Proviso East High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Proviso East High School
picture =
principal = Mr. Milton Patch
established = 1911
type = Public secondary
grades = 9–12
city = 807 South First Avenue,
Maywood
state = Illinois
country = USA
enrollment = 2,314
faculty =
campus = Suburban
mascot = The Pirates
colors = Blue and white
newspaper =
yearbook =
website = [http://east.pths209.org/]

Proviso East High School serves the educational needs of four villages within Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois, namely Maywood where it is located, Broadview, Forest Park and Melrose Park. It is the original campus of Proviso Township High Schools District 209. Prior to being split into East and West in 1958, East was known as Proviso Township High School. Proviso East is a comprehensive four-year high school. Since the fall of 1911, Proviso East has been graduating students.

The Growth of Proviso

*1910 - The bond issue providing for the establishment of a township high school carried; the seven teachers and 241 students, housed in five rooms on the upper floor of the Emerson Grammar School, became the faculty and student body of the new Proviso Township High School.
*1911 - The building at the corner of Madison Street and First Avenue was opened for the Class Day exercises of the first graduating class, numbering twenty-two.
*1913 - An orchestra of twelve pieces made its debut.
*1916 - The first addition to the "old building," including a gymnasium, auditorium, library, and several classrooms, was ready for the use of the 528 students; the first "Provi" (yearbook) was published.
*1919 - The "Pageant" (student newspaper) made its appearance.
*1921 - A band of twenty-five players was organized.
*1922 - To meet the needs of a student body now numbering 1,155, a second addition, including a girls' gymnasium, swimming pool, enlarged auditorium, science rooms, and twenty-four classrooms, was begun.
*1929 - Construction was begun on the "new building," required to accommodate the 2,014 students.
*1931 - Proviso obtained the land extending north to Washington Boulevard and east toward the Des Plaines River; the "new building," containing a social room, new library, cafeteria, administrative offices, three study halls, and many classrooms, was ready for use.
*1934 - The 556 graduates held their Commencement exercises in the recently completed stadium.
*1938 - Construction was completed on the field house, containing a gymnasium, swimming pool, and other physical education facilities for boys; the student body exceeded 4,000.
*1956 - The new wood crafts building and Proviso Memorial Hall, containing new music rooms and an additional gymnasium for girls, were constructed.
*1957 - Proviso Township High School reached its highest enrollment of 4,760.
*1958 - Freshmen and sophomores residing in the western portion of the district began attending the newly-constructed Proviso West High School, and Proviso Township High School became Proviso East High School.
*1960 - Proviso West was opened to juniors and seniors.
*1963 - Eight new classrooms were added adjoining the east arch between the two wings of the main building.
*1967 - Ten new rooms were added adjoining the west arch between the two wings of the main building.
*1971 - The field house was remodeled and enlarged, along with the addition of an enclosed overpass to the main building.
*2005 - Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy was established, and district administration offices were moved to this location.
*2008 - Crucial year for Proviso East as it cuts many budgets to further itself from bankruptcy but maganges to graduate 397 students

Company B of the 192nd Tank Battalion

Some graduates of the early 1940s were members of Company B of the 192nd Tank Battalion, an Illinois National Guard Unit, whose involvement in the Bataan Death March during WWII, has been commemorated every year in Maywood since 1942 [http://www.maywoodbataandayorganization.org] .

Notable Alumni and Alumna

Arts and Entertainment

*actor Dennis Franz
*artist Tom Seghi
*Grammy award-winning Singer/Songwriter John Prine
*actor/playwright/director Mark Lamos
*musical theater actress Carol Laraia Carol Lawrence
*Oscar winner (1982), Emmy Award winner (1998), 7 nominations, Best Sound Mixing Don Digirolamo
* Sculptor - Professor Bob Lockhart, Jr.
* Architect/Apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright, Don E. Erickson (1929-2006)
*singer and television talk show host Mike Douglas

Educators and Authors

*educator and author of "Renault Dauphine" as well as 8 other books and 60 publications Dr. Milan J. Dluhy
*educator and President of Purdue University Dr. Martin C. Jischke
*author and futurist Stephen Euin Cobb
*professor of structural biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Dr. Kurt D. Berndt

Philanthropists

*philanthropist Frank G. Schaefer
*renowned physicist and philanthropist and two-time winner of NGA award, Dr. James Skridulis
*Billionaire philanthropist and co-founder of BET Sheila Johnson

Athletes

*Major League baseball
**Lee Stange
**Mike Woodard
**Will Donovan
**Orv Grove

*NFL
**Ray Nitschke
**Ed O'Bradovich
**Ray Buchanan
**Tony Parrilli
**Jim Johnson
**Chuck Kassel
**Dave Buck
**Jack Stackpool

*NBA
**Sherell Ford
**Doc Rivers
**Jim Brewer
**Michael Finley
**Reggie Jordan
**Dee Brown
**Steven Hunter
**Shannon Brown
**Donnie Boyce

*Women's Tennis Association and USPTA
**Marlene Wackerlin

Miscellaneous Alumni

*Gemini and Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan
*Professional Lumberjack Joe Deleonardi
*Naval designer, ship builder and sailing raconteur John Kupris
*activist & community leader Fred Hampton
*Attorney and former DePaul basketball star Joseph Ponsetto
*Russell Smith famous animal impersonater. Mr. Jiggs

External links

* [http://east.pths209.org/ Official website]
* [http://iirc.niu.edu/School.aspx?schoolID=140162090170001&source=school%20profile School statistics from Interactive Illinois Report Card]
* Maywood Bataan Day Organization [http://www.maywoodbataandayorganization.org]