- L. Frazier Banks Middle School
L. Frazier Banks Middle School (formerly Banks High School) was a former
high school andmiddle school in the Birmingham Public School System inBirmingham, Alabama ,USA . The school, which was named for former superintendentL. Frazier Banks , occupied six buildings in a residential area of Birmingham's South East Lake neighborhood.The school was opened as a
high school in 1957 and, at first, accepted only freshmen. The high school's first graduating class matriculated in 1961. The school's athletic teams in that 1960-61 season won the Birmingham city football, basketball and baseball championships.In the early part of that decade, a
U. S. Air Force F-86D "Sabre" painted in the school colors of Columbia Blue and Scarlet was installed as a mascot and landmark in front of the school.In 1972 and 1973, Coach Shorty White led the Banks Jets to consecutive 4A state football championships. The school was recognized nationally as a football power, even appearing in the pages of "
National Geographic ". Future NFL quarterbackJeff Rutledge led the team into a 1974 showdown with Woodlawn High School and running backTony Nathan atLegion Field . The crowd was estimated at 42,000.In the 1980s Banks was transformed into a middle school under the direction of Superintendent
Cleveland Hammonds . As a middle school, Banks fed into Woodlawn High. A December 2000 arson damaged the auditorium and destroyed dozens of band instruments.In October 2006 the Facilities and Technology Committee of the Birmingham Board of Education heard a recommendation from new superintendent of schools
Stan Mims to close Banks and transfer its students to the newOssie Ware Mitchell School . The recommendation was approved, with students transferring during the 2006 Christmas break.After the school's closure, the state of Alabama agreed to turn over the landmark jet to the
Southern Museum of Flight , where it will be restored to its military colors for display.Notable Banks High School alumni
*
David Cutcliffe (1972), football coach (Coached Banks HS in 1980-81 with 17-4-1 record), previous Tennessee Offensive Coordinator, former 'Ole Miss Head Football Coach and currently Duke Uinversity Head Football Coach
*Jeff Herrod (1983), NFL linebacker
* Mark Warner (1980), session guitarist, music producer, published songwriter [http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=1599267&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=20&start=1]
* Alan Jacobs, scholar,C. S. Lewis biographer
*Robert R. McCammon , writer
*Johnny Musso , College Football Hall of Fame player
*Jeff Rutledge , (1975), NFL quarterback, two time Alabama National Championship Quarterback and currently Arizona Cardinals Quarterbacks Coach
*David Lee Smith , actor
*Beth Thornley , songwriter and recording artist
*Billy Shields , (1971) NFL Offensive LinemanReferences
* Jordan, Phillip. (March 23, 2006) "Hitting the right note: Can neighborhood associations help fill the funding gap for city schools?" "Birmingham Weekly".
* Ingram, Ron (September 20, 2006) "Ex-Jets recall success." "Birmingham News".
* Hickerson, Patrick (October 3, 2006) "Banks Middle closing pondered." "Birmingham News".
* Archibald, John (October 5, 2006) "Sad, unsafe school once was mighty." "Birmingham News".
* Hickerson, Patrick (January 5, 2007) "Students, staff value Banks' replacement." "Birmingham News".
* Archibald, John (May 31, 2007) "Banks jet to be mighty once more." "Birmingham News".External links
* [http://bankshighschool.tripod.com Banks High website]
* [http://www.bhm.k12.al.us/schools/banks/Profile.htm Banks Middle School profile] at www.bhm.k12.al.us
* [http://www.bhamwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Banks_High_School Banks High School] at Bhamwiki.com
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