| Francis Joseph Reitz High School Evansville Reitz High School |
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|---|---|
| Location | |
| Evansville, Indiana, USA | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public high school |
| Motto | High Performance Counts! |
| Established | 1918 |
| School district | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation |
| Principal | Christine Settle |
| Faculty | 87 |
| Number of students | 1,395 |
| Color(s) | |
| Athletics | SIAC |
| Mascot | Mighty Panthers |
| Gym Capacity | 3,200 |
| Website | www.evscschools.com/reitz |
Francis Joseph Reitz High School is a historic public high school on the west side of Evansville, Indiana. It was founded in 1918, and is the second oldest high school still in use today in the city. It is a member of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation.
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The idea for a school on the west side of Evansville came from the Centennial Club, led by Mrs. C.F. Werner, who fought a genteel, but determined battle with the reluctant school board. The ladies said the Evansville High School (old Central) was too far away to be financially practical for many west side families. After four years of crusading, the Centennial Club won.
The school board had planned to call the school West Side High School. That was before the board discovered a lack of funds and Francis Joseph Reitz agreed to finance the building of the school. A grateful school board immediately voted that this new hall of learning (which incidentally cost $223,844.00) should be named after Mr. Reitz. Thus Francis Joseph Reitz High School became the first high school on the west side and the second in Evansville.
At first Reitz was intended to be a Junior High School, including only seventh, eighth, and ninth grades, but as the student body grew older, the curriculum was geared to fit the needs of older students. Reitz graduated its first seniors in 1921.
In September 1918 a two-story and basement building of brick and stone classic design was open. In 1921, the first year in which Reitz High School was fully accredited by North Central Association, the 10,000-seat Reitz Bowl was completed. In 1926, a four-story classroom building was added to the west end of the building. In 1956, an addition of a new office wing, nurse's suite, counselors' offices, home economics kitchen, dining rooms, sewing rooms, print shop, band and choir rooms, library, and study hall was added. In 1957, a five-story classroom wing, a second gym, seating more than 3,000, department offices, teachers' lounges, industrial shops, a new auditorium, a new cafeteria, and new restrooms were added. In 1973, a new greenhouse was completed. In 1977, a driving range on Barker Avenue was added to accommodate the Driver's Education Department. The Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation owns the land on which the range is located.
The school has been successful in academic areas. The Reitz choir won the first state championship in choir competition in 1986. Under the leadership of Daniel Durbin, 1995 Indiana Teacher of the Year, Reitz Speech & Debate Team won __ consecutive sectional championships from 1977 until 200_. The school won 4 consecutive Indiana State Forensic Association Team Championships in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. The school won the National Forensics League National Team Championship in 1999. Reitz High School had the largest high school speech and debate program in the United States during the mid-1990s.
The school evolved into a hodgepodge of corridors, floors, and rooms from additions over the years, yet Reitz was still the smallest high school in the area and had the smallest cafeteria. Finally the school board opted for renovation and after more than $26 million, Reitz celebrated its 80th anniversary in 1998 with a whole new look that makes it the largest and most advanced high school structure in Evansville.
Francis Joseph Reitz was the eldest son of John Augustus Reitz, who had already made his fortune in lumber by the mid 1850's. After the death of FJ Reitz, the Catholic Diocese of Evansville was the owner of the home. It was the home of the first Bishop of Evansville. After discovering that the home was for sale the Reitz Home Preservation Society was formed and struck an agreement with the Catholic Diocese to take possession of the home in order to preserve its historical value. It was restored to its original state when owned by the Reitz family and turned into the Reitz Home Museum.
Sung to the tune of On Wisconsin, Edna Mae Shaw (Class of '31) composed the now-famous lyrics to RHS Boys. They are as follows:
RHS Boys, RHS Boys
Fight on for her fame
Take the ball right down the field
and win for her this game!
(Rah rah rah!)
RHS Boys, RHS Boys
To her name be true!
Fight, fellas, fight fight fight!
We're backing you!
R, R, R-E-I
I, I, I-T-Z
Reitz, Reitz, Victory!
The song is now followed by the song Mighty Panthers. Go you Mighty Panthers Your name is known throughout the land! Fight you Mighty Panthers Your name in vain will always stand!
Win you Mighty Panthers Fight on to win this game! Fight, fight, fight for the blue and gray We're with you all the way!
Reitz's original school colors were orange and purple. However, when the school ordered football jerseys, the jerseys were mistakenly made in blue and gray. Instead of re-ordering the jerseys to have the right colors, they changed the school colors to blue and gray. Reitz is a west-side school, which in that time period was predominantly attended by farmers' children who couldn't afford another set of jerseys.
The original colors of orange and purple were later given to Lincoln High School during the first half of the century.
Reitz's current official colors since then have been blue and gray, usually represented by a dark navy and a light gray.
There are three different choirs at Reitz. Sounds of the Hill, also called Advanced Choir, is the elite choir and a mixed chorus. It is also called Advanced Choir. Indigo, or Intermediate choir, is an all girls choir. Beginning choir is the very first choir that a student is introduced to at Reitz. There are concerts in Spring and Winter.
Fusion is an original stage show, created by director Dwight Emmert, concerning the entire Reitz music program. Every member of the choir, band, orchestra, winter guard, winter percussion, and the Reitz theatre arts class (starting in Fusion 2011) come together in order to perform this three day event four different times. The songs that they perform include different ideas from other shows and is combined into one different type of show altogether. The ensemble numbers for this show is uniquely staged with lighting, props, and costumes; just like any other type of show. They start the music for this event right after their winter concert. Once their music has been memorized, they stat on the choreography. Fusion is usually themed, has a story line, different and unique characters for each number, and the students have no idea how their songs fit into the program until they start the dress rehearsals.
Reitz High school has a wide assortment of sports for its students. Football, which Reitz is best known for, basketball, wrestling, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, volleyball, baseball, track, and cross-country are the sports included in the IHSAA. Reitz also has two sports that are on the rise, hockey and lacrosse, which are not yet sanctioned by the IHSAA.
* indicates title won before IHSAA State Tournament was initiated
The Reitz Bowl was born by accident. It was originally planned as a retaining wall for the new F. J. Reitz High School. Foresight by a school member noted that with some small changes a football stadium could be made too. In 1921, the first year in which Reitz High School was fully accredited by North Central Association, the 10,000-seat Reitz Stadium was completed. The first two years was a reserve schedule and then in 1921 Reitz began varsity play.
In 1931, Reitz played its first night game. Also in 1931, Reitz played Bosse an extra game for charity on December 4. This was during the great depression. 1959 was the last Thanksgiving Day game in the State of Indiana, Reitz against Bosse. 1973 saw the new all transistor scoreboard go into effect. It was, as all past Reitz scoreboards, a gift of the West Side Nut Club. In 1974 Prescription Athletic Turf (PAT) was introduced to the Reitz Bowl. PAT is a method of draining and irrigation from pipes laid beneath the playing surface. What occurs during this process is the drainage of any excess water by a vacuum system when the field is flooded by rain, and irrigating water to the surface of the field when it is too dry.
Along with PAT came the renovation of the bowl seating, walkways, and stairs. A new all weather track was added too. In 1976 all metal permanent type bleachers become a reality. Play Clocks were introduced to the Bowl in 1995, and 2003 saw a brand new sound system that rivals those in the Big Ten Conference.
In addition to being the home site for Panthers football games, the Reitz Bowl is also the home site for nearby, friendly rival, Catholic High School Mater Dei Wildcats football games.
Reitz won their 10th Indiana State Championship in football on November 24, 2007 (first championship in the IHSAA Tournament era) at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis (Class 4A). Reitz defeated the Lowell Red Devils 33-14. This was the 11th team championship won by Reitz in all sports. They, again, beat Lowell in the 2009 IHSAA 4A Football Championship, in Lucas Oil Stadium, 23-9.
In 2009 the Reitz Bowl was given a long awaited gift, artificial turf. In the early part of the year construction crews began to tear up the old natural playing surface. As months passed by, Reitz fans, especially students, faculty, and staff, slowly began to watch the bowl gets it new playing surface. In late May 2009 the final touches were added to the SprinTurf playing surface.
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