Dr. William Worthington Samuell was a wealthy individual who before his death donated millions of dollars to the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department. There are now at least six institutions named after Dr. Samuell in the Dallas area, including the high school, a boulevard, a City of Dallas ranch, a city park and two streets in bordering cities. Dr. W. W. Samuell purchased the first ambulance for the City of Dallas in 1911.
The school and the district became the focus of a prominent civil rights
case in 1966 when three male students — Paul Jarvis, Phil Ferrell and Steve Webb — sued the district after they were ordered to cut their long hair in order to be admitted to school. The case was one of the first in which individuals sued a large urban school district to preserve their individual rights, and the cause was taken up by the American Civil Liberties Union
as well as local retail pioneer Stanley Marcus
. Marcus did not know the students, but saw their hairstyles as a fashion choice rather than a show of disregard for authority. The case was lost in the U.S. District Court, and despite a series of appeals leading to the U.S. Supreme Court, it was not overturned. The decision is still cited in court cases over constitutional rights.
The 1965 Spartan baseball team won the Class AAAA title. According to records maintained by the University Interscholastic League
, this is the only state title won by Samuell in any sport and the only baseball state championship won by any DISD high school.
Toward the end of the 2008-2009 school year, Samuell was announced as academically acceptable for the 2009-2010 school year.
John Quincy Adams, Pleasant Grove, John W. Runyon, and Edward Titche Elementary Schools all feed into Florence Middle School, and ultimately into Samuell High School.
Annie Webb Blanton, Nathaniel Hawthorne, John Ireland, San Jacinto, and C. A. Tatum Jr. Elementary Schools feed into Hood Middle School, and ultimately into Samuell High School.
In 2007, the W.W. Samuell High School Marching "Sound System" Band, under the direction of Mr. Carlton Cooper won Grambling State University's Dallas High School "Battle of the Bands" at D.I.S.D.'s Kincaide Stadium over Townview Magnet High School "Big D" Band in the large band category. This was the Samuell band's first "Battle of the Bands" victory in the school's history.
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...
located in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, 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...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). Samuell High enrolls students in grades 9
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
-12
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District
Dallas Independent School District
The Dallas Independent School District is a school district based in Dallas, Texas . Dallas ISD, which operates schools in much of Dallas County, is the second largest school district in Texas and the twelfth largest in the United States.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically...
.
The school serves portions of southeast Dallas and a portion of the city of Balch Springs
Balch Springs, Texas
Balch Springs is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. It is both a suburb of Dallas and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The population was 19,375 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 20,003.-Geography:Balch Springs is located at...
.
History
Dallas ISDDallas Independent School District
The Dallas Independent School District is a school district based in Dallas, Texas . Dallas ISD, which operates schools in much of Dallas County, is the second largest school district in Texas and the twelfth largest in the United States.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically...
annexed Pleasant Grove ISD
Pleasant Grove Independent School District
Pleasant Grove Independent School District can refer to:* Pleasant Grove Independent School District * Pleasant Grove Independent School District...
in 1955, and Pleasant Grove High School was replaced by Samuell High School the same year. In the 1950s and early 1960s, a number of new housing developments in the Pleasant Grove area made Samuell one of Dallas' largest high schools; a new wing was opened in the mid-1960s to handle the increase in population. H. Grady Spruce and Skyline high schools were opened in 1963 and 1971 to help reduce attendance at Samuell.
Dr. William Worthington Samuell was a wealthy individual who before his death donated millions of dollars to the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department. There are now at least six institutions named after Dr. Samuell in the Dallas area, including the high school, a boulevard, a City of Dallas ranch, a city park and two streets in bordering cities. Dr. W. W. Samuell purchased the first ambulance for the City of Dallas in 1911.
The school and the district became the focus of a prominent civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
case in 1966 when three male students — Paul Jarvis, Phil Ferrell and Steve Webb — sued the district after they were ordered to cut their long hair in order to be admitted to school. The case was one of the first in which individuals sued a large urban school district to preserve their individual rights, and the cause was taken up by the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
as well as local retail pioneer Stanley Marcus
Stanley Marcus
Harold Stanley Marcus was an early president and later chairman of the board of the luxury retailer Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas, which his father and aunt had founded in 1907...
. Marcus did not know the students, but saw their hairstyles as a fashion choice rather than a show of disregard for authority. The case was lost in the U.S. District Court, and despite a series of appeals leading to the U.S. Supreme Court, it was not overturned. The decision is still cited in court cases over constitutional rights.
The 1965 Spartan baseball team won the Class AAAA title. According to records maintained by the University Interscholastic League
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....
, this is the only state title won by Samuell in any sport and the only baseball state championship won by any DISD high school.
Toward the end of the 2008-2009 school year, Samuell was announced as academically acceptable for the 2009-2010 school year.
Student life
The alma mater is "Hail Samuell High, Hail Samuell High", written in 1955 by a music teacher at the school. The school yearbook is The Torch and the school newspaper is The Sentinel. For many years, the seniors' annual memory book was The Senior Pub, a publication of senior moments which covered all levels of the school, from the classroom funnies to athletics to activities. Most seniors perform in The Senior Assembly either alone or in a group.Demographics
The ethnic makeup of the school in the 2008-2009 fiscal year was 61% Hispanic, 39% Black, less than 1% White, 1% Native American and less than 1% Asian or Pacific Islander.Student Subgroups
81% of the student population is catergorized as being economically disadvantaged compared to 55% in Texas and 14% of the student population is listed as having special education compared to 10% in Texas.Feeder patterns
As of 2007, Fred F. Florence and John B. Hood Middle Schools feed into Samuell High School.John Quincy Adams, Pleasant Grove, John W. Runyon, and Edward Titche Elementary Schools all feed into Florence Middle School, and ultimately into Samuell High School.
Annie Webb Blanton, Nathaniel Hawthorne, John Ireland, San Jacinto, and C. A. Tatum Jr. Elementary Schools feed into Hood Middle School, and ultimately into Samuell High School.
Notable alumni
- John Ford ColeyJohn Ford ColeyJohn Ford Coley is a singer, classically trained pianist, guitarist, actor, and author most known for his partnership in the musical duo England Dan & John Ford Coley.-Early life:...
— partner in musical duo with Dan Seals; hits include "I'd Really Love to See You TonightI'd Really Love to See You Tonight"I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" was written by Parker McGee and was a hit by England Dan & John Ford Coley from their 1976 album Nights Are Forever...
" - Arcelina Publio Dias— noted Brazilian journalist from São PauloSão PauloSão Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
- Joe Dixon — Defensive back on The University of Texas 1963 National ChampionshipNational championshipA national championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest in a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best team, individual in a particular nation and in a particular field...
Team. - Michael Gunstanson — Noted Web pioneer/journalist. Was first to use Flash as an editorial tool, conducted chat with orbiting space station and conceived then conducted first triplecast (web, analog and digital broadcast) in nation's history.
- Wayne Harrison — Texas radio reporter jailed in 1979 in Longview, TexasLongview, TexasLongview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...
for refusing to reveal a news source. - James Hughey — Samuell High School principal from 1984 to 1989 & Dallas Independent School DistrictDallas Independent School DistrictThe Dallas Independent School District is a school district based in Dallas, Texas . Dallas ISD, which operates schools in much of Dallas County, is the second largest school district in Texas and the twelfth largest in the United States.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically...
superintendent from 1995 to 2000 and 2001 to 2003. - Ron Jones — 1969 NFL tight end for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe 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...
- Joe Kendall — former federal judge (1992–2002)
- Russ MartinRuss MartinRussell Dale Martin is an American radio shock jock in Dallas, Texas. He has worked in the Dallas radio market for over 26 years. Martin hosted the #1 rated The Russ Martin Show on KLLI Live 105.3 in Dallas, until December 8, 2008 when KLLI switched to an all-sports format...
— Host of The Russ Martin Show, a radio program in Dallas. - Carl MitchamCarl MitchamCarl Mitcham is a philosopher of technology. Born in 1941, Mitcham is currently Professor of Liberal Arts and International Studies at the Colorado School of Mines and a professor at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee....
— philosopher of technology and engineering, now at Colorado School of MinesColorado School of MinesThe Colorado School of Mines is a small public teaching and research university devoted to engineering and applied science, with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the Earth's natural resources. Located in Golden, Colorado, CSM was ranked 29th, in America among national... - Dr. Gregory L. Pierson — Former elected official, International Consultant
- Steve Ramsey — PunterPunter (football position)A punter in American or Canadian football is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a...
/QuarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
1970, Denver BroncosDenver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1971-76) - Mark Reeves — "Dapper Bandit," robbed banks in the North TexasNorth TexasNorth Texas is a distinct cultural and geographic area forming the central-northeastern section of the U.S. state of Texas. North Texas is generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, and north of Waco...
area from 1978 to 1988. - Lulu RomanLulu RomanLulu Roman is a former telephone operator and go-go dancer turned comedian and singer. She is probably best known as a regular on the comedy-music television series Hee Haw....
— Former Hee HawHee HawHee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, the major difference being...
TV show personality. - Stephany Samone — 1986 Miss TexasMiss TexasThe Miss Texas competition was founded in 1936 as a scholarship contest for young women. The winner represents Texas in the Miss America pageant; three winners have gone on to be crowned Miss America ....
and top 10 finalist for Miss AmericaMiss AmericaThe Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
. - Dan SealsDan SealsDanny Wayland "Dan" Seals was an American musician. The younger brother of Seals & Crofts member Jim Seals, he first gained fame as the "England Dan" half of the soft rock duo England Dan and John Ford Coley, which charted nine pop and adult contemporary singles between 1976 and 1980, including...
— country and pop musician also known as England Dan. - Morgana Shaw — television, theatre, movie actress.
- Dale Tillery — former TexasTexasTexas 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...
state representative for District 10. - Mike Trent — former University of Texas Longhorn center fielder; set College World SeriesCollege World SeriesThe College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
record by scoring 4 runs in 1983 game, helping win the title - Sammy Walker — shot putShot putThe shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
collegiate record breaker at Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
and athlete at the 1976 Summer Olympics1976 Summer OlympicsThe 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
. - Bo Wayne Weaver — professional baseball player for Seattle PilotsSeattle PilotsThe Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
, a forerunner of the Milwaukee Brewers - Dwain Wilder, '58 — Noted builder of Appalachian dulcimers, inventor (three patents, in solid state device processing and lutherie), poet and essayist
Trivia
- Samuell High's International Exchange Program was in effect in 1963, with Arcelina Publio Dias from São Paulo, Brazil, this was the first such program in the Dallas area.
- Samuell High has two cheerleading groups, the Varsity Cheerleaders and Deaf Cheer Pride. The latter are a group of deaf students who attend the school.
- The Award winning Samuell Starlets are the school's Drill Team.
- The made-for-TV movie Right to Kill?Right to Kill?The movie Right to Kill? is based on a true story of two teens Richard Jahnke and Deborah Jahnke, who were charged in Wyoming for the killing of their psychotically abusive father, Richard Jahnke, Sr. The made-for-TV movie was filmed at W.W. Samuell High School in Dallas, Texas in 1985 and aired...
was filmed at Samuell High in 1985 and aired nationally on May 21, 1985, on ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. The film's leading actors were Frederic ForrestFrederic Forrest-Life:Forrest was born in Waxahachie, Texas, the son of Virginia Allie and Frederic Fenimore Forrest, a furniture store owner. He is known for his roles as Chef in Apocalypse Now, When The Legends Die, It Lives Again, the neo-Nazi surplus store owner in Falling Down, Right to Kill? and for playing...
(Oscar-nominated for The RoseThe Rose (film)The Rose is a 1979 American musical drama film which tells the story of a self-destructive 1960s rock star who struggles to cope with the constant pressures of her career and the demands of her ruthless business manager...
in 1979) and Justine BatemanJustine BatemanJustine Tanya Bateman is an American actress, writer, and producer. She is best known for her regular role as Mallory Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties...
, who was nominated for an Emmy for playing the role of a physically abused daughter in this movie. - W.W. Samuell has won 2 Dr PepperDr PepperDr Pepper is a soft drink, marketed as having a unique flavor. The drink was created in the 1880s by Charles Alderton of Waco, Texas and first served around 1885. Dr Pepper was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904 and is now also sold in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Australia ...
Basketball Tournaments in Dallas. The tournament consists of over 32 high school teams from the DFW area.
In 2007, the W.W. Samuell High School Marching "Sound System" Band, under the direction of Mr. Carlton Cooper won Grambling State University's Dallas High School "Battle of the Bands" at D.I.S.D.'s Kincaide Stadium over Townview Magnet High School "Big D" Band in the large band category. This was the Samuell band's first "Battle of the Bands" victory in the school's history.
External links
- Dallas ISD listing for Samuell High School
- School profile (PDFPortable Document FormatPortable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
) - Attendance zone map (PDFPortable Document FormatPortable Document Format is an open standard for document exchange. This file format, created by Adobe Systems in 1993, is used for representing documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems....
)