West End High School (Birmingham, Alabama)
Encyclopedia
West End High School was a public high school
in the Birmingham City Schools
system of Birmingham, Alabama
. The school's massive red-brick building, completed in 1930
was a collaboration between noted local architects Warren, Knight and Davis and David O. Whilldin.
In 1963 a boycott of the school by white students took place after two African-American students tried to register for classes. Those who boycotted shouted "Two, four, six, eight, we don't want to integrate." The boycott ended in a week.
On June 27, 1982 West End alumnus and shuttle pilot Henry W. Hartsfield carried a West End banner into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia
.
Under a consolidation plan approved by the Birmingham Board of Education in February 2008, West End High School was closed during the summer of 2008 with students transferring to Wenonah High School
, A. H. Parker High School
and Jackson-Olin High School. The closing was marked by a ceremony on June 7 with a parade, pep rally, picnic and alumni basketball game. Demolition of the school building began in March 2009.
Alumni groups are active. Many classes meet annually, albeit informally. One distinguished group of alumni is known as The West End Yacht Club, which is a group of men graduated in 1968. The West End Yacht Club's members are Don Bevill, Lee Crapet, Tom Browne and James Musgrove, local executives, and an attorney, Wayne Morse, who took West End memorabilia with him when he appeared before the Supreme Court of the United States. The West End Yacht Club meets quarterly.
program. The Lions won two straight class 6A State titles in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 school years. West End was also the last Birmingham City School to compete in the class 6A title game in American football
during the 1993-94 school year. The Lions finished 13-2 that year and they were led by a defense dubbed the "dog pound."
With faith and loyalty
Stands our alma-mater
Stands old West End High
Pride of each student
May she ever be
Hail to our alma-mater
Dear old West End High
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in the Birmingham City Schools
Birmingham City Schools
Birmingham City Schools is the public school district that serves the U.S. city of Birmingham, Alabama.It is currently the fourth largest school system in Alabama behind Mobile County Public School System, Jefferson County School System, and Montgomery Public Schools...
system of Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The school's massive red-brick building, completed in 1930
1930 in architecture
The year 1930 in architecture involved some significant events.-Buildings:* June 9 – The Chicago Board of Trade Building, designed by Holabird & Roche opens....
was a collaboration between noted local architects Warren, Knight and Davis and David O. Whilldin.
In 1963 a boycott of the school by white students took place after two African-American students tried to register for classes. Those who boycotted shouted "Two, four, six, eight, we don't want to integrate." The boycott ended in a week.
On June 27, 1982 West End alumnus and shuttle pilot Henry W. Hartsfield carried a West End banner into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia
STS-4
STS-4 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission, using the Space Shuttle Columbia. The mission launched on 27 June 1982 and landed a week later on 4 July. STS-4 was the fourth shuttle mission overall, and was also the fourth mission for the Columbia.-Crew:...
.
Under a consolidation plan approved by the Birmingham Board of Education in February 2008, West End High School was closed during the summer of 2008 with students transferring to Wenonah High School
Wenonah High School
Wenonah High School is a high school for grades 9 - 12 in Birmingham, Alabama. It is part of the Birmingham City Schools.-Previous Wenonah High School :...
, A. H. Parker High School
A. H. Parker High School
A.H. Parker High School is a public high school located in Birmingham, Alabama. The school educates over 1,000 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Birmingham City Schools district.As of 2010 the principal is Cedric Tatum.- History :A.H...
and Jackson-Olin High School. The closing was marked by a ceremony on June 7 with a parade, pep rally, picnic and alumni basketball game. Demolition of the school building began in March 2009.
Alumni groups are active. Many classes meet annually, albeit informally. One distinguished group of alumni is known as The West End Yacht Club, which is a group of men graduated in 1968. The West End Yacht Club's members are Don Bevill, Lee Crapet, Tom Browne and James Musgrove, local executives, and an attorney, Wayne Morse, who took West End memorabilia with him when he appeared before the Supreme Court of the United States. The West End Yacht Club meets quarterly.
Athletics
West End High School was well known in the Birmingham area for its basketballBasketball
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...
program. The Lions won two straight class 6A State titles in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 school years. West End was also the last Birmingham City School to compete in the class 6A title game in American 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...
during the 1993-94 school year. The Lions finished 13-2 that year and they were led by a defense dubbed the "dog pound."
Alma-Mater
Nobly enshroudedWith faith and loyalty
Stands our alma-mater
Stands old West End High
Pride of each student
May she ever be
Hail to our alma-mater
Dear old West End High