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THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE
A building is only bricks and mortar or in the case of South High, steel
and glass. It truly is the people who make a difference, who are the rich
history of any institution.
Where do you start? Well, how about the 13,000 graduates of South Hagerstown
High School. The shear number is impressive. The individual successes
of those graduates could fill volumes from doctors, to lawyers, to nurses,
teachers, engineers, architects, generals, heroes and heroines. South
High graduates have distinguished themselves in every field of endeavor
all around the world. Then there are the school organizations and teams
made up of all those students who gave of their individual talents and
skills and together in a school organization with other students and with
the help of an advisor or coach came together and experienced success.
From the school plays, to the Quidnunc Yearbook, to the Southwind newspaper,
to the successes of the band and chorus and all the sports teams many
students remember fondly those times. For many, the friendships that were
forged while a part of those activities are friendships that endure today.
Here are a few examples
of school organizations and teams that I think all will agree would be
at the top of any list. The South Hagerstown High School Band was asked
to perform at the Inaugural Parade for President John F. Kennedy in January
of 1960. The band represented the State of Iowa and was in competition
with the State University Bands for all of the other states. South High's
Band came in second to all those university bands. They were beat by the
University of Michigan Band, but they beat the University of Maryland
and every other university band in that competition. The band director
was Mr. Elwood Kinney. Mr. Kinney served as the band director from the
opening of the school through 1975. In the Fall of 1975 Mr. Brad Smith
became the band director and he served in that position through the end
of the 1993 school year. Mr. Kinney and Mr. Smith amassed records with
the band that span 37 years of the school's history. Another success that
can only be matched and never topped is the undefeated football season
of the Fall of 1962. That is the only undefeated football team in South
High's history. The school completed the season ranked 9th in the country.
The head football coach for that season was Mr. Douglass Cochran. There
have been three State Championships: The Boys Basketball Team in 1974
coached by Mr. Nicholas Scallion, the Class 2A Boys Varsity Baseball Team
in 1996 coached by Mr. Greg Eversole and again in 2003 the Class 1A Boys
Baseball Team coached by Mr. Ralph Stottlemyer.
Many students will remember
their participation on school clubs and organizations like the Senior
Boys and Girls Clubs, The Key Club, and the National Honor Society. Buildihg
a float for homecoming was a tradition that many will remember. Those
floats won many awards in the Alsatia Mummers Parade and the Apple Blossom
Parade. All students have memories of the food served in the cafeteria.
It has always been a source of good meals served by a fine cafeteria staff.
The recently retired cafeteria manager, Susie Place was a South High graduate
and captain of the cheerleaders in her senior year. We all have fond memories
from our high school days and I know that pages could be written about
all those experiences. Feel free to add your memories to this brief history
to give it that personal touch.
Then there are the teachers,
counselors and staff. In the past 50 years the school has been served
by eight principals: Mr. Carl Beer, Mr. Richard Whisner, Mr. Donald Zilch,
Mr. Walter Galbraith, Mr. John Peckyno, Mr. Richard Martin, Mr. Michael
Shockey and Mr. Richard Akers. There have been - number of Coordinators,
Administrative Assistants, Vice Principals, now Assistant Principals.
During these 50 years there have been four Athletic Directors: Mr. Richard
Schultz, Mr. William Maletzky, Mr. Harrison Lanham and Mr. Michael Tesla.
There have been ~ teachers who have worked at South High over these 50
years. As a part of those faculties there have been - teachers who graduated
from South High and returned to teach at their Alma Mater. The special
skills and relationships that these professionals nurtured with their
students to provide them with a quality experience during their time in
high school are at the core of the history of South Hagerstown High School.
Remember those relationships fondly.
Students have experienced
a 6 and 7 period day. Today, the students operate on a 4 period semester
schedule. Breakfast is available for all students and there is no more
homeroom. Attendance and announcements all take place in the first class
of the day.
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