West Nassau High School

West Nassau County High School
West Nassau High School
Motto "Home of the Warriors"
Established 1936 (Callahan High) 1968 (West Nassau High)
Type Public, Secondary
Gender Co-Educational
Principal Ronald Booker
Asst. Principal Dr.Cynthia Grooms
Dean LaTroy Strong
Grades 9-12
Location 1 Warrior Dr.,
Callahan, Florida, United States
Coordinates Lat: 30.558005 Long: -81.831061
District Nassau County School Board
Accreditation AdvancED
Colors Garnet and Gold
Athletics

Playoffs = (35) Baseball = 1966*

Basketball (B) = 1951*,1953*,1955*,1957*,1958*,1960*, 1980, 1986,1987

Basketball (G) = 1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1986

Football = 1978,1996,2001,2002,2003,2004,2009

Softball = 1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007

Volleyball = 1990,1997,1998

Championships = (8)

Cheerleading = 2011

Weightlifting = Adam Browning 1979

Walter Howell 1982 & 1983

Jerry Scarbrough 1983

Michael Cole 1984 & 1985

Sammy Brown 2008

  • Includes Former Callahan High School
Nickname Warriors
Mascot Warrior
Yearbook The Warrior
Website http://www.westnassau.com

West Nassau High School, located in Callahan Florida, is a rural public high school for grade 9-12. The school community of West Nassau County High School is located in the western area of Nassau County, in the town of Callahan, Florida 32011. The school attendance zone is bounded on the south and west by Duval County, Florida, on the north by Hilliard, FL and on the east by Yulee, FL. West Nassau High School is one of three 9-12 high schools in Nassau County. Hilliard Combined is a 6-12 school. Nassau County is rated as an “A” School District under the Florida A+ Evaluation System. West Nassau High School is located off Highway 301 and ½ mile from U.S. 1, at 1 Warrior Drive. The main north/south CSX rail line is located directly behind the athletic complex of West Nassau High School.

Contents

School Sprit

“Cherokee” is the school’s official fight song, arranged by Mr. Flanders, Former Director of the “Warrior Band”. “War Chant” written and arranged by Florida State University is alternatively used as one of fight songs. Both songs fit the theme of Indian. The school’s mascot was once Lenny the Warrior who was retired out in 2003. Lenny was replaced by Various White horses with a student dressed as an Indian, or in this case a Warrior.

History

West Nassau High School opened its doors in August 1936 as Callahan High School at the current location of Callahan Elementary School. The school was combined at the time with Callahan Elementary using the name Callahan School. According to the Nassau County School Board, teachers were hired in July 1936 under the names of Callahan High and Callahan Elementary. The school’s mascot was the Ramblers. The school colors were then Blue and Gold. The final month of classes at Callahan High was June 1968. During this period of time the State of Florida was mandated by Federal Law under the Civil Rights Act of 1965 to desegregate its school systems statewide and allow African Americans to attend its all White Public School Systems. The African American students from Hilliard and Callahan who were previously attending the all African American School of Pine Forrest Community School in grades K through 12 in Callahan were allowed to received an education equal to their white counterparts. Mr. Emmitt Coakley, who was the Football Coach at Pine Forrest Community School, would later become the Principal at West Nassau High School. In August 1968, Hilliard High School and Callahan High School were combined at a new location to form West Nassau County High School. The Flashes of Hilliard and the Ramblers of Callahan became the Warriors of West Nassau County High School. The school colors at West Nassau represent the consolidation of the two schools with the Cardinal Red representing Hilliard High School and Gold representing Callahan High School. The Class of 2009 marked the 40th anniversary of West Nassau County High School. The school is located in Callahan, Florida and the location created complaints from the Hilliard community. Hilliard students attended high school at West Nassau (Callahan) for three years and then Hilliard Combined 6-12 School was re-opened. Even though Hilliard reopened their combined middle/high school, the high school in Callahan continued-to-be named West Nassau County High School and the name was not- changed back to Callahan High School. The school has been serving students from the Bryceville and Callahan area since 1968.

Student Population

The student population reached an all time high of 1500 in the school year of 2009/ 2010. The population is projected to continue growing as Jacksonville continues to expand northward and real estate prices continue to rise in the eastern area of the county.

Recent Construction

Recent construction projects include a new Building Construction Lab, a new Technology Lab, three new classrooms, two new girls’ locker rooms and two renovated boys’ locker rooms. Ten portable classrooms are necessary to accommodate the students.

Community Pride

The community of Callahan placed the Warrior Head and “Home of the Warriors” on the town water tower in 2005 to demonstrate support for the school. Councilman Ted Combs, a retired teacher from West Nassau High School, spearheaded the movement and rallied support for placing the school logo on the water tower. The water tower logo is positioned so people entering Callahan from either direction are welcomed by the Warrior Head logo on the tower. Every “Game Day” the local Burger King advertises that day’s game on their sign. There are also “WHAT DAY IS IT?.. GAME DAY” signs scattered across town.

Notable alumni

• Howie Kendrick, Major League Baseball player for the Anaheim Angels Howard "Howie" Kendrick attended West Nassau High School and graduated in 2001. Howie played baseball at West Nassau for Head Coach Richard Pearce and attended St. Johns River Community College on a baseball scholarship after graduating from high school. Howie was drafted in the 10th Round of the Summer 2002 Professional Baseball Draft by the Angels. Following three years in the Angels' Minor League Program Howie was called up to the majors in 2005 and his first complete year with the Angels was 2006.

• Benjamin "Bubba" Dickerson, professional golfer, PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour

• Doug Hexamer, WMC TV Special Projects NBC

Frank Murphy Jr:(born February 11, 1977 in Jacksonville, Florida) is a gridiron football wide receiver for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats.

Murphy has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

All-American All-State and Nassau County Player of the Year as a senior running back and return specialist at West Nassau High School

References