Willowridge High School (Houston)

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Willowridge High School is a secondary school in Houston, Texas, United States and part of the Fort Bend Independent School District. Willowridge serves grades 9 through 12.

The school, located in the Blue Ridge area, has a predominately 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. The school also serves the Fort Bend County portion of Shadow Creek Ranch, a community within the city of Pearland [1].

This school is well known for its 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.

Contents

[edit] History

The first phase of Willowridge started in February 1978 and was occupied in September 1979.[1]

The school opened 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. Also during the class of 82-83 Lead by Thurman Thomas the Willowridge Football team won State 4A Championship. The following year 83-84 the suffered a disappointing loss to Bay City in the Astrodome. The most humiliationg loss came in 1987 when they had a 20+ lead over Austin Reagan in Austin at the half, a game or 2 before State Championship, and in classic Houston Oiler fashion (the greatest loss in the history of the NFL losing a 30+ point advantage), somehow lost the 20+ point advantage and the dreams of the c/o 87 (O.J Brigance was part of this team) to go to state not to mention dreams of the main show of the football game- The Band!! That 1987 team dashed the hopes of all involved in the football program from the Band to the cheerleaders, to the drill team, to the pom pom girls, the mascot, the fans, and basically the whole world!

One of the streets on the WHS campus was named in memory of former principal Edgar Glover, Jr. Glover, who served as principal between November 1982 until his death in April 1993. Coincidentally, an elementary school named in Edgar Glover, Jr's honor opened on August 17, 1994 [(Opened fall 1992 [2])].

Back in the 1980s, its 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.

The second phase of Willowridge High School was completed in summer 1992 and dedicated on September 23, 1992 [(Opened fall 1992 [3])]. During the expansion, the Ronald C. McNair Auditorium was dedicated in memoriam (the middle school next to Willowridge was named after Christa McAullife).

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Feeder patterns

The following elementary schools [4] feed into Willowridge [5]:

  • Briargate
  • Ridgegate
  • Ridgemont
  • Blue Ridge
  • Hunters Glen (partial)
  • Jones (partial)

The following middle schools [6] feed into Willowridge:

  • Lake Olympia (partial)
  • McAuliffe
  • Missouri City (partial)


[edit] External links

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Fort Bend Independent School District
High schools Austin | Bush | Clements | Dulles | Elkins | Hightower | Kempner | Marshall | Travis | Willowridge
Middle schools Fort Settlement | Sartartia