Flint Central High School

Infobox School

image caption = Flint Central Football Helmet
city = Flint
state = Michigan
country = USA
name = Flint Central High School
established = 1928
enrollment = 1450
grades = 7th–12th
district = Flint Community Schools
principal = Janice Davis
type = Public secondary
colors = Red and Black color box|red color box|black
mascot = Phoenix
conference = Saginaw Valley League
affiliation = Flint Community Schools
campus size = 43 acres
location = 601 Crapo St.
Flint, MI
country = USA
website = [http://flintcentralalumni.ning.com/ Flint Central High School Alumni Association]

Flint Central High School is one of the Flint Community Schools, located in Flint, Michigan, USA. Flint Central is the city's oldest school. Its first building was built in 1875, and the school moved into the present building in 1923. It was called Flint High School until Flint Northern High School was built in 1928. Approximately 1,450 students attend the school. Graduation ceremonies are held at Whiting Auditorium. The School is located in the East Village, near the corner of Crapo Street and Court Street.

Mascot controversy

In 2005, Central's mascot was changed from "Indians" to "Phoenix" after pressure from the Michigan High School Athletic Association. There was a cry of outrage from the public, especially considering the support of Native American groups. And adding to the controversy, school officials entered the historic high school under the cover of darkness to remove every vestige of the 75 year old Indian mascot from the school. The public outcry and outright hostility toward the politically correct move to ban the Indian turned to a mostly silent determination to remain, as the locally popular phrase puts it, "once an Indian, always an Indian".Fact|date=September 2007

Athletics

Flint Central competes in the oldest athletic conference in the State of Michigan, the Saginaw Valley League. Their Athletic Director is longtime Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Michael Vance. The football teams play their home games at Atwood Stadium in Flint. They field teams in:

Athletic History

From 1976 through 2001 the Indians were coached in football by Joe Eufinger. His lifetime record was 138-102 which is the ninth highest win total amongst coaches in Genesee County. [http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Sideline/9283/flintfbcoach.html] Longtime Baseball coach Bob Holec is now leading the Flint Baseball Commission and is the Commissioner of the baseball contingent for the Canusa Games. The Men's Basketball team was coached for many years by Stan Gooch. They won state championships in 1981, 1982 and 1983. He won over 500 games and is in numerous Halls of Fame. The softball team was led by Cuban refugee Margarita Calvo to an unprecedented 22 consecutive City League titles. The Flint Central tennis team won their first City Championship in over 7 years in the Spring of 2007, and still maintain their position.

Principals

2008 - 2009 Janice Davis
2007 - 2008 Joan Mckinnie-Sanders (interim) and Lynn Jenkins (interim)
2007 - 2007 Chris James
2006 - 2007 Maria Boyd-Springer
2003 - 2006 Corinne Archie-Edwards
1998 - 2003 Jim Beaubien
1995 - 1997 Michael Schultz
1983 - 1994 Dean C. Ludwig
1976 - 1981 Don Crowder
1976 - 1980 Theodore Fisher
1973 - 1975 Thomas J. Herron
1968 - 1972 Donald Crowder
1966 - 1968 John Kouzouzian

Theatre Program

The Magnet Program for the Flint Community Schools ran the secondary school Theatre Program through Flint Central from 1976-2006. Prior to that Flint Central was long known as a leader in educational theatre locally, statewide and nationally. The program was led for many years by such notable teachers as Helen Brown, Maude Biegel, Jacqueline Oriet Kramer, Shirley Parola, James Olson, Jeanne Shoemaker and Martin Jennings. The program generally produced three productions every year, in addition to a magnet student showcase which raised thousands of dollars for a fine arts scholarship in the name of Donn Jensen, a supporter of the program who met an untimely death in 1997. The theatre students of Flint Central have performed internationally and in numerous states. In 1989 and 1991, The Educational Theatre Association of America named Flint Central's Theatre Program as one of the top six high school theatre programs in the country. The theatre has also had an affiliated membership with The International Thespian Society since 1925. Many Alumni have gone on to have careers in the theatre. After changes made by the school board in 2006 to reform the school district, the magnet program was dissolved. In the fall of 2006, Rhonda Young was named director of the theatre program.

Notable alumni

* Lynn Chandnois, Class of 1943 - 1st round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers after playing collegiately at Michigan State University.
* Gene Gavin (Tuttle), Class of 1946 - New York City actor and dancer. Performed with New York City Ballet, and appeared in the original Broadway production and film version of West Side Story.
* Dale Kildee, Class of 1947, and later a teacher at Flint Central - Member of the United States House of Represntatives 1977 - present.
* Casey Kasem, noted radio personality.
* Donald Riegle, Class of 1956 - United States Senator 1976 - 1995.
* Ron Pruitt, Class of 1967 - Professional Baseball Player for 9 seasons.
* Herb Washington, Class of 1968 - Former World Record Holder 60 yard dash. Played professional baseball for the Oakland Athletics.
* Eric Turner, Class of 1981 - Second Place Mr. Basketball, played at the University of Michigan.
* Mark Harris, Class of 1982 - Basketball player, Third Place Mr. Basketball.
* Terrence Greene, Class of 1985 - Basketball Player, Played at DePaul University.
* Jim Abbott, Class of 1985 - Professional baseball player, pitched no-hitter for New York Yankees. Distinguishing feature because he was born with only one hand.
* Coquese Washington, Class of 1989 - Former WNBA player after playing at Notre Dame University. Was the first President of the WNBA Player Association. Presently the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Penn State University.
* Ross Richardson, Class of 1990 - Played basketball at Loyola Marymount University; replacement player for the Detroit Tigers.
* Andre Weathers, Class of 1994 - Former professional football player with the New York Giants; played in the Super Bowl in 2001. Won a National Championship in 1997 playing for the University of Michigan.
* LaKisha Jones, Class of 1998 - American Idol finalist
* Tim Bograkos, Class of 1999 - NCAA Championship basketball player for Michigan State University.

External links

* http://central.flintschools.org/
* http://www.flint.lib.mi.us/timeline/civics-buildings-01-00/flinthighschool.html
* http://flintcentralalumni.ning.com/