- Cherokee High School (Cherokee, Alabama)
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Cherokee High School CHS Established 1925 Type Secondary School Principal Jeff Burbank Students 223 in 2006 7 - 12 Location 850 High School Drive,
Cherokee, Alabama, USDistrict Colbert County Schools Accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Colors Blue and vegas gold Mascot Indians Yearbook Hobachee Newspaper Tribe Fight Song The Victors ACT Average 25.8 in 2009 Website http://www.colbert.k12.al.us/chs
Originally named Cherokee Vocational High SchoolCherokee High School is located in Cherokee, Alabama and serves the western portion of Colbert County as part of the Colbert County School system. It is located along County Road 21 (North Pike).
Contents
History
Cherokee High School was founded in 1925 as Cherokee Vocational High School as it was the first designated vocational school in Colbert County. The school provides both academic and general diplomas and has dropped the "Vocational" part of the name. The first graduating class consisted of 22 students. The most recent class (2007) consisted of 48 graduating students.
The original high school building was located where the current gymnasium stands. As the school expanded with the end of segregation in 1968 the old high school became the junior high school. That building burned on January 21, 1971.[1] The original segregated school for African Americans became Cherokee Middle School and contained grades 5 through 8. That school closed at the end of the 2006/2007 school year and is being consolidated into Cherokee Elementary and Cherokee High Schools.
Alma mater
On our city's northern border
Reared against the sky,
Proudly stands our Alma Mater,
As the years go by.
Forward ever be our watchward
Conquer and prevail,
Hail to thee our Alma Mater
Cherokee, all hail!Athletics
Cherokee High School is a member of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A. The school colors are Blue and vegas gold. The school mascot is the "Indians".[2]
Football
Cherokee High School has been notable for its sports teams through the years. Bud Mills (1950-1973, 1989), is a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Mills had a career record of 152-81-4 during 25 years as a head coach. Garner Ezell (1983-85) led the Indians to Area Championships twice in three years, advancing to the Semi-finals in the 1984 season and the Quarter-finals in 1985. In 1985, the Indians recorded their first 12 win season while leading the area in most stats. Gene Mitchell (1990-2001), led the Indians to 6 consecutive playoff appearances (1996-2001) and back to back Region Championships in 1998-99.
Baseball
From 1937 to 1950 not a lot has been found about Cherokee baseball. From 1951 to 1973 the school did not field a baseball team. Only the city league was available to the players. In 1974, Bud Mills started baseball again at the school and have fielded a team every year since then. Other than Mays and Mills, Brad Bradford and Richard Phillips are the only former coaches to this point to lead the Indians. Wade Turberville is the current coach of the Indians baseball team.
Coach Richard Phillips, along with his long time assistant Kenny Aycock, amassed 403 career victories in 29 years as the head coach. During those 29 years, he also led the Indians to 16 Area Championships and 19 Play-Off Appearances. Of those 19 appearances, 4 years ended in losses in the State Semi-finals, and 4 years ended as the State Runner-Up. 2002 was the last time the Indians made an appearance in the State Play-offs. They lost to Gordo in the State Semi-Finals during that year.
Basketball
The 2007-08 basketball team was ranked in the top 10 in the state for class 2A and led by long-time assistant Kenny Aycock. The 2008-2009 team made it to the playoffs and was three games away from making it to the state championship.
Notable Graduates
- Senator Bobby Denton
- Cecil Dowdy - University of Alabama football star during the coaching years of Paul "Bear" Bryant.
References
- ^ "CHEROKEE HIGH SCHOOL / School and Community Contexts for Learning" (Adobe Acrobat). Cherokee High School. http://www.colbert.k12.al.us/chs/sacs/SACS%20Web/School%20Improvement%20Plan%202007.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
- ^ "Coaches Directory, Cherokee High School (7H10)" (pdf). Alabama High School Athletic Association. 2006-2007. pp. 75. Archived from the original on 2007-05-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20070509032203/http://www.ahsaa.com/publications/2006-2007/2006-07Directory.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
Coordinates: 34°45′56″N 87°57′48″W / 34.76568°N 87.96320°W
Categories:- High schools in Alabama
- Florence – Muscle Shoals metropolitan area
- Educational institutions established in 1925
- Schools in Colbert County, Alabama
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