Fordson High School

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Fordson H.S., 1928

Fordson High School is a secondary school located in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. It was completed in 1928 on a fifteen-acre parcel of land which was then the village of Fordson. Ground was broken for the original school building in 1926, designed by architect H.J. Keough of the Detroit architectural firm Van Leyen, Schilling & Keough. The school building, at $2.2m was the first American school building to cost more than $1m, and was inspired in part by the Lawyer's Club at the University of Michigan. The building features architectural sculpture by Corrado Parducci.

Prior to the opening of the school, students attended the nearby Miller School.

1 Present day
2 Athletics
3 Fordson Fight Song
4 Facts
5 Notable alumni
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Present day

As of 2006, the school principal is Imad Fadlallah, where he has served in that capacity since 2004. Fordson High is located in the second largest Arab community outside the Middle East, where more than 30% of the residents are of Arab ancestry. This is reflected at Fordson High, where approximately 95% ^[1] of the 2,300 student body is Arab. See: Dearborn, Michigan

[edit] Athletics

Fordson is a member of the Michigan Mega Conference. The Fordson Tractors have a strong tradition in its athletics. The sports include (achievements are since 1999-2000 season):

Fall Sports

Football
- 2000 MEGA Red Champions
- 2002 District Champions
- 2002 MEGA Red Champions
- 2003 District Champions
Girl's Basketball
Girl's Swimming
Girl's Tennis
- 2000 MEGA Blue Champions
- 2001 MEGA Blue Champions
- 2001 State Finalists
- 2002 MEGA White Champions
- 2002 State Finalists
- 2003 MEGA Red Champions
- 2003 State Finalists
- 2005 MEGA Red Champions
- 2005 State Finalists
- 2006 MEGA Red Champions
Boy's Soccer
Boy's Cross Country
- 2001 MEGA Red Champions
- 2002 MEGA Red Champions
- 2002 State Finalists
- 2003 MEGA Red Champions
Girl's Cross Country
- 2005 MEGA Blue Champions

Winter Sports

Wrestling
- 2000 District Champions
- 2002 MEGA White Champions
- 2002 District Champions
- 2002 Regional Champions
- 2003 MEGA White Champions
- 2003 District Champions
- 2004 District Champions
- 2005 District Champions
- 2006 District Champions
- 2007 District Champions
Boy's Basketball
- 2001 District Champions
- 2004 District Champions
- 2007 MEGA White Champions
Volleyball
- 2002 MEGA Blue Champions
- 2003 MEGA Blue Champions
Boy's Swimming

Spring Sports

Boy's Tennis
- 2003 MEGA White Champions
Boy's Track
Girl's Track
Girl's Soccer
- 2005 MEGA Blue Champions
Baseball
- 2001 MEGA Gold Champions
- 2002 MEGA Gold Champions
- 2003 MEGA Gold Champions
Softball

The school's strongest program lies within its football team. Fordson Football has accumulated 4 state championships (1930, 1943,1971, 1993) and 3 state runner-up season (1980,1982,1984). Fordson had an undefeated season in 1972, but was not regarded as the number one team. The Tractors have won more league championships than any team within the 28-member conference.

[edit] Fordson Fight Song

Come on ye Fordson, dear maize and blue
Come on ye Fordson High!
We're here to fight for you
And we will cheer for you
As ye go down that line
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Come on ye Fordson fight for victory
As we will loyal be
Straight for the fame
Of our fair name
Go ye Fordson win that game!

Fight ye Fordson fight!
Fight ye Fordson fight!
Hit them high, hit them low
Go ye Fordson go

[edit] Facts

Fordson is the first million dollar high school in the United States
Fordson's mascot is the Tractors
Fordson has many ties with the University of Michigan in many ways including its architecture and colors (blue and gold).
Fordson has many rivals, most notably crosstown rivals Dearborn High School and Edsel Ford High School. Monroe High School is a longtime league rival dating back to 1929 when Fordson was established.

[edit] Notable alumni

Chad Everett film and TV actor, born in South Bend, Indiana but educated in Dearborn.
John Lesinski Jr. former Congressman for Michigan (D, 1951-1965)
District Judge Virginia A. Sobotka, 19th District.
District Judge Richard Wygonik, 19th District[1]
William Dear, Hollywood director, most notably of Angels in the Outfield and Harry and the Hendersons.
Robert P. Griffin, former US Senator
Michael A. Guido, Mayor of Dearborn from 1986-2006
Ralph Guy, Jr., Senior Judge of Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan
William K. Brehm, Chairman of SRA International [2]
Abdul Alzindani, National High School Cross Country Champion, Olympian [3]
Michael Iaquaniello, Michigan State Spartans Quarterback, Miami Dolphins Quarterback [4]
Marian Bayoff Ilitch, Founder and Owner of Little Caesars Pizza
Eddie Slovik, First American Soldier to be executed for desertion in World War II
Andrea Joyce, CBS Sports Broadcaster [5]
Walter Reuther, President of United Auto Workers (UAW)
Michael Adray, Philanthropist, Founder of Adray Appliance
Gary Paul Gates, Author, most significantly co-authored with Dan Rather on "The Palace Guard"
Tom Anastos, Montreal Canadiens Hockey Player, Current Commissioner of the CCHA.
Jon Hamood, Houston Rockets basketball player
Tom Saidok, Played tackle for the Eagles(1957), New York Titans (1960-61), and Buffalo Bills (1962).
Jim Snyder (baseball), Played baseball for the Minnesota Twins from 1961-1964. He also managed the Seattle Mariners in 1988.
Art James, Television game show host; hosted Blank Check and Magnificient Marble Machine and also voiced for a dozen game shows including Family Feud.