- Hillsborough High School is the oldest high school in Hillsborough County, Florida. It is one of three county schools with an International Baccalaureate program.
- Hillsborough High School was established in 1885 on Franklin St., in a very small building. General class size was 19 students with one teacher. After several relocations, Hillsborough moved to its current location (5000 North Central Avenue) in 1927. Hillsborough's exterior is known to be one of the most beautiful and historic in the Seminole Heights region of Tampa, Florida. Its capacity is over 4,000 students.
- History and traditions
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Hillsborough High School, is one of the South's oldest high schools and the oldest high school in the county, is full of history, tradition, and pride. While its existence as a school probably dates closer to 1880, a room over a Franklin Street livery stable in 1885 is recognized as the first location of the school. After several moves, the present building was opened in 1927. The school "strives" to provide a positive educational environment and to meet and respect the needs of its students, by providing a rich liberal arts education, offering namely; college prep, vocational, and international baccalaureate programs.
- Beginning with the first teacher (who also served as principal) and the first graduating class of four students in 1885, the students, faculty and administrators of Hillsborough High School have established a framework of history, tradition, spirit, and pride. One of the oldest traditions is the wearing of red and black, the school's colors, every Friday to show spirit and unity. Hillsborough has many illustrious alumni who have served as state attorneys, senators, judges, state representatives, mayors, professional athletes, and in many other notable professions.
- Hillsborough produced the first high school newspaper in Florida in 1889, The Red & Black, and the first yearbook in Florida, "The Hillsborean", in 1911. In 1913 and 1914, Hillsborough's basketball and baseball teams defeated teams from the University of Florida and Southern College. In 1929, Hillsborough won the high school national football championship.
- The alma mater, "The Red and Black" was written in 1923. In 1931, Hillsborough High became the first home of the University of Tampa, established by Frederic Spaulding in 1931 as Tampa Junior College. In 1933, UT moved to its current home in the old Tampa Bay Hotel, now named Plant Hall. In 1949, HHS students purchased the clock for the clock tower, in honor of Hillsborough's veteran casualties in World War II. The names of Hillsborough alumni, who were killed in action during the war were placed on a plaque under the tower. The Terrier Creed was written in 1954; it received much publicity as the only one of its kind in the South. The bronze terrier that guards the trophy case was originally placed in the courtyard. The sacred "H" on the patio was dedicated in 1964 in honor of Mr. Hamilton, an assistant principal. HHS students from different graduating classes raised the funds, providing the stained glass windows in the auditorium in 1963.
- Over the years, Hillsborough High School, garnered some interesting nick names. such as "Harvard on the Hill" which was due in part to the fact that Hillsborough High School was built on the highest geographical elevation in Hillsborough County, had graduated many illustrious people, and to the fact that Hillsborough High emulated much of Harvard's traditions with regards to its alma mater and school color scheme a crimson shade of red and black, not to mention the big letter "H". Historically, the colors red and black represent heart and soul. And later, Hillsborough High also picked up the nick name "Peyton Place," probably sometime in the late 1960s or early 70's, because the opening scene of the tower in the popular Peyton Place soap opera somehow reminded some individuals of Hillsborough High's clock tower, and also because as one teacher put it; the reason she referred to Hillsborough High as "Peyton Place" was; "...it seemed there was always some sort of soap opera going on at the school."
- On September 5, 1996, during a campaign blitz for re-election, the 42nd U.S. President Bill Clinton spoke at Hillsborough High School about national education policy and "other" family issues, addressing students. President Clinton was originally scheduled to visit during the summer sessions, but had to cancel because of hurricane warnings. Student Council President Erica Allen, warmly greeted President Clinton, the two shook hands and Erica received a hug from the President, just prior to President Clinton's speech to the student body. It was a great day and HHS received national attention as a result of President Clinton's visit.
- On Friday, August 31 2007, the Hillsborough High School football team celebrated its 100th anniversary season opener with a 43-20 victory over Jefferson High School at Chelo Huerta Field. The Hillsborough High football team began competing interscholastically in 1907. Football was the first competitive high school sport played in Florida. The five schools in the initial football league were Duval (Jacksonville), Hillsboro (Tampa), Ocala, Orlando and Summerlin Institute (Bartow). Of those five schools, only Hillsboro - now spelled Hillsborough - still exists today. The FHSAA -Florida High School Athletic Association was not formed until 1920.
- Hillsborough High School was the first high school in the county to establish an Alumni Association. In 1985, during the 100th Anniversary of the school, HHS alumni came together and decided to form The Hillsborough High School Alumni Association. And, since the HHSAA has created the Terrier Hall of Fame, which includes and recognizes prominent HHS alumni in all walks of life. Today, the HHS Alumni Association publishes the Terrier Talk newsletter four times per year, and has launched an HHSAA website. The HHSAA helps fund school improvement projects.
- Renovations and expansions
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In the early 1970's, Hillsborough High went through a massive renovation. The school's students, faculty and staff were forced to temporarily move out and back into the old Hillsborough High School building (built in 1910) located a few miles away in Tampa Heights , FL, at the time, the home to George Washington Jr. High School. Hillsborough High students and staff were forced into triple sessions, while the two schools, GWJHS and HHS, shared the former Hillsborough High building (1910-27), until renovations of today's HHS building (built in 1927), were completed in 1975. As a side note, Thomas Jefferson High School began in, and occupied the same old (1910) HHS school building from 1939-67.
- In 1979, HHS students launched a successful fundraising campaign to pay for the chimes in the HHS clock tower. In 1980, a plaque was donated by the class of 1980, and mounted over the doorway leading to the inner courtyard from the trophy case area of the main building dedicated to the classes of the 1980s and "the Decade of New Ideas." During the early 1980s, HHS's student population swelled to over 3,000 students, spanning two campuses, referred to as North and South Campuses. HHS's South Campus included all of the buildings which now comprise Memorial Middle School , adjacent to HHS on its south side.
- In the mid 1980s, the Alumni Building, commonly referred to as the 400 Hall, was added to the school. In around 1995, another addition was made, the 500 Building/English Hall, in which most 10th grade homerooms and English classes are housed.
- On May 3 2008, HHS completed renovations to restore the high school to its pre-1960s luster, when it reopened its newly named gymnasium. In 2005, many classes were forced into portable classrooms during the renovation. The major improvements to HHS were divided between maintenance and restoration, and construction of a new gymnasium.
- Previously, Hillsborough High's gym had been famously and affectionately known to Hillsborough High students and alums as the "Big Red Barn", more commonly "The Barn" probably due in part to its architectural design: its steep "skylighted" roof and red brick facade cause the gym to resemble a barn from a distance. "The Barn" was known for being a hostile environment for Terrier opponents to compete in, for the HHS student body seldom stood for anything short of winning. "The Barn" was one of the harshest gyms in the county to play in, as there was no air conditioning in it for many years. That, coupled with the loud fans and the many talented Terrier teams opposing schools had to face made "the Barn" a very difficult place to come out of with a win, much to the delight of generations of Hillsborough fans.
- On May 3 2008, a ceremony was held in Hillsborough High's newly remodeled gym to dedicate the gym, naming it; the Don Williams Athletic Center, in honor of former HHS boys basketball coach Don Williams, who led the Terriers to a 2A state championship in 1959. Coach Williams went on to become the first University of South Florida men's basketball coach in 1970-71. Coach Williams died in February 2008.
- Sports team championships
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Due to the range and volume of boys and girls team and individual championships and awards garnered over Hillsborough's 100+ year history, only dates of state championships and runner-ups, and a listing of the number of state playoff appearances are presented.
- Football (practices and home games played on Marcelino "Chelo" Huerta Field)
- National Championships: 1929*
- State Championships: 1910, 1914, 1919, 1926, 1929*, 1935, 1942, 1945, 1946, 1948 (13 state titles total) Prior to *1968, the state champions were the winners of the state's "HSS Big Ten Conference," and included games against state universities and colleges, such as the University of Florida, Stetson University, and Rollins College.)
- State Playoff Appearances (since *1968): 15 (most recent: 2007)
- Baseball (practices and home games played on Billy Reed Field)
- State Championships: 1935, 1937, 1967 (2A)
- State Tournament Appearances: 23 (most recent: 2006)
- Boys Basketball (practices and home games played in the Don Williams Athletic Center)
- State Championships: 1924, 1947 (A), 1959 (2A),
- State Tournament Appearances: 49 (most recent: 2009)
- Girls Basketball (practices and home games played in the Don Williams Athletic Center
- State Tournament Appearances: 9 (most recent: 1998)
- Boys Track and Field (practices and home meets held at Marcelino "Chelo" Huerta Field)
- State Championships: 1916, 1929, 1949 (A), 1950 (A).
- State Meet Appearances: 29 (most recent: 2009)
- Individual State Championships: 31
- Relay Event State Championships: 13
- Girls Track and Field (practices and home meets held at Marcelino "Chelo" Huerta Field)
- State Meet Appearances; 6 (most recent 2009)
- Individual State Championships: 2
- Boys Team Decathlon (sport discontinued by FHSAA)
- State Championships: 1981 (4A), 1982 (4A), 1983 (4A)
- State Meet Appearances: 3
- Individual State Championships: 1
- Girls Team Pentathlon (sport discontinued by FHSAA)
- State Championships: 1982 (4A), 1983 (4A)
- State Meet Appearances: 2
- Boy's Cross Country
- State Meet Appearances: 1 (most recent: 1947)
- Girls Cross Country
- State Meet Appearances: 2 (most recent: 2007)
- Boys Golf
- State Championships: 1928, 1934
- State Tournament Appearances: 3 (most recent: 1934)
- Individual State Championships: 2
- Boys Soccer (practices and home games played on Marcelino "Chelo" Huerta Field)
- State Tournament Appearances: 2 (most recent: 2007)
- Girls Soccer (practices and home games played on Marcelino "Chelo" Huerta Field)
- State Tournament Appearances: 4 (most recent: 2008)
- Boys Swimming (practices and home meets held at Angus Goss Memorial Pool)
- State Championship: 1946
- State Meet Appearances: 24 (most recent: 2007 -first appearance at state since 1980- a span of 27 years)
- Individual State Championships: 25
- Relay Team Championships: 3
- Girls Swimming (practices and home meets held at Angus Goss Memorial Pool)
- State Meet Appearances: 12 (most recent: 1980)
- Individual State Championships: 9
- Relay Team Championships: 1
- Boy's Tennis
- State Tournament Appearances: 3 (most recent: 2009)
- Girls Volleyball (practices and home games played in the Don Williams Athletic Center)
- State Tournament Appearances: 3 (most recent: 2007)
- Wrestling (practices and home matches held in the Don Williams Athletic Center)
- State Tournament Appearances: 8 (most recent: 2008)
- Boys Rowing (crew practice is held at the HHS Boathouse, in Julian Lane Riverfront Park)
- SRAA Nationals Appearances: 2003
- Men's Senior (single) placed 6th at SRAA Nationals (2003)
- FSRA State Individual Event Championships: 1
- FSRA State Team Event Championships;1
- Girls Rowing (crew practice is held at the HHS Boathouse, in Julian Lane Riverfront Park)
- SRAA National Appearances: 2007, 2008
- Women's Junior Varsity 4 (team) placed 5th at SRAA Nationals (2007)
- FSRA State IndividuaI Event Championships: 1
- FSRA State Team Event Championships: 2
- High School Athletic All-Americans And Honorees
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Due to the extensive number of All-State honorees from Hillsbrorough, over its 110+ year history, only HHS All-Americans are listed below.
- High School All-Americans
- 1957 -Ed Taylor (football) (H.M. All-American selection)
- 1973 -Mike Heath (baseball) C (First Team) All-American
- 1986 -Gary Sheffield (baseball) P/3B (He was named the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year)
- 1998 & 1999 -Shomari McKenzie (track and field) 400m (Track and Field News All American)
- 1999 -Shannon Snell (football) lineman (Parade High School All American -Lineman) (Named to PrepStar's All-American Dream Team)
- 2000 -Garnell Wilds (football) DB (All-American selection by Prep Star) also (Pre-Season All-American pick by Lemming)
- 2006 -Michael Burgess (baseball)-OF (Jackie Robinson Award -National HS Player of Year) (Louisville Slugger HS All-American)
- 2006 -Matt Schurig (baseball) RHP (Louisville Slugger High School All-American)
- 2007 -Moses McCray (football) DT (PrepStar All-American), played in the FACA North vs. South All-Star game.
- NCAA Athletic National Champions, All-Americans, Hall of Famers and Honorees
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National Champions and All-Americans
- 1968 & 1969 -Steve Kiner (football -University of Tennessee), two time All-American (Consensus in 1968, Unanimous, in 1969)
- 1974 -Vernon Henderson (football -University of South Dakota), All-American
- 1989 -Wanda Guyton (w basketball-University of South Florida), Kodak All American -Honorable Mention
- 1990 -Maurice Crum (football-University of Miami), 1st Team All-American in publications (player on two UM national championship teams)
- 1991 -Lester Weaver Jr. (football-Youngstown State University), member of 1991,'93, & '94 D-IAA, YSU national championship teams
- 1994 -Adrian Bush (soccer-University of Tampa), Div II National Player of the Year (member of '94 Div. II, UT national championship team)
- 1995 & 1996 -Kevin Abrams (football -Syracuse University), Two Time All-American
- 1998 -Derrick Edmonds (football -University of Tennessee), member of UT's 1998 national championship team
- 2001 -Andrew Williams (football -University of Miami), member of the University of Miami's 2001 national championship team
- 2003 -Shannon Snell (football -University of Florida), 1st Team All-American by Sporting News
- 2006 -Jarred Fayson (football- University of Florida), member of the University of Florida's 2006 national championship team
- Hall of Famers and Honorees
- 1984 -Richard C. Spoto (football-University of Tampa Hall of Fame Inductee), served as teacher, coach, then Principal of HHS, 1967-70.
- 1993 -Carlos Fraundorfer (track & field -Florida State University Hall of Fame Inductee), won Masters National Championships in the hammer. Became Hillsborough High educator & coach.
- 1994 -Vernon Henderson (football - University of South Dakota Hall of Fame Inductee), currently serves as HHS Defensive Line Coach.
- 1999 -Steve Kiner (football - University of Tennessee), enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
- 1999 -Kevin Abrams (football -Syracuse University) voted to Syracuse University's All (20th) Century team.
- 2004 -Lester Weaver Jr.(football-Youngstown State University Hall of Fame Inductee), played on three YSU national championship teams.
- 2006 -Adrian Bush (soccer -University of Tampa, Hall of Fame Inductee), and 2001 Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame inductee.
- 2007 -Maurice Crum (football -University of Miami Hall of Fame Inductee)
- Notable Alumni
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National figures
- Frank Sanchez — adviser to President Barack Obama; nominated for undersecretary for international trade at the United States Department of Commerce. Formerly, Sanchez was a White House aide and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the Clinton Administration
- Charles Edward Bennett—former U.S. Representative elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-first and to the twenty-one succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1949-January 3, 1993)
- Braulio Alonso—former president of the National Education Association, first elected in 1966.
- Decorated military heroes
- Baldomero Lopez, 1st Lt. USMC - Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, he was the first casualty of the Korean War.
- Angus R. Goss - USMC Gunner, awarded the US Navy Cross & Britain’s Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for extraordinary heroism in World War II and had a US Navy Ship named after him (designation DE-444)
- Professional entertainment/music/arts/film/TV
- Slim Whitman - internationally renowned American Country singer, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Rondo Hatton - "Fright Film" Star (...a.k.a. "the Creeper")
- Fred Lasswell - cartoonist/writer of "Barney Google and Snuffy Smith"
- Jackie Adams -1980s cover girl/model appeared on covers of Cosmopolitan, Glamour, & Vogue and featured in Elizabeth Arden ads.
- Corey Castellano -Hollywood Make-up/Prosthetics Artist, his credits include: Lions For Lambs (2007), Dead Man's Chest (2006), The Last Stand (2006), War of the Worlds (2005), The Polar Express (2004), The Last Samurai (2003), and The Patriot (2000).
- Mike Scaglione - saxophonist/et al... tours w/Julio Iglesias and is a former member of Miami Sound Machine. Mike was the featured sax on *Gloria Estefan's breakout solo album Cuts Both Ways. Mike has worked for Diana Ross, David Sanborn, and John Secada.
- Cesar Gonzmart -concert violinist/concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra of Havana, Spanish nobleman and chairman of the board, of $42 million, Columbia Restaurant Group (1991).
- Jody Espina - saxophonist, educator, highly regarded in NYC, founder/President of JodyJazz -of renowned brand of American-made woodwind mouthpieces and accessories marketed world wide. Jody was also the featured sax on three Miramax Films movies.
- "Salty" Sol Fleischman -"Dean of Florida Sportcasters" Sports Director, mainstay, at WTVT, Ch.13 (CBS) Tampa, for over 20 years.
- Allon Sams - keyboardist and studio musician, who recorded for Def Jam, playing keyboards for Montell Jordan’s multi-platinum hit "This Is How We Do It". Allon has also worked with Peter White , Boney James, and David Sanborn.
- Professional sports
- Auto racing
- Don Garlits - 3 time World Champion NHRA Top Fuel drag racer.
- Aric Almirola - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver
- Major League Baseball
- Gary Sheffield IF; member of the 1997 World Series Champion Florida Marlins In 2009, reached 500th home run milestone.
- Dwight Gooden - P; 1984 Cy Young Award Winner for the New York Mets member of 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets and both the 1996 and 2000 World Series Champion New York Yankees
- Mike Heath -C/Utility; member of the 1978 World Series Champion New York Yankees
- Carl Everett - CF/DH; member of the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox
- Jose Alvarez-P; member of the 1982 West Division Title Atlanta Braves
- Gene Nelson -P; (attended HHS, graduated from Pasco HS) member of 1989 World Series Champion Oakland Athletics
- Chris Ray -RP; Baltimore Orioles
- Al Pardo -C; Baltimore Orioles (attended HHS, graduated from Jefferson HS)
- Floyd Youmans-P; Montreal Expos
- Jason Romano -Util; Texas Rangers and LA Dodgers
- Vance Lovelace RP; California Angels
- Rich Puig -P; NY Mets
- Elijah Dukes-OF; Washington Nationals
- NBA/WNBA Basketball
- Wanda Guyton -F; member of the two-time WNBA Champion Houston Comets in 1997 and 1998.
- NFL/NFL Europe and/or WLAF/CFL/AFL
- Steve Kiner -LB; (NFL)
- Juran Bolden -CB; (NFL/CFL)
- Maurice Crum -FB/LB; (WLAF/CFL/AFL) MLB; member of the 1992 Orlando Thunder team that played in World Bowl II.
- J.R. Reed -S/KR; (NFL); member of the 2004 Philadelphia Eagles team that played in Super Bowl XXXIX.
- Kevin Abrams -CB; (NFL)
- Joey Sipp -OL/DL; AFL; member of the Orlando Predators for two seasons, now HHS's Football Offensive Line, and Head Track Coach
- Garnell Wilds -CB; (NFL)
- Dan Footman -DE/DT; (NFL)
- Shannon Snell -OG; (NFL)
- USL soccer
- Adrian Bush - United Soccer League player.
- NCAA/Professional Coaches
- Marcelino "Chelo" Huerta - NCAA Head football coach, University of Tampa, Wichita State University, and Parsons College from 1952-67), and first Hispanic coach elected to College Football Hall of Fame (2002) (104-53-2 overall, a .660 win percentage)
- Mayors of Tampa
- Dick A. Greco (D) - 50th & 56th Mayor (1967-1974 and 1995-2003)
- William F. Poe (D) - 53rd Mayor (1974-1979)
- Nick C. Nuccio (D) - 47th & 49th Mayor (1956-1959 and 1963-1967)
- Julian B. Lane (D) - 48th Mayor (1959-1963)
- Junie L. Young Jr. - 46th (Acting) Mayor (1956)
- Miss Florida and Miss Tampa, Pageant Winners
- 1965 -Nadine Williams Traum (Miss Tampa), 1965 HHS graduate.
- 1962 -Anita Garcia Pinella (Miss Tampa), 1961 HHS graduate.
- 1961 -Jean Cold Davies (Miss Tampa), 1961 HHS graduate.
- 1960 -Linda Couch Fish (Miss Tampa), 1959 HHS graduate.
- 1956 -Marsha Montford Strange (Miss Tampa), 1956 HHS graduate.
- 1952 -Margie Simmons (Miss Florida) (Miss Tampa), 1952 HHS graduate.
- 1951 -Ann Roberts Maclure (Miss Tampa), 1951 HHS graduate.
- 1950 -Mary Ester Bartlett Spell (Miss Tampa), 1948 HHS graduate.
- 1945 -Ruth Atkins Nicolaisen (Miss Tampa), 1945 HHS graduate.
- Notable (Non-Alumni) Educators
- Ann Turner Cook—a.k.a the Gerber Baby, taught Writing and Literature at Hillsborough High, from 1966 until her retirement. She is now a mystery author.
- Recent HHS and Student National Honors
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2008 - The school newspaper, "The Red & Black," is named All-American by the National Scholastic Press Association. Editor in chief Emily Matras is named runner-up for the Florida high school journalist of the year."
- 2006 - The school newspaper, The Red & Black, was considered a National Scholastic Press Association Newspaper Pacemaker Finalist
- 2006 -- Newsweek drops Hillsborough to rank as the number #21 high school in the nation.
- 2005 -- Newsweek ranks Hillsborough as the number #10 high school in the nation, causing a stirred debate considering the high school got a D grade from the state and failed No Child Left Behind standards
- 2004 -- Hillsborough High School student Yangda Ou was selected as a semi-finalist in the U.S. Physics Team.
- 2004 --National Peace Essay Contest winner (Florida) - Hillsborough High student Gregory M. Goldgof for "Principles of Reconstruction" hosted by the United States Institute for Peace
- 2003-04 - The school was awarded the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement
- 1997 - Participated in the National Earlybird Forensics Tournament, hosted by Wake Forest University. Placed Sixth in Sweepstakes, Fifth in Duo-interpretation, Fourth in Humorous Interpretation and First in Senate Two: Speaker Awards.
- External links
- Hillsborough High School Alumni Association official site
- Hillsborough High School campus site
- Hillsborough High School IB Program official site
- The Red & Black student newspaper
- Florida High School Athletic Association
- Sunshine State Conference:SSC Hall of Fame Members
- Hillsborough High School "Big Red" Band website
- Source: Wikipedia; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.
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