Hillsborough High
School is one of the South's oldest high schools and the oldest high
school in Hillsborough County. Over the years, Hillsborough High
School has earned some nicknames. "Harvard on the Hill" originates
partly from the fact that Hillsborough High School was built on one of
the highest geographical elevations in Tampa, had graduated many
illustrious people, and emulated many of Harvard's traditions with
regard to its alma mater and school color scheme--a crimson shade of red
and black, and the big letter H.
Later, Hillsborough High
also picked up the nickname "Peyton Place," probably sometime in the late
1960s or early 1970s, because the opening scene of the tower in the
popular Peyton Place television soap opera somehow reminded some
individuals of Hillsborough High's clock tower, and also because as one
teacher put it, "it seemed there was always some sort of soap opera going
on at the school."
HILLSBOROUGH'S FIRST HOME
In the beginning, Hillsborough County High School was a department of the
Tampa Graded School System which was organized in 1885. It began in room
over a
livery stable on Franklin Street with nineteen students and one teacher, Benjamin Chalmers Graham (B.C. Graham), who also served as the principal.
The first four Hillsborough County High School students graduated in
1886.
The 1884
Sanborn fire insurance map at right shows the possible location
of the structure used by Tampa's first county high school, marked with
a red rectangle. A stable was shown with an "X" drawn from the
corners of the structure. The number inside indicated how many
stories tall the building was. This stable is the only one in
town shown to be taller than one story.
Looking southward on Franklin
St. toward the intersection of Jackson Street, circa 1885.
Red dot and arrow on map at right shows approximate photographer
location and direction of view. Notice the footbridge over
the creek that ran down the middle of Jackson St. at lower left of
the photo. The stable marked in the map at right would have
been just around the corner where the picket fence runs along the
creek in the above photo.
B. C. Graham was
born in 1847, the 3rd of eleven children of Rev. J. Whitfield Graham
and Sarah Catherine Smith. Benjamin's wife, Sally Gates, was
the granddaughter of Josiah Gates, the first white settler in the
Manatee Settlement (Bradenton), Florida.
B. C.
was a native of Alabama, with
a degree from Hampden-Sydney College. He served as a teaching
Principal for 15 years in Hillsborough County, after which he was
elected School Superintendent for Hillsborough County Public Schools
in 1899.
Benjamin
Chalmers Graham
Detail from photo at right,
Circa 1900
B. C. Graham Elementary School was built in 1922 on 4 and 1/2
acres of land located at the southeast corner of Massachusetts
Avenue and West Street.
Place your
cursor on the photo to identify family members
Picture taken in front of Rev. Edward Franklin Gates' home in
Manatee, now East Bradenton, Florida. Terms of
relationship in quotes are with respect to his grandson, Louis Edwin Gates:
1.
Rev. Edward Franklin Gates "Grandpa" (son of Josiah Gates, first
settler in the Manatee / Bradenton settlement).
2.
Euphemia (Feemie) Hubbard Gates "Grandma".
3.
Samuel Chaires Gates "Uncle Sammy", son of 1 and 2.
4.
Lula Curry Gates "Aunt Lula", first wife of 3.
5.
Roy Gates, son of 3 and 4
6.
Sally Gates Graham, "Aunt Sally", daughter of 1 and 2, wife of 7.
7.
Benjamin C. Graham, "Uncle Ben".
8.
Katy Graham (later Dickens), daughter of 6 and 7.
9.
Bertha Graham (later Anderson), daughter of 6 and 7.
10.
Robin Graham (later Sutton), daughter of 6 and 7.
11.
Gladys Graham, never married, daughter of 6 and 7.
12.
Annie Laurie Graham, (later Allgood), daughter of 6 and 7.
13.
Rev. Edward Josiah Gates, "Uncle Eddie", son of 1 and 2.
14.
Mrs. E. J. Gates (Rebecca Wartmen?) first wife of 13.
15.
Dr. Hubbard Gates, my papa, son of 1 and 2.
16.
Lilla Corbett Gates, my Mama, first wife of 15.
17.
Olin Edward Gates, my oldest brother, son of 15 and 16.
18.
Ralph V. Gates, my second oldest brother, son of 15 and 16.
19.
Laurie Gates, "Uncle Laurie" (later marr. Pearl) son of 1 and 2.
20.
Josiah Olin Gates (later marr. Bertha), Son of 1 and 2.
21.
Chester Gates (obscured, on lap of 14), baby of 13 and 14.
I (Louis Edwin Gates) was born in 1902 and my youngest brother,
Kyle was born in ~1905.
As
modified by Louis E. Gates, Jr. on October 16, 2009. Photo
provided by Louis Edwin Gates, Jr., son of Louis Edwin Gates and
Mary Virginia Hefner, and provided here to Tampapix by Sally E. Tait Quinn, granddaughter of Louis Edwin Gates and Mary V.
Hefner Gates.
HILLSBOROUGH'S SECOND HOME
In October of 1886, the location of Hillsborough County High School was
moved to an eight room school building on Sixth Avenue where it remained
for six years. While in this building, B.C. Graham taught the eighth grade
and the high school together in the same room. A little later the high
school department was moved to a room on the west end of the building, but
was not yet separated from the grade school. Professor Graham, a brother
of noted Tampa judge
William Shelby Graham, became prominent in the
Hillsborough County school system, becoming School Superintendent in 1899. B.C. Graham died in Tampa in March of 1920.
This 1892 map below shows the school about 3/4 mile northeast of the
county courthouse which was at Lafayette (now Kennedy) and Franklin, and
just south of the Tampa Steam street railway tracks that ran down
6th Avenue. Today, this area is just west of where 6th Avenue
meets Nuccio Parkway.
HILLSBOROUGH'S THIRD HOME
In 1892, the high school department moved into an old primary school
building and had two regular teachers. Soon afterwards the high school was
permanently separated from the grade school. During its four years in this
building the library had accumulated a nice collection and such chemical
apparatus as needed for experiments in chemistry.
HILLSBOROUGH'S FOURTH HOME
In 1897, by relocating the high school in an old Baptist church, students
found themselves in nearly the center of Tampa’s business community.
The 1895 map below shows this Baptist church on the southeast corner
of Tampa Street and Twiggs.
On the Sanborn
fire insurance maps, yellow structures are wood frame, pink
structures are brick, and blue structures are stone.
HILLSBOROUGH'S FIFTH HOME
Both
the School Board and the students wanted something they could call their
own, and their wish was realized in the form of a lease. The students,
however, were happy to learn that it was a short term lease, for the
property which they had obtained consisted of four rooms on the upper
floor of the Wright Building, the remainder of which was occupied by The
Tampa Times office and on the first floor was the post office. The school
remained in this location for two years. During the first year the high
school occupied three rooms, but in the second year, four were needed.
This showed an increase in enrollment and led to the addition of two new
teachers and additional course requirements. It was in this atmosphere
that the school newspaper, then called TheDonnybrook, was established.
The
1899 map at left shows the school location at the northwest corner
of Florida Avenue and Madison St. The post office occupied the
first floor, with some vacant space behind it. The high school
was on the 2nd floor, along with the Daily Times printing office.
Across Florida Avenue is shown "R.C.
Church" (Roman Catholic) and in blue, the "Church of St. Louis"
currently under construction. This is now the Sacred Heart
church.
HILLSBOROUGH'S SIXTH HOME
A
new school building was needed but there was no legal way of raising money for
building purposes, except to save it from the general school fund. After
the freeze of 1895, by careful management, money was saved and the first
county high school was erected. At a contract price of $5,100 dollars, a
well-planned, two-story wooden building with science laboratories, a
library and an auditorium was built large enough to accommodate as many as
250 high school students.
The school
opened October 22, 1900 to 125 students. Chairs were used to seat
the pupils since there were no desks. Furnishings and equipment were
purchased by the faculty through money raised by donations and
school entertainments.
Students on
the steps of Hillsborough County High School, 1905
HILLSBOROUGH'S
SEVENTH HOME
As the town began to grow into a city, the enrollment increased and
the need for a larger, more modern school building became apparent.
Another era in this school’s history came to pass. In 1908, land was
purchased at 2704 N. Highland Avenue as a site for a new building.
Construction was not begun until December 1910. Architect William
Potter designed the three story masonry block building as a closed
rectangle with an open center (since then it has been almost
entirely filled.)
Hillsborough
County High School at 2704 Highland Avenue, 1912
The cornerstone was laid February 17, 1911. In it are the names of all the
enrolled students written on a parchment. The stone had been removed from
the old Masonic Temple to be placed in the building. The new building was
completed on October 2, 1911, at a total cost of $60,000.
Hillsborough
County High School orchestra, 1913
Frances N.
Clayton, organizer of HHS's first orchestra
There were a total of fourteen teachers and 63 regular seniors. The school
was ranked high with other high schools of the United States. It stood
among the first of the Southern high schools. At this time, lunches were
served at Ed’s Lunch Stand and students ate on the school grounds. In
1925, cafeteria style of serving was introduced and has continued since.
Until 1925, Mr. E. L. Robinson was principal. He resigned his office to
become county superintendent and was succeeded by Frederic H. Spaulding. The
enrollment soon swelled beyond the capacity of the building, and it became
apparent that yet another, larger school would be needed.
E. L. Robinson
The Alma Mater, the "Red and Black,"
was written by a teacher and some students in 1923. The tune has
since been revised.
"Although
Yale has always favored
The
violet's dark blue
And
the sturdy sons of Plant High
To
the gold and black are true,
We
will own the lilies slender,
Nor
honor shall they lack,
While
the Terrier stands defender
of the
dear old Red and Black"
The 2010 HHS
marching band performing "Red and Black" and the HHS fight
song.
PLANS FOR A LARGER SCHOOL
In
1925, land was purchased on Central Ave. for a new high school
building. The Gothic style of architecture was suggested by a man
named Dr. Strayer. At a faculty beach party he drew his version of
the present school in the sand with a stick. The School
Superintendent expressed satisfaction with his idea and was very
impressed.
HHS basketball team State
Champs for the 1923-1924 school year, seen here in 1925
THE
8TH AND CURRENT HOME OF HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, Sept. 1928
A brand new Hillsborough High School at 5000 Central Avenue
Note the gas pump at lower left
HILLSBOROUGH'S
EIGHTH
AND CURRENT HOME
The architectural plans for
Hillsborough High School's massive red brick building were designed
in the Gothic Revival style by local architect Francis Kennard and the
cornerstone was laid Jan. 28, 1927. The walls, buttresses, spires, and
tracery of the arched stained-glass windows are decorated in cast
stone. The building was built to accommodate
2,000 students and was completed in Sept. of 1928 at a cost of $757,000.
From "History of Hillsborough
County, Biographical excerpts", p.291 (Published in 1928)
Francis J. Kennard was born in England in 1865 and came to the United States in
1886, settling first in Putnam County, FL and later moving to Orlando where he
practiced architecture from 1888 to 1895. In the latter year, he moved to
Tampa where he has been in the active practice of his profession ever since and
is therefore the oldest practicing architect in the city in length of service.
Mr.
Kennard has many notable buildings to his credit in the southwest part of
Florida, among which may be mentioned are the Belleview Hotel in Bellair, the
Pinellas County Court House, Lee County Court House, Citizens' Bank Building
of Tampa, also the Floridan Hotel, Citrus Exchange Building and many other
important buildings, including the new Hillsborough High School now in the
course of construction at Tampa. He
is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Florida Association
of Architects and the Tampa Association of Architects.
Francis J. Kennard was born on
Mar. 15, 1865 in London, England. He was a prominent architect
who came to the U.S. in 1886 and became well established in Florida
with historic buildings, many of which are on the National Register
of Historic Places. Some of the buildings he designed were the
Belleview
Biltmore Hotel in Belleair,
Florida, built in 1896, the expansion of the Hotel Boca Grande to
the
Gasparilla Inn, El
Centro Español building in Ybor City, the
Floridan Hotel,
Tampa, once the tallest building in Florida (video),
St. Andrews Episcopal Church,
West Tampa Jr. High School in Tampa, and the
Anderson-Frank house at 341 Plant Ave., Tampa, the Lee County
Courthouse, Fort Meyers, the old Pinellas Country Courthouse,
Clearwater, additions to the old Polk County Courthouse, the
Hillsboro State Bank building, Plant City, the Colonial Theater in
Bethlehem, NH, Many prominent people engaged his
services in various states to build their homes and businesses. His
works include stately courthouses, movie theaters, school buildings,
churches and private mansions which still stand today. Mr. Kennard
died on Apr. 29, 1944, in Tampa and is buried at Myrtle Hill
Memorial Park.
Since
Hillsborough had a reputation of outgrowing its buildings, this
school was built extra-large with the idea that the students would
not be able to outgrow it easily. It was originally built with 56
classrooms, a 590-foot corridor, a spacious library
which contained over 8,000 books, two large study halls, a school
bank, a complete home economics unit which included a three room
apartment, and a Gothic styled auditorium with a seating capacity of about
twelve hundred. The campus alone covered a space of about twenty-three
acres, and the building had a roof space of about three acres.
JEFFERSON HIGH AND GEORGE
WASHINGTON JR. HIGH
After Hillsborough County High School moved out of this building,
Thomas Jefferson Junior High School was founded here in 1928.
Under the guidance of principal D.W. Waters, it transitioned
into a high school in 1939 and its first class graduated in 1942. Jefferson
High occupied this old building until 1966-67, when the school board
decided that its location no longer met modern educational
requirements and the first Jefferson High School was closed.
Shortly thereafter,
this building on Highland Ave. became the home of George Washington
Jr. High. Jefferson High School ceased to exist until
1971 when it was reborn by sharing the Leto High School facility
through June, 1973. In the fall of 1973, the Jefferson Dragons
moved into their new and current facility at 4401 W. Cypress St.
George Washington Jr. High had
first started operating at 707 E. Columbus Drive in 1915 at a newly
built building. That building was identical to Woodrow Wilson High
School. Within several decades that George Washington Junior High
became overcrowded, forcing the school to move into the larger, and
abandoned former Hillsborough and Jefferson High School building on
N. Highland Ave, in 1966.
Students
outside Hillsborough County High School, circa 1920
George Washington Junior High
School closed it's doors for good at the Highland Ave. location in
1979.
Since then, the Highland Ave
school building has remained in use by Hillsborough County. On April
24, 1994, due to the efforts of the TJHS Alumni Association, the
school was renamed the D.W. Waters Career Center (named for Jefferson High School's first
principal) a County Public Schools center for 11th grade and 12th
grade students focusing on occupational training. On May 15, 2007,
it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and
benefited from a major restoration in 2003. A
small George Washington Junior High School showcase is on display in
the school's library, along with separate Hillsborough High and
Jefferson High museum displays.
George Washington Jr. High
School B & W photos from 1978
D.W. Waters Career Center photos from
The Historical Marker Database -
See more photos
In 2001, the Hillsborough
County School District sold the abandoned George
Washington Junior High building at 707 E. Columbus Drive to the FDOT for $380,000. In
August of 2004, the original 1915 George Washington Junior High
School building was finally demolished to make way for I-4
expansion, despite public outcry, and to the dismay of many of the
schools alums.
The first classes at the
new Central Avenue location were enrolled in September of 1928 with
Frederic Henry Spaulding as the Principal. The building was dedicated in
December of that year, and was one of the four largest high schools in the
South. A fountain was purchased in Dr. Spaulding's honor and placed in the middle courtyard.
Later, the fountain was moved to the side entrance of the auditorium in an area
entitled Spaulding Court. The fountain was later removed and replaced with a
tree that was brought from Spain as a seedling. It died and was replaced with
a Florida palm.
It was
at this time that "County" was dropped from the name of the school due to
another county school having been opened, H. B. Plant.
Dr. Frederic H. Spaulding,
from 1936 University of Tampa yearbook
Photo courtesy of Art Bagley, University of Tampa Reference
Librarian
THE BIRTH OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA
In the
1930's, Tampa's top students would graduate high school and then seek
higher education elsewhere, and they seldom came back to fuel future
generations of business people in Tampa. Frederic Spaulding,
principal at Hillsborough High School, had a plan to put an end to this.
It' helped that Hillsborough High School's tall towers and Gothic windows
made it look like a college. Spaulding founded Tampa Junior College in
1931 and located it in the high school. Due to the success of the
junior college, Spaulding believed it could be turned into a four-year
institution.
Early in
the morning on Aug. 2, 1933, a battered pick-up truck arrived at
Hillsborough High School. This was the day when Tampa Junior College was
transformed into The University of Tampa and when its headquarters moved
from the local high school to what is now known as Plant Hall. Riding on
the truck was its president, Frederic H. Spaulding, the former principal
of Hillsborough High School and the man who had been the motivating force
behind establishing the first local university for Tampa’s high school
graduates.
While the school was
still known as Tampa Junior College, a committee recommend names for the
school's athletic teams. Since St. Petersburg Junior College was expected
to be the arch rival, and they were using the nickname Trojans, the name
Spartans was selected from the ancient Greek Trojans/Spartans war. In
1933, when the school became the University of Tampa, athletic director
and head football coach Nash Higgins selected the team colors. Since most
of his players came from Hillsborough High School (red and black) and
Plant High School (black and gold), Higgins combined the colors of those
two schools making the UT's colors red, black and gold. See "Tampa
Gets a University" here at Tampapix.
At Left, Frederic H. Spaulding
unlocks the front door to the new headquarters of the University of Tampa
with Dean John Coulson, 1933. From "Under the Minarets, the
University of Tampa celebrates fifty years of progress, 1931-1981"
RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) AT HHS
After war was
declared on Germany in the spring of 1917, several boys of the
school organized a military company and began drilling during
lunch. The principal, Prof. Robinson, paid little attention
thinking it would wear out. However, a few weeks passed and the
enthusiasm of the boys had not lessened. Prof. Robinson took
notice and requested Coach Freeman to instruct the boys in drill,
at the same time lengthening lunch by twenty minutes to allow them
time to drill. Upon the opening of school the next year, a meeting
of the boys was called and the company was reorganized. After a
few weeks of drill, the School Board took notice of their work and
secured a drillmaster to instruct them. Coach Freeman had since
been commissioned by the Army. J.W. Dyke, formerly a lieutenant in
the Florida National Guard, was secured and they made rapid
progress.
In 1935, the
U.S. Army took sponsorship of the corps and they then became the
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. (J.R.O.T.C.) This
organization was a source of constant pride and admiration since
its establishment in this school. They were outstanding both in
this county and state, winning such an excess of awards that some
of the recent awards had to be given away due to lack of space.
The Drum and Fife Corps was organized in 1914 under the
supervision of Dr. Sumter Lowry, and with the material aid of the
Tampa Gasparilla Association and the County School Board. The
first appearance of the corps was made during the 1915 Gasparilla
Carnival after only six short weeks of practice. This corps was
the forerunner of the present day marching band and the J.R.O.T.C.
Drum and Bugle Corps.
At right, HHS
ROTC circa 1940s
Vivian Gaither,
HHS Principal, 1946
Mr. Vivian Gaither succeeded
F. H. Spaulding and remained principal for thirty-three
years. The football field was renamed in his honor but was changed back to
Terrier Field with the opening of Gaither High School in 1984. The field
has since been renamed Chelo
Huerta Field.
In
1949, HHS students purchased the clock for the clock tower, in honor of
Hillsborough's veteran casualties in World War II. The names of
Hillsborough alumni who were killed in action during the war were placed
on a plaque under the tower.
The patio was renovated in 1950 so it could be used for dances and
barbeques. The music building was completed in 1952 and the display cases were added
to the center hall.
The sacred "H" was dedicated in 1974 to
Assistant Principal Wayne Hamilton for his
service to the school. Pride dictates that it may not be walked upon.
Asst. Principal Wayne
Hamilton
Vivian Gaither, HHS Principal, 1965
The fabled H in the patio at HHS.
If you were caught stepping on it you were forced to kiss the H;
sometimes with the use of force.
In present times, the H is cordoned off to prevent walking on it.
Football
field and track, 1935
Basketball
team, circa 1942
HHS band onstage, circa 1942
HHS
business class, circa 1942
HHS Geography Class, circa 1942
HHS Science Class, circa 1942
HHS Art Class, circa 1942
HHS production of Oklahoma!, circa 1942
Hillsborough High
School football team
"Big Ten Champs" Dec. 7, 1942
Back row, far left: Asst. Coach
Dick Spoto, far right is Head Coach J. Crockett Farnell; both were
University of Tampa graduates.
1945 HHS
athletics coaches, Dick Clewis, Ben Filipski, J. Crockett Farnell,
Earl Hatcher, Jesse Keene.
J. CROCKETT FARNELL
In late 2001 when Hillsborough
County was considering names for three new schools in North Tampa,
"J. Crockett Farnell" was proposed for the high school.
Farnell had the backing of Tampa's most powerful figures and the
School Board members agreed. Farnell received votes on a first
ballot, as well as Liberty High School, but neither had enough to
win approval. "Freedom" won on the second ballot.
Before that time, the late
J. Crockett Farnell appeared to have the edge. Farnell, a
legendary football coach at Hillsborough High School who was
superintendent of schools for 17 years in the 1950s and 1960s, was
championed by a massive campaign of former students, players and
colleagues. Backed by former Tampa Mayor Bill Poe, the 18-month
effort had garnered more than 1,000 supporters. The only mark
against the innovative educator was a 1967 embezzlement conviction
that was later overturned on appeal. Former teacher and
Board of Regents member Dennis Ross told the Board, "Crocket was
shabbily treated by this community for many years, we must now set
the record straight and recognize this man's greatness and his
contribution to our society."
In August of 2002, the new
junior high school in Westchase of North Tampa, was named
J. Crockett Farnell Middle School, in his honor. J.
Crockett Farnell Middle School was opened in August 2002. Farnell,
who was a dedicated teacher and coach in Hillsborough County from
1942 - 1948 was elected as Superintendent of Schools for
Hillsborough County from 1949-1966. He was our last elected
superintendent in Hillsborough County.
Hillsborough County Public Schools
Coach J. Crockett Farnell
(left) at the mic with H. B. Plant high school coach Jimmy Hughes
(right), as WDAE sports announcer "Salty Sol" Fleischman looks on.
Nov. 3, 1947
At Hillsborough, one of the strong points in both spirit and pride
has always been in athletics. This began as early as 1906 with the
formation of the ’Big Red’ football team and cheering squad. By
1910 Hillsborough gained gridiron supremacy over the other state
high school teams and clenched the state championship for the
first time after a relentless battle with Rollins College.
The ’Big Red’ team was a member of the Big Ten Conference and
played against such opponents as the University of Florida and
Stetson University. In 1948 the Terriers won the Big Ten
Conference title for the fourth time in seven years.
Superintendent of Public
Instruction J. Crockett Farnell and Tampa Motor Club officials
with school patrol badges. Aug. 15, 1957
For many years, Hillsborough High played Plant High in an annual
Thanksgiving Day game at Phillips Field, downtown. See more
photos of this event and Phillips Field at the Tampapix feature "Tampa
Stadium".
The baseball
team has earned considerable respect and is still one of the three
major sports of the school. Baseball did not exist from 1921-1926
since it could not support itself by gate receipts. Hillsborough had some of the best athletes and coaches in
the state in 1931, in spite of the fact that they did not have
adequate training grounds nor a field.
The
basketball team has also won its share of competitions. It, like
the football team, was a member of the the Big Ten conference and
has won the title as well. The original gymnasium was built in
1936 and was
famously and affectionately
known to Hillsborough High students and alums as the "Big Red Barn", more
commonly "The Barn", probably due in part to its architectural design: its
steep "skylighted" roof and red brick facade caused the gym to resemble a
barn from a distance. "The Barn" was known for being a hostile environment
for Terrier opponents to compete in, for the HHS student body seldom stood
for anything short of winning. "The Barn" was one of the harshest gyms in
the county to play in, as there was no air conditioning in it for many
years. That, coupled with the loud fans and the many talented Terrier
teams opposing schools had to face made "the Barn" a very difficult place
to come out of with a win, much to the delight of generations of
Hillsborough fans.
THE TERRIER STORY
The graduating
class of 1957, led by the students under Eddie Spoto, Ralph Lazzara
and Tommy Murray, among others, founded a dream--a code of ethics
called the "Terrier Creed," which was to be put into effect by the
succeeding classes. It was the only one of its kind in the South and
it received much publicity. Unknown to the faculty and
administrators, the students took up a collection for a bronze
terrier monument in the courtyard, as a symbol of the Terrier Creed.
Sophomores to seniors alike dug willingly and generously into their
pockets, and by the end of the day, they had surpassed the set goal.
The dream was on the way to reality.
On Thanksgiving
Eve of 1957, a new student body stood reverently in the courtyard
and watched the last step of their dream become reality. Steve
Mason and Ed Guinta unveiled the bronze terrier--standing big,
beautiful, proud and defiant, with the sun highlighting its smooth
surface--a constant reminder of the Terrier Creed.
Buck Hicks,
Ed Guinta, Steve Mason and Bill Biglow placing the plaque at the
foot of the Terrier, dedicating it to the class of 1957.
Three members of the "Jolly Boys" volunteered to "guard" the
precious statue on dedication day.
Much has been written and
stated about the famous "Terrier Creed." Each person from that era
seemingly makes some sort of personal claim about its creation and
origin. One particular article that appeared in the March
2006 issue of the Terrier Talk seems to be the most
accurate description of the 'Creed’s' origin and creation. The
article, written by Ralph Lazzara, infers that he and Eddie Spoto
were commissioned by Mr. Vivian Gaither in the Spring of 1956 to
poll the faculty for its approval of their conceived idea for a
'Code of Ethics'. The idea, if approved by the faculty, would then
be presented to the student body for its acceptance. Needless to
say the idea was widely approved and accepted. At a student
assembly, the entire student body gave its endorsement of the
'Creed'. Among the interesting facts surrounding the 'Creed'
is that it has always been implied that the 'Creed' was solely
created by the students, for the students and without the
assistance or input of anyone else, especially the school’s
faculty. Such is not the case according to Ralph’s article and per
an article published in the Tampa Tribune edition dated April, 26,
1957. The Tribune article mention that Miss Mary Ruby Johns sat as
a faculty sponsor over a group consisting of Eddie Spoto, Edward
Giunta, Crocket Farnell, Grace Bushey, Graig Thurston, Glen
McCall, Steve Mason and Tom Murray. This group seems to be
responsible for the writing of the six articles of the 'Creed'.
I,
as a student of Hillsborough High School, with pride and respect
for myself and for my school, pledge: 1 . To preserve the beauty
and tradition of my school. 2. To demonstrate my school spirit and
to help elevate the standing of my school by displaying conduct
favorable to our reputation at all times. 3. To avoid displaying
my affections at times when my actions would be liable for
criticism, especially on the school campus and in the building and
at school functions. 4. To refrain from all forms of gambling on
campus. 5. To refrain from drinking intoxicating beverages and
using drugs of any kinds at school functions. 6. To refrain from
using disrespectful gestures and profane language. By doing these
things, I will properly reflect the character, personality, and
attitude of my school.
The motto,
"Possunt quia posse videntur", means "They can because they think
they can."
Ed
Guinta, co-MC at the dedication ceremony
At first, the
bronze icon stood
boldly on a pedestal outdoors. Too many times, however, students would
arrive at school to find the icon painted in Plant or Chamberlain high
colors. A squad of Hillsborough commandos would be dispatched on a
late-night mission to decorate the rivals' mascots. Due to considerable
torment, the bronze statue was moved inside.
From 1966 to the 1970s, Ann Turner Cook taught English Literature
and creative writing at Hillsborough High School. Ann (born
1928) is now a mystery novelist. She was the model for
the familiar Gerber Baby artwork seen on baby-food packages of the
Gerber Products Company.
Statues could be seen throughout the first and third floors but they were
later moved into the library. During the renovation of 1975, they were
removed from the school with the intention of replacing them. They were
never recovered and their whereabouts are unknown.
The beautiful stained-glass windows in the auditorium
were purchased
by different groups with funds raised by students. They were completed in 1963.
In 1975 the building
began renovations to allow for central air conditioning.
During the 1975-76 school year, HHS 10th grade students attended George
Washington Junior High for the afternoon session at the 2704 N.
Highland Avenue location--the same facility built for them in 1911.
11th and 12th-graders attended the new Jefferson High School
building at 4401 W. Cypress St. Jefferson students attended
classes from 7am to noon, with an overlap period for some students
needing extra credit from noon to 1pm. Hillsborough students
attended the afternoon session from noon until 5pm.
The renovation of the school was
the end to the last link of the past. Years were swept away. Mechanical
systems were retrofitted to the original structure and had resulted
in significantly lowered ceilings. In some cases, corridors were as
low as 7 ft. 6 in. Acoustical panels were installed over ornate
plasterwork and many windows were completely bricked over. Historic
fixtures were removed or hidden, and original wood floors were
covered with vinyl. The terrazzo floors were carpeted, the marble
partitions in the restrooms were removed and replaced with wooden
stalls. The carved and polished wood which lined
the walls of the library were ripped out and replaced with plaster as it
was transformed into biology rooms. These renovations had concealed,
damaged, or completely removed many of the historically significant
architectural details. An elevator was installed and a new library built.
Place your
cursor on the photo to see a pre-renovation hallway
In 1979,
HHS students launched a successful fundraising campaign to pay for the
chimes in the HHS clock tower. In 1980, a plaque was donated by the class
of 1980, and mounted over the doorway leading to the inner courtyard from
the trophy case area of the main building dedicated to the classes of the
1980s and "the Decade of New Ideas."
During the
late 1970s and early 1980s, Hillsborough's student
population swelled to over 3,000 students and spanned two campuses.
Referred
to as the North and South Campuses, Hillsborough's South Campus included all of the
buildings which now comprise
Memorial Middle School,
adjacent to HHS on its south side, and was used for the vocational
courses.
In the mid 1980s, the Alumni Building, commonly referred to as the 400
Hall, was added to the school. In around 1995, another addition was made,
the 500 Building/English Hall, in which most 10th grade homerooms and
English classes are housed.
In
2003, the school district realized that the Hillsborough facility was in
need of major updates to meet the spatial needs of the school’s 2000-plus
student body. The district elected to perform renovations with a two-fold
purpose: 1) to preserve the oldest school in the district and the campus’
contribution to the historical neighborhood in which it resides and 2)
provide a cost-effective solution to the growing needs of the district.
Starting in 2005,
many classes were forced into portable classrooms during the renovation.
The major improvements to HHS were divided between maintenance and
restoration, and construction of a new gymnasium.
Working
diligently to preserve as much of the school’s original character as
possible, the project team collaborated to create a durable,
state-of-the-art educational facility. Included in the team’s efforts was
the rehabilitation of the school’s iconic clock tower. By project’s
completion, the tower was returned to working order — complete with a new
carillon that can be heard throughout the surrounding neighborhood. Infill
brick panels introduced in the 1970s were removed and windows reinstalled.
Dropped ceilings were removed to reveal 15-ft. ceilings, barrel vaults,
and column capitals. The hardwood and terrazzo floors were uncovered and
refinished. Original light fixtures were refurbished. Stained glass
windows were refurbished and reinstalled behind a protective layer of
laminated glass.
Great
care was taken to ensure that the renovated facility would function at
today’s environmental standards. Updated lighting fixtures, replicating
the original 1920’s fixtures, were installed in areas where the original
fixtures were either missing or beyond repair. The ceilings in some cases
were slightly lowered for the sake of energy efficiency. Items such as
exposed ductwork to meet the air conditioning needs were introduced into
the buildings with great care. Computer data lines were installed in
existing walls and ceilings. School yearbooks from the 1930s and 1940s
were studied and former alumni were consulted, in an effort to effectively
return the high school to its former glory. New wooden seats replaced the
existing plastic auditorium chairs. “The red and black plastic never
worked and were out of place with the restored grandeur of the auditorium
and the stained glass windows." (From
School Planning & Management)
In 2008, HHS completed renovations to restore the high school to its
pre-1960s luster, when it reopened its newly named gymnasium. On May 3, 2008, a ceremony was held in
Hillsborough High's newly remodeled gym to dedicate the gym, naming it the Don Williams Athletic Center, in honor of former HHS boys basketball
coach Don Williams, who led the Terriers to a 2A state championship in
1959. Coach Williams went on to become the first University of South
Florida men's basketball coach in 1970-71.
Coach Williams was notified of
the dedication prior to his death in 2008 at age 84.
See
this video slide show of HHS taken in October of 2008 during
an open house. (Photos at right are from the video.)
Marcelino "Chelo" Huerta, Jr.
Chelo Huerta was a born leader.
The son of Cuban-American Ybor City cigar workers, he played
football at HHS as an offensive linesman. Huerta called the
plays, a job usually reserved for the quarterback.
Not long after high school,
he joined the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, serving as
a B-24 Liberator bomber pilot and flying missions over
Nazi-occupied Europe. When Huerta's aircraft was shot down
over Yugoslavia, he evaded capture by German military units, and
with the assistance of Yugoslav partisans, he was able to safely
return to his base.
After being discharged from
military service, Huerta attended the University of Florida in
Gainesville, where he played guard for coach Bear Wolf's Florida
Gators football team from 1947 to 1949. He was a standout
two-way lineman for the Gators during a time the players
ironically dubbed the "Golden Era"—a stretch when the Gators never
won more than five games in a season. Huerta graduated from
Florida with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1949.
At
28, Huerta became the youngest head football coach and athletic
director in the country when he succeeded Frank Sinkwich at the
University of Tampa. After a highly successful 10-season career
there, followed by shorter ones at Wichita State University and
Parsons College, he compiled a 104-53-2 record.
After retiring from coaching
in 1967, Huerta returned to Tampa and was a successful insurance
agent for a year, but he didn't enjoy it. For the last
sixteen years of his life, he was the executive vice president of
the MacDonald Training Center, which assisted in the
rehabilitation of handicapped children and young persons and
developed methods to get them jobs in mainstream society.
In 1975, he testified before the U.S. Congress as an advocate for
mentally and physically impaired children. He was the founder of
the "Football Players for Crippled Children" program, and was a
member of the President's Council on Endowment for the
Handicapped. Huerta received the Pop Warner Award for his
work with young athletes.
Huerta
was well-known on the Florida Gators alumni speaking circuit for
his quick wit and humor, and he was an active participant in the
"Golden Era" football alumni group from the late 1940s.
Huerta and his wife Gloria had a son, Marcelino J. "Bubba" Huerta,
III, and a daughter Susan. Bubba Huerta played baseball for the
Florida Gators baseball team and graduated from his father's alma
mater, the University of Florida. Chelo Huerta died
unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1985; he was 61 years old.
Thousands attended his funeral at Christ
the King Catholic Church in Tampa.
Chelo Huerta was a member of
the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and was posthumously inducted into
the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great"
in 1983. He was also inducted into the College Football Hall
of Fame as a coach in 2002 and In commemoration of his service to
the Tampa Bay community and its youth, the football field at his
high school alma mater, Hillsborough High School, is named
Marcelino "Chelo" Huerta Field in his honor in 1987.
Amid all this achievement,
his son, Marcelino Huerta III, said he also managed to be a good
husband and father. "We had to share him with the community and
the country, but he included us in his very exciting
celebrity-style life," said Huerta III, a 51-year-old Tampa
lawyer. "He always made time for us." In 1987, the
city dedicated a playground in his name at Bay To Bay Boulevard
and Lois Avenue in Virginia Park. In 2002, he was posthumously
inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Hillsborough
has had many graduations in its past and all of them have been
unique. The first graduating class in 1886 consisted of four
seniors; three girls and one boy. The extent of their education is
unknown. There was no formal ceremony. The next year, five girls
graduated with a formal ceremony at the old Tampa Branch opera house, which
occupied the 2nd floor of a building at the northwest corner of
Franklin Street and Lafayette. Each girl read her graduating speech
by the light of oil lamps which hung along the walls.
Branch's Opera
House on Franklin St. in the 1880s
Three buildings that stood on
the northwest corner of Franklin and Lafayette Boulevard in the
1880s: The large three-story building in the center held the Branch
Opera House on the second floor. It served as Tampa's primary place
for social, political, and civil affairs. On the left is
Emery, Simms & Emery's Boots and Shoes store. On the right is
a grocery store. These 3 buildings appear in the above 1887
map. "B & S" is "boots and shoes."
In the 1870s, a
period in Tampa referred to as the "Dismal Decade," Tampa had shrunk
to approximately 726 citizens by the time the 1880 census was taken.
H.B. Plant's railroad led to sudden growth in Tampa, and by 1885,
Tampa’s population had multiplied to nearly 3,000 residents. That’s
the way it was, on that May 7th, when a mass meeting was called at
Branch’s Opera House for the purpose of forming a Board of Trade,
predecessor to today’s Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. The top
people were on hand, and twenty-seven early birds were enrolled as
charter members that first meeting. There were dentists, physicians,
druggists, printers, painters, storekeepers, insurance and real
estate men, watchmakers and jewelers.
Dr. John
P. Wall, a highly respected medic, Tampa mayor and an
outstanding Floridian, was chosen to lead these boosters in their
crucial first year.
HHS ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION
Hillsborough
High School was the first high school in the county to establish an
Alumni Association. In 1985, during the 100th Anniversary of the
school, HHS alumni came together and decided to form The
Hillsborough High School Alumni Association. And, since the HHSAA
has created the Terrier Hall of Fame, which includes and recognizes
prominent HHS alumni in all walks of life. Hillsborough has an
illustrious alumni with records of service as State Attorney,
Senators, Judges, State Representative, Mayors of Tampa,
professional athletes, educators, School Board Members, actors,
authors, lecturers, sports announcers, Country Commissioners and
Council Members, entrepreneurs, etc.
Today, the HHS Alumni Association publishes the Terrier Talk
newsletter four times per year, and has launched an HHSAA website.
The HHSAA helps fund school improvement projects.
Hillsborough High School takes pride in the fact that four public
schools in Hillsborough County are named for former principals of
Hillsborough: Vivian Gaither High School in northern Hillsborough
County (16200 N Dale Mabry Hwy), Richard C. Spoto High School in the
southern end of the county (8538 Eagle Palm Dr), B.C. Graham
Elementary (2915 Massachusetts Ave in Riverside Heights) and Glenn
H. Barrington Middle School, (14510 Boyette Road, Riverview.)
Jody Espina - saxophonist,
educator, highly regarded in NYC, founder/President of JodyJazz
-of renowned brand of American-made woodwind mouthpieces and
accessories marketed world wide. Jody was also the featured sax on
threeMiramax
Filmsmajor
motion pictures.
-
P; 1984 NL Rookie of the Year, 1985 NL Cy Young Award, member of
1986 World Series ChampionNew
York Metsand
both the 1996 and 2000 World Series ChampionNew
York Yankees
-
Head football coach,University
of Florida(1934–1936);
founding dean, University of Florida College of Health and Human
Performance (1946–1970).
High School
Pat O'Brien -Head football
coach, 2010 "Buccaneers High School Coach of the Year" awarded by
theTampa
Bay BuccaneersasSickles
High Schoolcoach,
resigned to become defensive coordinator/linebackers coach, at
Div. III,Presentation
College, in Aberdeen, S.D.
-Florida
Twelfth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge, appointed in 1983
by Florida Gov. Bob Graham (D), served as Chief Judge in the late
1990s. Owens is a former UF basketball star.
Peter Frank Estrada - Florida
Tenth Judicial District Circuit Court Judge - appointed 2005 by
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, County Court Judge - Appointed 2003;
Elected 2004, first Hispanic judge in the history of the 10th
Circuit.
HILLSBOROUGH'S FIRST HOME
HILLSBOROUGH'S SECOND HOME
HILLSBOROUGH'S THIRD HOME
HILLSBOROUGH'S FOURTH HOME
HILLSBOROUGH'S FIFTH HOME
The
1899 map at left shows the school location at the northwest corner
of Florida Avenue and Madison St. The post office occupied the
first floor, with some vacant space behind it. The high school
was on the 2nd floor, along with the Daily Times printing office.
HILLSBOROUGH'S SIXTH HOME
HILLSBOROUGH'S
SEVENTH HOME
HILLSBOROUGH'S
EIGHTH
AND CURRENT HOME
The
basketball team has also won its share of competitions. It, like
the football team, was a member of the the Big Ten conference and
has won the title as well. The original gymnasium was built in
1936 and was
The graduating
class of 1957, led by the students under Eddie Spoto, Ralph Lazzara
and Tommy Murray, among others, founded a dream--a code of ethics
called the "Terrier Creed," which was to be put into effect by the
succeeding classes. It was the only one of its kind in the South and
it received much publicity. Unknown to the faculty and
administrators, the students took up a collection for a bronze
terrier monument in the courtyard, as a symbol of the Terrier Creed.
Sophomores to seniors alike dug willingly and generously into their
pockets, and by the end of the day, they had surpassed the set goal.
The dream was on the way to reality.
I,
as a student of Hillsborough High School, with pride and respect
for myself and for my school, pledge: 1 . To preserve the beauty
and tradition of my school. 2. To demonstrate my school spirit and
to help elevate the standing of my school by displaying conduct
favorable to our reputation at all times. 3. To avoid displaying
my affections at times when my actions would be liable for
criticism, especially on the school campus and in the building and
at school functions. 4. To refrain from all forms of gambling on
campus. 5. To refrain from drinking intoxicating beverages and
using drugs of any kinds at school functions. 6. To refrain from
using disrespectful gestures and profane language. By doing these
things, I will properly reflect the character, personality, and
attitude of my school.
Working
diligently to preserve as much of the school’s original character as
possible, the project team collaborated to create a durable,
state-of-the-art educational facility. Included in the team’s efforts was
the rehabilitation of the school’s iconic clock tower. By project’s
completion, the tower was returned to working order — complete with a new
carillon that can be heard throughout the surrounding neighborhood. Infill
brick panels introduced in the 1970s were removed and windows reinstalled.
Dropped ceilings were removed to reveal 15-ft. ceilings, barrel vaults,
and column capitals. The hardwood and terrazzo floors were uncovered and
refinished. Original light fixtures were refurbished. Stained glass
windows were refurbished and reinstalled behind a protective layer of
laminated glass.
At
28, Huerta became the youngest head football coach and athletic
director in the country when he succeeded Frank Sinkwich at the
University of Tampa. After a highly successful 10-season career
there, followed by shorter ones at Wichita State University and
Parsons College, he compiled a 104-53-2 record.
Huerta
was well-known on the Florida Gators alumni speaking circuit for
his quick wit and humor, and he was an active participant in the
"Golden Era" football alumni group from the late 1940s.
Huerta and his wife Gloria had a son, Marcelino J. "Bubba" Huerta,
III, and a daughter Susan. Bubba Huerta played baseball for the
Florida Gators baseball team and graduated from his father's alma
mater, the University of Florida. Chelo Huerta died
unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1985; he was 61 years old.
Thousands attended his funeral at Christ
the King Catholic Church in Tampa. 
