Odessa High School

Odessa High School
Address
1301 N Dotsy Odessa, TX, 79763 United States
Information
Type	Public
Established	1909
School district	Ector County Independent School District
Principal	Denise Shetter
Grades	10 - 12
Enrollment	3951 (2009)
Color(s)	Red and White
Athletics conference	District 3-5A
Mascot	Bronchos
Information	[phone]
Website	Odessa High School

Odessa High School (OHS) is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas (USA) and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. The full name of the school is Odessa Senior High School. This name was originally to differentiate it from Odessa Junior High School (now known as David Crockett Junior High School). Normally, the school is commonly referred to as Odessa High or just OHS.

The student body of Odessa High School is composed of sophomores (grade 10) through seniors (grade 12). Freshmen (grade 9) are part of the junior high program in Odessa and do not normally attend classes with 10th through 12th grade except for special programs. Freshmen are allowed to compete in varsity athletics with upper grades in all sports. However, this mainly happens in such sports as cross country, swimming, golf, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, softball and baseball. To date, no freshmen have competed on the varsity football team.

Sports teams

The mascot for Odessa High School is the Odessa Bronchos, with all female teams referred to as "Lady Bronchos." This unique spelling of "Broncho" has resulted in Odessa High being the only high school in Texas with this particular mascot.^{[citation needed]} The original mascot for the team was the Yellowjackets and the team colors were purple and gold. In 1929, the student body voted 113-0 to change to the "Bronchos". The Bronchos colors were changed to red and white.

Boys at Odessa High School can participate on the following athletic teams: football, basketball, track, cross country, golf, tennis, swimming, soccer, powerlifting, baseball and gymnastics.

Girls can compete in: basketball, track, cross country, volleyball, golf, tennis, swimming, soccer, powerlifting, softball and gymnastics.

OHS has won state championships in boys track and field in 1992 and was the 1946 winner of the Texas State football championships. In 1953, Odessa High School was a finalist in the Texas State Football championship. In 2007, Odessa High school girls cross country made a state team appearance, the first in ECISD history for cross country.

Band

The Odessa High School band has the second longest consecutive streak of first division rating in marching contests in the State of Texas, going back 72 years. Only Plainview High School in Plainview, Texas has a longer streak with 73 consecutive division 1s^[1]. The band has also been invited to various music festival and contests across the nation. In March 2007, the band was invited to play their marching season selections "Letters from the Front" at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. In 2004, The Odessa High School Band combined with the band from Permian High School in Odessa to form one of the largest bands ever to march in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California (over 500 members).^{[citation needed]}

The OHS Band was started in 1932 under the direction of G. Ward Moody. Directors Robert L. Maddox and Bill Dean have been the longest tenured directors of the band with 13 years and 22 years respectively. The Instrumental Music Building at OHS is named in honor of Maddox and the main band hall is named in honor of Dean.

From 1981 through 2006, the band has had at least one member make the Texas All State Band each year. In the 1998-99 school year, eight members were accorded All State honors. Band members also consistently do well at UIL Solo and Ensemble contest.

Notable alumni

• Larry Gatlin, Steve Gatlin, and Rudy Gatlin — Grammy Award-winning country artists
• Hayden Fry, former head football coach, Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas, University of Iowa
• Stephnie Weir, actress - Mad TV^[2]
• Ronnie Goodwin, professional football player, Baylor University, Philadelphia Eagles 1963-68^[3]
• George E. "Buddy" West (1936–2008), Odessa's representative to the Texas Legislature, 1993-2008^[4]
• Alfred M. Wilson, USMC, class of 1967^[5]— posthumous Medal of Honor, KIA in Vietnam^[6]
• Bellinda Myrick Miss Texas 1970, Miss West Texas 1970, Miss America USO Show, (one of 7 women,) touring South Vietnam during war visiting U.S. military, singer, actress, toured with Bob Hope
• Marcus Cannon, TCU Offensive Tackle, top 2011 NFL Draft tackle prospect
• Richard Wortham, College baseball star at the University of Texas and former Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Brad Ziegler, Oakland Athletics Relief Pitcher

References

1. ^ . Plainview Daily Herald. http://www.myplainview.com/articles/2009/10/18/breaking_news/doc4ada824865bf6440230887.txt 
2. ^ http://bumpshack.com/2006/11/25/big-day-starring-stephnie-weir/
3. ^ http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=GOODWRON01 Ronnie Goodwin stats
4. ^ "Representative G.E. Buddy West". Texas House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 2007-06-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20070611221717/http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist81/west.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-31. 
5. ^ "In Memorium". Odessa High School — Class of 1967. http://www.odessahighschool-classof1967.org/inmemorium.html. Retrieved 2007-10-30. ^{[dead link]}
6. ^ "Private First Class Alfred M. Wilson, Medal of Honor recipient". Who's who in Marine Corps history. History Division, United States Marine Corps. http://www.tecom.usmc.mil/HD/Whos_Who/Wilson_AM.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-07. 

External links

• The Real Story About Elizabeth
• Odessa High School website
• OHS Band
• Odessa High Football
• Odessa High School Alumni website
• Odessa High School vs. San Antonio Jefferson 1946 State Championship Game - TexasBob.com
• Ratliff Stadium - TexasBob.com