Willowridge High School (Houston)

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Willowridge High School is a secondary school in Houston, Texas and part of the Fort Bend Independent School District. Willowridge serves grades 9 through 12. The school has a predominantly African-American student population. The school serves many areas of northeast Fort Bend County east and north of FM 2234, and a section of Houston inside Fort Bend County, including the neighborhoods of Briargate, Chasewood, Willow Park II, Ridgemont, Ridgegate, and Briar Villa.

This school is well known for its well-known marching band, known as the "Mighty Eagle Marching Band." Under band directors Mr. Ronald Thornton (head), Delcenia Hill, and Robert Jackson, the band performed at the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl back in the 1990s. In the summer of 2005, the Willowridge Band vacationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, a rarity for high school bands. The band also hosted the Bands of America (www.bands.org) contest at Rice Stadium on October 1, 2005.

The school is also renowned for its basketball program. In 2001, the men's team accomplished the rare feat of having two McDonald's All-Americans in Daniel Ewing and T.J. Ford, who went on to play for Duke University and Texas, respectively.

1 History
2 Notable alumni
3 Feeder patterns
4 Trivia
5 External link

[edit] History

The school opened in 1979 as the second high school in the FBISD; during the 1980s, it was known for its high school football players. Three players - Thurman Thomas, O.J. Brigance, and Allen Aldridge - later went professional in the National Football League.

One of the streets on the WHS campus was named in memory of former principal Edgar Glover, Jr. Glover served as principal between November 1982 until his death in April 1993. Coincidentally, an elementary school was named in Edgar Glover, Jr's honor in 1995.

Back in the 1980s, their football program produced several NFL players, from Thurman Thomas (1984 graduate), O.J. Brigance (1987 graduate), and Allen Aldridge (1990 graduate). The breakdown: Thomas played pro with the Buffalo Bills, appropriating #34 for former NFL star Earl Campbell, Brigance with the Miami Dolphins, and Aldridge, a Denver Broncos lineman, later finishing his pro career with the Detroit Lions. Before retiring, Aldridge was selected in the expansion draft which established the Houston Texans.

[edit] Notable alumni

Allen Aldridge - Former NFL Football Player for the Denver Broncos, Super Bowl ring winner. Nephew of NFL player Ken Houston. Class of 90'
Daniel Ewing - NBA Basketball Player for the Los Angeles Clippers. Class of 01'
Def Jam Blaster - Award Winning DJ of 97.9 the box. Half of the Hollywood Boys. Class of 90' [1]
Di Reed - Member of early 90's Platinum selling R&B Soul Group, Jade (US band),Jade Photo/Bio (Di Reed in center)
Eric England - Former NFL football player and current player for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League [CFL]
Isaiah Washington - Actor mostly known for his roles in Romeo Must Die, Wild Things 2, Grey's Anatomy. Class of 81'
Jason Webster - Former football player at Texas A&M University, and currently with the Atlanta Falcons. Class of 96'
Rapper/Geto Boys member Scarface attended WHS briefly in late 1986 - early 1987.
T.J. Ford - NBA Basketball Player for the Toronto Raptors. Class of 01'.
Thurman Thomas - Former NFL Running Back for the Buffalo Bills. Class of 84'
Kobie Diallo Williams - Class of 93'. Famous for aiding the Taliban to which he was convicted on November 28, 2006 in the U.S. District Court.
Darnley "Donnie Scantz" Scantlebury (Producer/Songwriter/Musician) - Dove Awards of 2003 winner for work on Out of Eden’s, “This is Your Life”, two Grammy nominations for work on Usher’s, “Confessions” and, “Yeah”. Production credits include the Ludacris single, “Pimpin' All Over the World” and album credits include Will Smith (2005), Pastor Troy (2005), Ludacris (2004), Usher (2004) and Aaliyah (2000). Donnie was also a member of the reknown Howard University Jazz Ensemble in 1995 along with fellow WHS alumni and percussionist, Derrick James.

[edit] Feeder patterns

McAuliffe Middle School and Missouri City Middle School(partial) feed into Willowridge. Blue Ridge, Briargate, Ridgemont, Ridgegate Elementary Schools feed into Willowridge.

[edit] Trivia

This is the only high school in Fort Bend ISD that is not named after a person.
The Willowridge "Mighty Eagle" Marching Band claims to be the first band to put the word "Mighty" in front of their name.
The nationally acclaimed, WHS "Mighty Eagle" Marching Band was featured in the movie Friday Night Lights starring Billy Bob Thornton and Derek Luke.
The Willowridge "Mighty Eagle" Marching Band was the first organization to perform in Reliant Stadium.