Fullerton High School, California

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Fullerton High School is a high school located in Fullerton, California, United States. Its current principal is Cathy "the man" Gach.

[edit] History

In 1893 a special election was held to create Fullerton Union High School. The school's first classroom, a rented room on the second floor of the Fullerton Elementary School building, was adequate to house the eight pupils, which constituted the first year's enrollment and the 32 books which made up the library. The high school was Orange County's first.

In 1908, FUHS's enrollment was increasing at the rate of 18 percent a year. To accommodate the growth, the school was moved to new quarters on West Commonwealth Avenue, an area now known as Amerige Park.

School enrollment continued to grow and within two years a new polytechnic building was built to ease the overcrowding. But on November 17, 1910, the day before it could be occupied, the older FUHS building burned to the ground. FUHS was housed in the polytechnic building and four tents that year. After the fire, the school's trustees debated the best location for rebuilding. The district owned the ground on which the polytechnic building stood, but the campus was small, and school work was disrupted by the numerous Santa Fe trains that roared by each day.

In 1911, the present site was purchased one block east of Harbor Boulevard. A walnut orchard was removed prior to building, and the former site was sold to the City of Fullerton for use as a park.

The school's facilities have changed over the years to meet educational and community needs. Plummer Auditorium's original ironwork, which was made by students on the campus, was kept when Plummer was refurbished and remodeled to meet earthquake standards in 1973. Since then the stadium, locker rooms, and the agriculture complex have been rebuilt. The latest replacement was the swimming pool. Renovations of Plummer Auditorium were recently completed, and the Charles Kassler fresco APastoral California@ was uncovered and completely restored in 1997.

The original buildings no longer stand, but the pride which built the school is reflected in the continuation of the architectural styles of the original design. The affection and spirit which accompanied FUHS's rapid growth and emphasis on excellence are reflected in the continuing concern for excellence in FUHS's programs and image. The lasting and cherished legacies span over a century.

Alma Mater

We are proud of all thy prowess, Fullerton

And we thy colors bravely bear.

We will be thy loyal subjects ever;

Joy and grief we alike will with thee share.

Oh F.H.S. thy name we love,

And ever staunch and true you'll find us;

We'll stand by thee, through all eternity,

The red and white so true.

Website: http://fullerton.seniorhigh.net/

[edit] Notable alumni

• Ryan Smith
• President Richard Nixon
• Walter Johnson, major league baseball player
• David Boies
• Leo Fender, Inventor of Electric Guitar

Alumni Website: http://members.aol.com/fuhsalumni/fuhs.htm

[edit] External links

• Fullerton Union High School

Fullerton High School's Academy of the Arts gains more local and national attention each year and has been building since 1996. Website: www.fullertonarts.com

Fullerton High School's Speech and Debate Program excels every year since 2002. Currently coached by Sal Tinajero. Website: www.fullertonforensics.com