R. A. Long High School

Infobox high school
name=Robert A. Long High School
established=1927
type=Public High School
principal=Andrew Frost
students=1017
city=Longview
state=Washington
country=USA


colors=Black, Red, and White
mascot=Lumberjack
website=http://www.longview.k12.wa.us/ralong/

R. A. Long High School is the oldest high school servicing the city of Longview, Washington. It was erected in 1927, three years after the city of Longview was incorporated. The total student enrollment at the end of the 2005-06 school year was 1017. The school is named for the city's founder, Robert A. Long, a wealthy timber baron from Missouri. Their mascot, the Lumberjack, was so named due to the area's reliance on the timber industry. Some have tried to ascribe the name "Lumberjill" to female students and sports teams, despite the gender neutrality of the term "Lumberjack." The school is on the city Historical Register, with the following inscription:

"This school, a gift to the City of Longview by Robert A. Long, was designed by WIlliam B. Ittner. The two story Corinthian columns and clock tower dominates the Georgian Revival style. The 900-seat auditorium serves as an educational and cultural center. The building and grounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places."

Student body and curriculum

Every senior at R. A. Long is required to complete a senior project consisting of a research paper and fifteen hours of work, one of which must be some form of community service, in order to graduate.

Many classes and programs in the Longview school district are shared between both R. A. Long and Mark Morris High School, such as the Dana Brown Mainstage Theatre program, higher level math, science, and language classes, and the orchestra.

In the past, it has been a tradition at R. A. Long for graduating seniors to hand off a small token or gift to former Principal Rollie Johnson during commencement ceremonies. Often, the gift takes the form of a monetary sum based upon the year, such as nickels for the class of 2005, or 86¢ for the class of 1986. However, the continuation of this tradition with the new principal, Andrew Frost, is uncertain.

Lumberjack sports

R. A. Long High School currently competes at the 2A level. The football team shares the Longview Memorial Stadium with cross-town rival Mark Morris High School. The Basketball team competes in the R. A. Long Gymnasium, playing in two "Civil War" games versus Mark Morris each year. One is held at R. A. Long and the other on Mark Morris's Ted M. Natt Court.

Notable graduates and Attendees

*Birck Cox, author, "Diseases of the Skin", "Amputations Illustrated", et al. and medical illustrator, 1963
*Steve de Jarnatt, film and TV director, 1970
*Nathan Conrad, writer, 1990
*Robert P. Ericksen, author of "Theologians Under Hitler" (ISBN 0300029268), 1963
*Darrrel Bob Houston, author of "DB, King of the Midnight Blue", 1959
*Sharry Konopski, Playboy centerfold, 1986
*David Korten, author of "When Corporations Rule the World" (ISBN 1887208046), 1955
*Dennis Mansker, author of "A Bad Attitude: A Novel from the Vietnam War" (), 1963
*Jeff Pilson, former Dokken and current Foreigner bass player, 1976
*E. J. Taylor, author of the "Ivy Cottage" series of children's books and figurative artist, 1963
*Dr. Kent Weeks, archaeologist, 1959
*Urgel "Slim" Wintermute, professional basketball player, 1935
*Jim Caple, sports reporter with ESPN and contributer to Page2, 1980

External links

* [http://www.longview.k12.wa.us/RALong%20Access.htm Official Website]
* [http://www.ralongalumni.org/ R. A. Long High School Alumni Association]
* [http://www.gshlfootball.com/2a/ra-long GSHL Football - R.A. Long High School]