Granite High School (Utah)

Granite High School was a public high school located at 3305 South 500 East in South Salt Lake, Utah. Granite opened in 1907.^[1] The first LDS seminary opened across the street from the school in 1912. In 2005-2006, the enrollment was 1250, but was reduced as the school transformed into an "academy" format. The academies within the school include the Young Parent program for teenage parents with children and the ESL program for new immigrants and refugees.

The decision to change from a traditional high school caused some controversy in the local community because it coincided with the removal of all the school's sports programs, many of which had been played for nearly a century. The removal of sports led to increased transfers to outlying schools among the student body at that time.

Granite High belonged to the Granite School District. The mascot was the Farmer. Popular AP U.S. History teacher, Dale Wood, often referred to the mascot as the "Fighting Agrarians."

At the end of the 2009 school year, the school was closed. The final commencement ceremonies were held on June 5, 2009.^[1]

After multiple attempts to preserve the building fell through, development plans for the property were finalized in late 2016. In April 2017, the district began demolishing the abandoned school in preparation for a development featuring a mix of 76 single-family homes and commercial property fronting 3300 South.^[2]

Notable people

Alumni

• Ed Catmull, Class of 1963, President of Pixar^[3]
• Frank Christensen, Class of 1928, football player, Detroit Lions^[4]
• James E. Faust, Class of 1937, former Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints^[5]
• Eldon Fortie, Canadian football player, Edmonton Eskimos^[6]
• Leigh Harline, Class of 1925, Academy Award winner for the song When You Wish upon a Star^[7]
• Gordon Jolley, Class of 1967, football player, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks^[8]
• Neal A. Maxwell, Class of 1944, former apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints^[9]
• Frank Moss, Class of 1929, US Senator^[10]
• Rick Parros, Class of 1976, football player, Denver Broncos^[11][12]
• Jack Reddish, Class of 1944, Olympic alpine ski racer and film producer^[13]
• Golden Richards, Class of 1969, football player, Dallas Cowboys^[14][15]
• Cecil O. Samuelson, Class of 1959, physician, LDS General Authority, and president of Brigham Young University.^[16]
• David Kent Winder, US federal judge^[1]
• LeRoy S. Wirthlin, physician^[1]

Faculty

• Adam S. Bennion, principal^[17]
• LaVell Edwards, football coach^[1]
• Joseph F. Merrill, founder of the seminary^[18][19]
• Wilson W. Sorensen, industrial arts teacher^[20]
• Thomas J. Yates, first seminary teacher^[21][19]

School song

Song of the "G"^[1]

When sight and sound of the campus
Fade in the long, busy years
Yet will return in our memories
Echoes of old songs and cheers.

You, of the field, track and diamond,
Fighters for clean victory,
You who love the fair, square sport,
You'll hear the song of the "G".

Go it Granite, go it Granite
Hear the battle cry;
Go it Granite, go it Granite
Yours 'til we die.

She will remember, you'll not forget her
Though you are far away
She is calling, calling to you ever
Honor the grand old "G"!

See also

• List of high schools in Utah

References

External links

• Official Granite School District website
• Other information on Granite High School
• Dreamathon