Walker High School (Jasper, Alabama)

Infobox School
name=Walker High School (WHS)


caption=Walker High School Shield
address=1601 Highland Ave
city=Jasper, Alabama 35501
principal=Danny Gambrell
schooltype=Public
students=Coeducational
grades=9 - 12
mascot=Vikings
colors=Black & Gold
newspaper=" [http://www.theviking.jasper.k12.al.us/ The Viking] "
homepage=http://www.jasper.k12.al.us/whs/

Walker High School (WHS) is a secondary education public school located in Jasper, Alabama and is a part of the Jasper City School System.

History

Walker High School was established in 1917 at its present location. Until 1970 Walker High School was known as Walker County High School and was a part of the Walker County School System. The name was changed when the city of Jasper established its own school system and acquired the school. Most students at Walker High come from Maddox Middle School (a Jasper city school formerly known as Jasper Junior High School), but others still come from schools in the Walker County school system.

Alma Mater

The Alma Mater of Walker High School is sung by students at end of football pep rallies and by Seniors on graduation night.

To our school
We pledge our power
For we trust in thee;
And we will
At every hour,
Always loyal be.
Always faithful;
Always loyal,
To our colors true;
Here's to thee,
Our dear old high school,
"Walker, here's to you!"

Athletics

The start of the school's athletic success came in the fall of 1977, when the football team went all the way to the state 4-A championship game, before losing to Berry High School (eventually re-named Hoover High), 21-0. The path to this athletic success was started by then Coach David Campbell, a former All-America defensive tackle at Auburn University. The 1977 team was led by future University of Alabama halfback Linnie Patrick, who was a sophomore tailback in Walker's Power-I offense. Linnie Patrick predicted winning 3 Heisman's while at U of A but never lived up to that potential, staying in the doghouse with Coach Bear Bryant for most of his time in Tuscaloosa. Those teams also featured an unheralded defense that held opponents to an average of seven points a game and less than 100 yards of offense. (There were only four size classifications in the state at the time, so Walker was in the largest size class. The school is now a 5-A, which is the fifth-largest of the six current classifications in the state.)

Viking Alumni in College Sports

Viking alumni in college football
*Mark Prevost '07 PK : Samford University
*Eric Woods '08 WR : Miles College
*Christopher Kilgore '06 QB Miles College
*Jeremy Busby '05 QB Auburn UniversityFormer Outstanding Vikings Signing College Scholarships

*Ben Hale '77 QB : Auburn University
*Ronnie Coleman '71 RB Alabama A & M University Houston Oilers
*Vince Medlock '71 WR Alabama A & M University
*Isadore McGee '79 RB : University of North Alabama
*Jerry Nix '79 QB : University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
*Paul Hale '79 LB : Ouachita Baptist University
*Linnie Patrick '80 RB : University of Alabama
*Tommy Cole '85 DT : University of Alabama
*David Banks '85 OL : University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
*Scott Brown '86 OLB Vanderbilt University
*Chad Key '91 WR : University of Alabama
*Griff Redmill '96, OL : University of Alabama
*Adam Cox '97, LB : University of Alabama
*Eric Oliver '01, FS : Ole Miss
*Antwon Courington '02, WR : Southern Miss
*Patrick Wilson '02, FS : University of North Alabama
*Spencer Evans '03 : Alabama A&M University
*Leverne Johnson '03 : Troy University
*Payton Sides '03 : Samford University

Viking alumni in college baseball
*Ken Key '91, Auburn University
*Joseph Woodley '05, P : Stillman College

References

External links

* [http://whs.jasper.k12.al.us/ Walker High School]
* [http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/browse_school/al/789 GreatSchools.net]
* [http://al.localschooldirectory.com/schools_info.php/school_id/792 LocalSchoolDirectory.com]