Denby High School

Front facade

Tiling on exterior

Edwin Denby High School
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates:	42°25′29″N 82°57′38″W / 42.42472°N 82.96056°W / 42.42472; -82.96056Coordinates: 42°25′29″N 82°57′38″W / 42.42472°N 82.96056°W / 42.42472; -82.96056
Built:	1930
Architect:	Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Architectural style:	Art Deco
Governing body:	Local
NRHP Reference#:	04001581 [1]
Added to NRHP:	February 02, 2005

Edwin C. Denby High School is a public secondary education facility in Detroit, Michigan. Denby opened in 1930 and the building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2005.^[1]

The school is located on Detroit's northeast side; it was named for Edwin C. Denby, an attorney and former Michigan legislator. Mr. Denby also served as Secretary of the Navy, during the administration of Warren G. Harding. Denby was forced to resign his position, and narrowly avoided criminal indictment, for his role in what came to be known as the Teapot Dome scandal.

In recent years, the school is referred to as Denby Tech; one of few Detroit public educational institutions offering advanced placement classes to high school students.

Denby Tech's 2008-09 enrollment was 1170; the school's Principal is Kenyetta Wilbourn.

Rock & Roll and Denby High

During the late 1950s, Detroit radio personality Bud Davies originated a series of Friday night sock hops from Denby. Before long, the wildly successful dance parties spread to several metropolitan Detroit schools. Featuring records but no live bands, the hops became more popular than regular dances.

Distinguished alumni

Denby's proud legacy boasts a long list of well known graduates and former attendees who advanced to careers as successful politicians, entertainers and athletes.

• Victor Alexander; professional basketball player. In addition to the NBA, Alexander played professionally in Spain, Greece and Israel.

• Bill Bonds, celebrated Detroit TV Anchorman

• Salvatore Sonny Bono, renowned singer, songwriter and television entertainer; former United States Congressman

• 1959 Denby graduate, Ed Budde was a football All-American at Michigan State University. Following his collegiate career, Budde played 14 seasons of professional football; most notably as a member of the 1970 Super Bowl IV champion Kansas City Chiefs. In 2010, Ed Budde was inducted to the MSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

• At the 1960 city league finals, Denby senior Frank Carissimi ran the mile in 4:17.7; his winning time was a Michigan high school seasonal-best, by nearly eight seconds. Carissimi ran collegiately at Wayne State University; he was the 1962 Presidents' Athletic Conference cross-country champion.^[2][3][4]

• Kim Carson, radio personality

• Derrick Coleman, 1985 Michigan High School Athletic Association champion, 800 meter run^[5]

• In 1972, Denby ninth-grader, Martina (Marty) Connally swam to a 12th-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle at the inaugural Michigan High School Athletic Association Girls' Swimming and Diving Championships; Marty was one of only two DPSSAL swimmers to make finals at this historic event. In 1973, Connally transferred to (Harper Woods) Bishop Gallagher High School; she soon blossomed into an All-State swimmer. At BGHS, Marty was a five-time MHSAA championship finalist in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle. Marty Connally was the 1973 MHSAA silver medalist in the 50-yard freestyle; she was also the bronze medalist in the 100-yard freestyle at the 1974 finals^[6]

• Wally Cox (class of 1942), was a noted comedian and actor, particularly associated with the early years of television. Wally appeared in the series Mr. Peepers (1952–55), and as a character actor in over 20 films. Wally Cox was perhaps best known as the voice of the popular animated cartoon character Underdog.

• Dr. Wayne Dyer, world renowned author, lecturer, psychologist and television personality

• George Eichorn, Detroit Monitor columnist

• Don Gabriele finished third in the 100-yard breaststroke, at the 1963 MHSAA swimming and diving championships; Don is Denby's only All-State swimmer.^[7]

• Antonio Granger, professional basketball player

• Julie Harris, noteworthy movie and television actress

• Curtis Hertel, politician

• Dennis M. Hertel, U.S. Congressional representative from Michigan

• John Hertel, politician

• Stuart House, 1975 city league high jump champion; named to 1976 Parade Magazine All-American Basketball Team

• Tameka Lucas, Gospel singing artist

• Tony Mahone, the 1983 and 1984 MHSAA champion in the 100 and 200 meter dash^[5]

• Nancy Rosalie Milio, Ph.D., author, educator, humanitarian

• Mark Pattison, journalist

• Denby track athlete, Ronnie Phillips was an All-American for the University of Illinois; Phillips placed fifth in the 800 meter run at the 1972 US Olympic Trials^[8]

• 1993 graduate, Travis Reece played collegiate football for Michigan State University; he advanced to the National Football League as a running back with the Detroit Lions.^[9]

• Carmella Sabaugh, politician

• George Sayles, city champion high-hurdler; named Michigan Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 1946

• Donnie Simpson, entertainer, nationally syndicated BET commentator

• 1SG (ret) George Shell, Gulf War Veteran

• For John Telford, running track at Denby became the turning point in a young life that was heading fast in the wrong direction. Through dogged determination, Telford would earn global recognition in his specialty, the 440-yard dash. In a photo-finish at the 1957 NCAA championships, Telford was awarded the silver medal; he was also ranked 4th worldwide at 400-meters in 1957. Among many honors, including induction to the Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame; John Telford was named 2001 WSU Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.^{[10][11][12][13]}

• Art Van, Entrepreneur

• Pete Waldmeir, is a retired Detroit News columnist. Waldmeir was a three-time recipient of the National Sportscasters and Sports Writers Association Sports Writer of the Year award. He won the National Headliner Club Sports Writer Award as a general columnist. His work earned him Wayne State University's Journalist of the Year, and the Detroit Press Club The Best In Michigan Journalism Award.^[14]

• Denby Olympian, Sheila Young (class of 1968) won a gold, silver, and bronze medal in speed skating at the 1976 Winter Olympics. Sheila was the first athlete from the United States to win three medals at a single Winter Games. Prior to her Olympic glory, Young was a 1973 World Championships gold medalist in speed skating and sprint-track bicycling; making her the first athlete ever to win world championships -during the same year- in two sports. Sheila Young is also a former world-record holder in speed skating and track bicycling. For her accomplishments in both sports, the United States Olympic Committee named her Sportswoman of the Year in 1976, and in 1981.

• Just like sister Sheila, 1971 Denby graduate, Roger Young was a renowned sprint-track bicyclist; he won seven national championships during the 1970s. Roger represented the United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics; he also earned a team-pursuit gold medal at the 1975 Pan American Games, in Mexico City.^[15]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ http://www.michtrack.org/lists/HS%20Boys%201960.pdf
3. ^ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1074355/index.htm
4. ^ http://athletics.wayne.edu/archive/hof/2002/mcbride.htm
5. ^ ^{a b} http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/btr/yearlyindv1980.html
6. ^ http://www.miscaonline.net
7. ^ http://www.miscaonline.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=1PIijtUn8EY%3d&tabid=88
8. ^ http://www.motorcitystriders.com/MCS/15th%20Annual%20Track%20and%20Field%20Old%20Timers%20Dinner.html
9. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=xwSsGBMMhu8C&pg=PA1204&lpg=PA1204&dq=Travis+Reece+Detroit&source=bl&ots=7i8E2Po-3g&sig=Pjlh3-1YIv_hN5GOpSn5YjROcu4&hl=en&ei=DzWrTOWYLYKmnQff66TJBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CDAQ6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=Travis%20Reece%20Detroit&f=false
10. ^ http://www.motorcitystriders.com/MCS/16th%20Annual%20Track%20and%20Field%20Old%20Timers%20Dinner.html
11. ^ http://www.alumni.wayne.edu/uploaded_pics/pdf/pdf-20100602154800.pdf
12. ^ http://wsuathletics.com/sports/2009/12/11/GEN_1211091741.aspx
13. ^ http://athletics.wayne.edu/archive/hof/abouthof.htm
14. ^ http://hof.jrn.msu.edu/bios/waldmeir.html
15. ^ http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/yo/roger-young-1.html

External links

• Edwin Denby High School's DPS Web Page