Cass Technical High School

Cass Technical High School is a four-year college prep high school in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The school is named in honor of Lewis Cass, an American military officer and politician who served as governor of the Michigan Territory from 1813 until 1831. The school is a part of Detroit Public Schools.

Until 1977, Cass was Detroit's only magnet school and the only non-neighborhood enrollment school in Detroit. Today, Cass is one of few magnet schools in Detroit. Entrance to Cass is based on test scores and middle school grades. Students are required to choose a curriculum path—roughly equivalent to a college "major"—in the ninth grade. Areas of study include, but are not limited to, architecture, music, graphic arts, business, human services, and chemical/biological sciences.

History and Campus

Architecture

The school was founded in 1907. It had its historic landmark building on Second Avenue in Downtown Detroit built in the 1919.^[2] To the south of it an addition designed by Albert Kahn was built in 1985. The new, modern facilities of the school were built in 2004 in an adjacent lot to the north of the original building on Grand River Avenue.

In 2007 there was a big fire on the old structure. Complete demolition and razing to the ground of the impressive historic buildings and landmarks with the intention of leaving no traces of it left in the urban landscape begun in June 2011. In November 2011, with the demolition works completed, the whole area previously occupied by the old landmarks was fenced in and turned into a very flat and smooth lawn. Pictures of the old historic structures, both from the outside and the abandoned inside floors and classes can be seen here.

Student

Demographic

Based on current enrollment information, there are approximately 2,086 students that attend Cass Technical High School. There are 624 students in the ninth grade, 537 students in the tenth grade, 466 in the eleventh grade, and 459 in the twelfth grade.^[3]

Ethnicity Distribution

Of the 2,196 students that attend Cass Technical High School, 1,95(89.3%) of them are Black or African American, 89(4.0%) are Asian American, 70 (3.2%) are Hispanic or Latino, 56(2.6%) are White, 17(0.8%) are Arabic, 2(0.1%) are American Indian or Alaska Native, and 1 (0.0%) is African American.^[4]

Gender Distribution

Of the 2,086 students, there are 1,269 (60.8%) girls and 817 (39.2%) boys.^[3]

Academics

Cass Technical High School's average ACT score is 21, which is four points higher than the average for Detroit public high schools. Cass offers eleven advanced placement courses including language composition, history, chemistry, calculus, and physics. Students are required to maintain a 2.5 grade point average on a scale of 4.0 in order to retain enrollment. Cass Tech students' strong academic performances draw recruiters from across the country, including Ivy League representatives eager to attract the top minority applicants.^[5]

Awards

In 1984 Cass Tech was honored by the US Department of Education among 262 schools that should "shine as inspirational model for others" that included public and private schools.^[6]

In 2003 Maurice El-Amin, the Academic Games coach, was awarded the 'Most Outstanding Coordinator' award. In 2006 Cass represented DPS at the National Academic Games Olympics and won the Team Sweepstakes award.

Music Department

Choir

The Choir does vocal training under the direction of Dr. Cheryl Harden. She has been the choral director of Cass Tech since 1999. Over the years, the choirs have produced two CDs and are now working on their third. Cass Tech has many choir groups, including the following:

• Concert Choir
• Madrigal Singers
• V-Jetts/ Vocal Jazz Ensemble
• Choral Genesis
• Cass Tech Men's Glee
• Mystique Women's Chorale

Harp and Vocal

The Harp program, which was established at Cass Tech in 1925, began with Clarence Byrne, who, according to Patricia Terry-Ross, the program's current director, "wanted to teach every instrument known to man or woman."^[7] Cass Tech is the only school in the city of Detroit with a Harp and Vocal Ensemble. The Director from 1976–2007 was Patricia Terry Ross, a former student of the ensemble. As of 2007 the Director is Lydia Cleaver, also a former ensemble student.

Harp Ensemble

The harp ensemble is usually composed of five well-seasoned student harpists. They each receive private lessons under Lydia Cleaver, learning performance skills and the traditional techniques of the Carlos Salzedo Method. The group does perform outside of school related functions.

Bands

There are beginner, intermediate, advanced and jazz band classes, as well as a marching band. The CTMB (marching band), under the direction of Ms. Sharon Allen, has performed for Patti Labelle, Sinbad, and Jay-Z as well as at various college and university, and homecomings. The marching band was also a part of the 2007 FedEx Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, but was not televised. In 2008, the band performed at Texas Southern University. In 2010, the CTMB participated in Norfolk State University's Homecoming and won first place in the McDonald's Battle of the Bands.

Orchestra

The orchestra is under the direction of Marc W. Haas. The 2005–2006 Cass Tech String Quartet was the winner at the 2006 MASTA state-wide chamber music competition. The quartet was also featured in the 2006 Michigan Youth Arts Festival. The Cass Tech Chamber String Orchestra, the school's advanced orchestra, participated in the All City High School Symphony Orchestra program at the Renaissance Center's Ambassador Ballroom on March 8, 2007.

Athletics

Football

The Cass Tech Technicians football team (also referred to as the Technicians) is a high school football program in Division 1 Public School League, representing the prestigious Cass Technical High School in Detroit, MI. Cass Tech High School has long been recognized nationwide for its extraordinary football program dating back to its very beginning in 1906. The team, currently coached by Thomas Wilcher are the reigning PSL champions.^[8] Cass Tech has become a must-stop for recruiters looking for prep football talent in the state of Michigan. Year in and year out it seems at least one, if not several prospects, sign with a major college. Quite often the prospects at Cass Tech have headed to Michigan to play for the Wolverines, however, recently prospects have accepted scholarships from major conferences like the PAC 10 and the SEC.^[9] Cass Tech has sent 25 players to DIV 1 FBS/FCS programs since 1998, most of any high school program in Michigan. The program has produced 14 NFL professionals dating back to 1917 when prospect Walt Clago went to the University of Detroit Mercy to play collegiate football. After graduating he was signed by the Detroit Tigers of the APFA. The APFA became the NFL in 1922 and Clago signed with the Rock Island Independents.^[10] Most recent NFL player to come out of Cass Tech was Vernon Gholston.^[11] Gholston graduated in 2004 and attended Ohio State University. He was drafted 6th overall in the 2008 NFL draft.

2010 Season

Cass Tech are the reigning PSL champions. The 2010 season ended by losing to Lake Orion Dragons 24–21 in the D1 state semifinals.^[12] The Technicians went into the state semi-final with a 12–0 record out scoring opponents 476–107.^[13] With 35 seconds left and the ball on Lake Orion's 5-yard line, Keith Moore lined up for Cass Tech, received the snap and looked to pitch the ball to receiver Keenan Smith. The only problem was Andrew Shafkalis of Lake Orion got there first. Shafkalis forced the game-ending fumble Tyler Misiak recovered with 32.8 seconds left to secure Lake Orion's 24–21 victory over Cass Tech.^[14]

2010 Football Schedule

† PSL Championship †† Regional Championship ‡ Division 1 State Semi-Final BOLD Playoffs

The hyperlinks lead to a highlight video of the game provided by CityBallers

2011 Season

Cass Tech started off the season on a very sour note. Losing its season opener to highly ranked Farmington Hills Harrison 43-7. ^[15] However, Cass Tech turned it's season around winning its next 4 games with a combined score of 169 and only allowing 30 pts. ^[16] Cass Tech suffered its second loss with the eventual PSL champions, Detroit Crockett Tech 6-0. Cass Tech met Crockett Tech again in the PSL semi-finals suffering its third loss, 14-9. Cass Tech was entering the state playoffs with a 6-3 record. There weren't many expectations for Cass Tech but the players took inspiration from last years state semi-final loss against the eventual state champions Lake Orion. Cass Tech played 5 great games and earned its first division 1 state title beating Detroit Catholic Central 49-13, giving a Detroit PSL team its first division 1 state title ever. ^[17]

† PSL Playoffs †† Regional Championship ‡ Division 1 State Semi-Final ‡‡ Division 1 Final BOLD Playoffs

History

NFL Professionals

‡ Active NFL Pro

NCAA division 1 FBS/FCS players since 1997

°Solid verbal commitment

‡ NFL PRO

Basketball

2010-11 Season

2010 Basketball Schedule

History

State Championships

1956 Boys Class A State Champions^[32]
1975 Boys Class A State Champions^[33]

League Championships

1951 at Detroit Olympia (attendance 5,787), Cass Tech beats Miller, 56-49 (Coach Frank "Ace" Cudillo)
1952 at Detroit Olympia (attendance n/a), Cass Tech beats Northwestern, 50-43 (Coach Frank "Ace" Cudillo)
1955 at UD Memorial (attendance n/a), Cass Tech beats Northwestern, 56-37 (Coach Frank "Ace" Cudillo)
1975 at Cobo Arena (8,603), Cass Tech beats Murray-Wright, 65-58 (Coach Jim Spivey)
1977 at Cobo Arena (4,311), Cass Tech beats Mackenzie, 70-69(OT) (Coach Jim Spivey)
1993 at Cobo Arena (n/a), Cass Tech beats Pershing, 72-64 (Coach Robert Shannon)
1998 at Cobo Arena (n/a), Cass Tech beats Central, 79-76 (Coach Robert Shannon)

^[34]

All American Players^[35]

    1957 Steve Jordan
    1975 William Mayfield
    1982 Patrick Ford

All State Players

    Detroit Free Press[36]
    1951 George “Swinging Gate” Gatewood, 2nd Team
    1952 George “Swinging Gate” Gatewood, 1st Team
    1952 Walter Godfrey, 2nd Team
    1955 Don Coleman, 2nd Team
    1955 Chuck Mitchell, 4th Team
    1955 Jerry Malinasky, 5th Team
    1941 Casmer Mokeski, 3rd Team 
    1956 Steve Jordan, 3rd Team
    1957 Steve Jordan, 1st Team
    1958 Levert France, 5th Team
    1974 Tony Jamison, 4th Team
    1975 William Mayfield NBA, 1st Team
    1978 Eric Watson, 2nd Team
    1980 Patrick Ford, 3rd Team
    1981 Patrick Ford, 3rd Team
    1982 Patrick Ford, 1st Team
    1983 Grady Lowry, 5th Team
    1988 Steve Hall, 2nd Team
    1995 Damien Baskerville, 5th Team
    1998 D. Bryant (AFL), 5th Team
    1998 Marlon Williamson, 6th Team
    2004 Chris Douglass-Roberts NBA, 4th Team

    The Detroit News[37]
    1951 George “Swinging Gate” Gatewood, 2nd Team
    1952 George “Swinging Gate” Gatewood, 1st Team
    1941 Casmer Mokeski, 3rd Team 
    1956 Steve Jordan, 3rd Team
    1957 Steve Jordan, 1st Team
    1958 Levert France, 5th Team
    1975 William Mayfield NBA, 1st Team
    1978 Eric Watson, 1st Team
    1981 Patrick Ford, 1st Team
    1982 Patrick Ford, 1st Team
    1988 Steve Hall, 1st Team
    1990 Maurice Davis, 2nd Team
    1993 Derrick Dial NBA, 3rd Team
    1993 Eric Dedmon, 4th Team
    1998 Marlon Williamson, 5th Team
    1999 Javon Clark, 5th Team
    2002 Shawn Hopes, 6th Team
    2004 Chris Douglass-Roberts NBA, 3rd Team
    2007 Jeremy Allen, 4th Team

Win/Loss Record

NBA professionals

Track and field

Cass Tech's track and field history goes back to 1926 when Eddie Tolan and his teammate Loving won the interscholastic track meet at Northwestern University.^[38] Tolan came to be known as the "Midnight Express". He set world records in the 100 yard dash and 100 meters event and Olympic records in the 100 meters and 200 meters events. He was the first African-American to receive the title of the "world's fastest human" after winning gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters events at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In March 1935, Tolan won the 75, 100 and 220 yard events at the World Professional Sprint Championships in Melbourne, Australia to become the first man to win both the amateur and professional world sprint championships. In his full career as a sprinter, Tolan won 300 races and lost only 7.^[39]

Boys Track & Field Team State Championships

Boys Track & Field Team Individual Champions

‡State Record

JROTC program

Program is the largest organization in the school. It has a curriculum that includes Leadership Lab and Cadet Challenge, a drill team, and an honor guard team. The drill team is composed of: a First-Year Color Guard, an Open-Year Color Guard, an Armed Exhibition Team, an Unarmed Exhibition Team, a Female Armed Exhibition Team, an Unarmed Regulation team, and an Armed Regulation Team. The Armed Exhibition Drill Team was founded by Cadet Colonel Anthony James Cole (City of Detroit Corps Commander 1997–1998) in 1996, which opened the door for the Unarmed Exhibition Team and the Female Exhibition Team. The JROTC program has the "Gold Star Insignia", which is the highest attainable rank in the JROTC program, and has been maintained by the school since the early 1990s. In 2005, the Cass Tech Renegades Drill Team was selected to attend the National Drill Competition held in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was the first invite for the state of Michigan. The following year, the team was invited to return, leaving ranked fourth in overall performance. The honor guard team has attended many events throughout the city, including many parades and grand openings, as have the color guard and exhibition teams.

Notable alumni and people

Art, architecture, design

• Niels Diffrient, (born 1928) is an American industrial designer.
• Ray Johnson, was a seminal figure of the Pop Art movement. “Founding Father of Mail Art" and pioneered the incorporation and use of language in the visual arts.
• Judy Pfaff, is an American artist, known mainly for Installation art.
• John De Lorean, automobile executive, inventor of the DeLorean automobile.
• Harry Bertoia, was an Italian-born artist, sculptor, and modern furniture designer.^[43]
• Charles M. Wysocki, Jr., was an American painter, whose works depict a stylized version of American life of yesteryear.

Arts and entertainment

• Geri Allen, American post bop jazz pianist
• Sean Anderson aka Big Sean; hip-hop artist signed to Kanye West's Label (G.O.O.D. Music)
• Harry Begian, Cass Tech band director, University of Illinois band director, and also was one of the most respected band directors in the United States. Mentor of Donald Sinta
• Billy Bowen,^[44] Original member of The Ink Spots
• Donald Byrd, American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter
• Kenny Burrell, American jazz guitarist
• Ellen Burstyn, Won Academy Award for Best Actress in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore as Alice Hyatt, Tony Award Winner, Emmy Award Winner, Golden Globe Award Winner (did not graduate)
• Regina Carter, American jazz violinist
• Ron Carter, American jazz double-bassist
• Paul Chambers, American jazz bassist
• Alice Coltrane, was an American jazz pianist, organist, harpist, composer, and the wife of John Coltrane.
• Muriel Costa-Greenspon, was an American mezzo-soprano who had a lengthy career at the New York City Opera between 1963–1993.
• Delores Ivory Davis, was internationally recognized for her performances in opera, oratorio, and performances with the Springfield (Mass.) Symphony, St. Paul Symphony, and Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
• Dr. Cedric Dent, baritone member of Take 6
• Wardell Gray, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist who straddled the swing and bebop periods.
• David Alan Grier, actor, comedian
• Gary Hardwick, Director of Deliver Us from Eva
• J. C. Heard,^[45] was a United States swing, bop, and blues drummer.
• Major Holley, was an American jazz upright bassist.
• Ali Jackson (musician), American jazz drummer.
• Philip Johnson American Actor, leading role in the Lifetime Original Movie, America
• Ella Joyce, American actress
• Hugh Lawson (jazz pianist),^[45] was one of many talented Detroit jazz pianists of the 1950s
• Donyale Luna, was a model, cover girl and actress.
• Howard McGhee, was one of the very first bebop jazz trumpeters, together with Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro and Idrees Sulieman.
• Al McKibbon,^[45] was an American jazz double bassist, known for his work in bop, hard bop, and Latin jazz.
• Billy Mitchell (jazz musician),^[45] was an American jazz tenor saxophonist best known for his work with Woody Herman when he replaced Gene Ammons in his band.
• J. Moss aka James Moss, grammy award winning, American gospel singer-songwriter, composer, arranger, and record producer
• Greg Phillinganes, (1974) session keyboardist
• Della Reese, comedian, actress, later famous for playing Tess, the leading role on the television show Touched by an Angel
• Kyle Rivers, American actor, known for Soul Food (film)
• Frank Rosolino,^[46] was an American jazz trombonist.
• Diana Ross, singer, actress-Graduated 1962, one full semester ahead of her classmates. Ross' major as listed in the Cass Tech Triangle Yearbook was "Home economics." Ross studied costume design as her curriculum path.
• Donald Sinta, is an American classical saxophonist, educator, and administrator. In 1969 he was the first elected chair of the World Saxophone Congress.
• Cornelius Smith Jr., actor, 2010 NAACP Image Award winner for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series
• Lucky Thompson,^[45] was a United States jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist.
• Lily Tomlin, comedian, actress
• Jack White (musician), acclaimed musician and member of The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather.
• Gerald Wilson, influential Jazz trumpeter, Big Band leader and composer.
• Carole Gist, 1990 Miss USA, first African American woman to win the Miss USA title
• Kenya Moore, 1993 Miss USA
• Naima Mora, American fashion model, America's Next Top Model Winner (4th Season)

Business

• Preston Thomas Tucker, who was an American automobile designer and entrepreneur.
• Peter Karmanos, Jr., is the CEO of Compuware Corporation and owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, Plymouth Whalers and Florida Everblades hockey franchises. (did not graduate)
• Susan Mazer, (1968) jazz harpist, co-founder, Healing HealthCare Systems, Inc.
• Tracy Reese, fashion designer
• Mahdi Choudhoury, is the Co-Founder and COO of DSLMi.NET, Top 20 IT start up of 2010,^[47] Chairman of Mogul Link
• Thomas E. White, is an American businessman, former United States Army officer, Senior exec. at the Enron and the 18th United States Secretary of the Army from May 31, 2001 until April 25, 2003.
• John Dykstra, President of Ford Motor Company from 1961–1963^[48]
• Tom Wilsom,^[49] President and CEO of Olympia Entertainment.^[50]
• Edward Davis, the first African-American to be appointed as general manager of Detroit's Department of Street Railways (DSR)^[51]
• Robert C. Lowes,^[52] former President and CEO of Burger King^[53] and currently Visiting Professor, University of California Santa Barbara, Department of Economics^[54]
• Esther Gordy Edwards, former staff member and associate of her younger brother Berry Gordy's fabled Motown label during the 1960s. Edwards created the Motown Museum, Hitsville U.S.A., by preserving the label's Detroit studio.

Computers, engineering, and technology

• Neal V. Loving, A distinguished airplane designer, aeronautical engineer, flight instructor, and co-owner of a flight school,^[55] Author of Loving's Love

Educators

• Evangeline Lindberg, Chemistry teacher at Cass Tech, mother of Charles Lindbergh.
• David H. Sanford, Professor of Philosophy at Duke University. He specializes in perception and metaphysics.
• Dr. Michele L. Simms-Burton, Associate Professor Howard University.
• Dr. Michelle Mitcham-Smith, Assistant Professor, Psychological & Social Foundations, University of South Florida.
• Andrew D. Althouse, Head of the Automotive and Aero Departments at Cass Tech in 1932,^[56] also author of Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.
• Frank M. Granger, Professor of Aviation at Cass Tech in 1929,^[57] Received Honorary Degree from New York University in 1931.^[58]
• Terry Esper, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Logistics at University of Tennessee.
• Warren E. Bow,^[59] Principal of Cass Tech, 2nd President of Wayne State University.^[60]
• Charles Gilchrist Adams, Inaugural William and Lucille Nickerson Professor of the Practice of Ethics and Ministry at Harvard Divinity School in 2007.^[61]
• Donald Sinta, Earl V. Moore Professor of Saxophone at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Fiction/Non Fiction

• Dana Davidson, Author and Teacher
• Daniel Okrent, is an American writer and editor.
• Raynetta Manees, is an Africian American best selling novelist. Manees was also a 1966-1968 member of the school's legendary Harp and Vocal Ensemble.

Journalism/publishing/broadcasting

• Ed Gordon (journalist), American journalist
• Shaun Robinson, co-anchor and correspondent for the show Access Hollywood
• Lesli Foster, Anchor for WUSA9 in Washington D.C.
• Toni Neal, Emmy award-winning broadcaster
• Terry Foster, Sports journalist, currently writes for The Detroit News and hosts a show on WXYT-FM.
• Michael Reghi, American television play-by-play announcer and radio sports talk show host.
• Kristin Clark Taylor,^[62] helped launched the USA Today, daily American newspaper.

Law, government, and public policy

• Ella Bully-Cummings, first female police chief of Detroit
• Hansen Clarke, US House of Representative
• Lisa Howze, State Representative, Michigan
• Kwame Kilpatrick, former mayor of Detroit
• Benny N. Napoleon, former Chief of Police, City of Detroit, current Wayne County Sheriff
• Richard Kisner,^[63] current Chief Financial Officer of Detroit Public Schools
• Cora Brown, was the first African-American woman elected to a United States state senate, winning a seat in the Michigan State Senate in 1952.
• George Cushingberry, Jr., is an African American member of the Michigan House of Representatives.

Medicine

• John M. Carethers, M.D., Department Chair of Internal Medicine University of Michigan Health System
• Muneesh Tewari, oncologist and cancer researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
• Pamela Reeves, Medical Director John Dingell VA Medical Center

Newsmakers

• Melvin Barry White, in 1969 at the age of 14, became the youngest student to ever enroll at Wayne State University^[64]

Sports

• David Boone b. 1951, NFL DE for the Minnesota Vikings
• Walter Clago b. 1899, NFL End for the Rock Island Independents
• Robert Dozier, 1993 inductee to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame
• Aaron Kyle b. 1954, NFL CB for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos
• Guy Frazier b. 1959, NFL LB for the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills
• Vernon Gholston b.1986, NFL LB/DE for the New York Jets
• Curtis Greer b. 1957, NFL DE for the St. Louis Cardinals
• Harlan Huckleby b. 1957, NFL RB for the Green Bay Packers
• Pat Ivey b. 1972, NFL DE for the Green Bay Packers
• Darris McCord b. 1933, NFL DE for the Detroit Lions
• A. J. Ofodile b. 1973, NFL TE for the Baltimore Ravens
• Ben John Paolucci b. 1937, NFL DT for the Detroit Lions
• Chris Douglas Roberts, NBA player for the New Jersey Nets, (did not graduate)
• Tom Seabron b. 1957, LB for the San Francisco 49ers
• Arnie Simkus, b. 1943 NFL DE/DT for the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets
• Thomas Sims b. 1967, Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts
• Eddie Tolan, gold medal winner in the 100 and 200 meters events at the 1932 Summer Olympics
• Clarence Williams (running back born 1977), NFL RB for the Arizona Cardinals
• George Brown (basketball), NBA Forward for Seattle Supersonics
• Dorie Murrey, NBA Forward for Minneapolis Lakers
• Bill Mayfield, NBA Forward for Golden State Warriors
• Derrick Dial, NBA Guard for San Antonio Spurs

References

• Farrell, Perry. "Douglass earns 1st playoff trip". Detroit Free Press. 19 Oct 07.

External links

• Official site
• Abandoned Cass Tech High School at Detroiturbex.com
• Cass Technical photos circa 2009 at Silentbuildings.com
• Blue Ribbon Schools program
• Program Overview
• 2002 Governor's Cup Awards
• Annual Conventions of SSMA
• Cass Tech talent
• Design Award
• Academic Games Olympics