Cherokee High School (Cherokee, Alabama)
Encyclopedia
Cherokee High School is located in Cherokee, Alabama
and serves the western portion of Colbert County
as part of the Colbert County School system
. It is located along County Road 21 (North Pike).
in Colbert County. The school provides both academic and general diplomas and has dropped the "Vocational" part of the name. The first graduating class consisted of 22 students. The most recent class (2007) consisted of 48 graduating students.
The original high school building was located where the current gymnasium stands. As the school expanded with the end of segregation in 1968 the old high school became the junior high school. That building burned on January 21, 1971. The original segregated school for African Americans became Cherokee Middle School and contained grades 5 through 8. That school closed at the end of the 2006/2007 school year and is being consolidated into Cherokee Elementary and Cherokee High Schools.
Reared against the sky,
Proudly stands our Alma Mater,
As the years go by.
Forward ever be our watchward
Conquer and prevail,
Hail to thee our Alma Mater
Cherokee, all hail!
Class 2A. The school colors are Blue
and vegas gold
. The school mascot
is the "Indians".
. Mills had a career record of 152-81-4 during 25 years as a head coach. Garner Ezell (1983-85) led the Indians to Area Championships twice in three years, advancing to the Semi-finals in the 1984 season and the Quarter-finals in 1985. In 1985, the Indians recorded their first 12 win season while leading the area in most stats.
Gene Mitchell (1990-2001), led the Indians to 6 consecutive playoff appearances (1996-2001) and back to back Region Championships in 1998-99.
Coach Richard Phillips, along with his long time assistant Kenny Aycock, amassed 403 career victories in 29 years as the head coach. During those 29 years, he also led the Indians to 16 Area Championships and 19 Play-Off Appearances. Of those 19 appearances, 4 years ended in losses in the State Semi-finals, and 4 years ended as the State Runner-Up. 2002 was the last time the Indians made an appearance in the State Play-offs. They lost to Gordo in the State Semi-Finals during that year.
The 2008-2009 team made it to the playoffs and was three games away from making it to the state championship.
Cherokee, Alabama
Cherokee incorporated December 7 1871 is a town in west Colbert County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Florence - Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Statistical Area known as "The Shoals". As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 1,237....
and serves the western portion of Colbert County
Colbert County, Alabama
Colbert County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of brothers George and Levi Colbert, Chickasaw Indian chiefs. George Colbert operated a ferry across the Tennessee River in 1790 near present day Cherokee....
as part of the Colbert County School system
Colbert County Schools
Colbert County Schools is the school system serving Colbert County, Alabama. As of 2007 Billy Hudson was superintendent.-Member schools:*Cherokee Elementary School*Cherokee High School* Hatton Elementary School*Leighton Elementary School...
. It is located along County Road 21 (North Pike).
History
Cherokee High School was founded in 1925 as Cherokee Vocational High School as it was the first designated vocational schoolVocational school
A vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
in Colbert County. The school provides both academic and general diplomas and has dropped the "Vocational" part of the name. The first graduating class consisted of 22 students. The most recent class (2007) consisted of 48 graduating students.
The original high school building was located where the current gymnasium stands. As the school expanded with the end of segregation in 1968 the old high school became the junior high school. That building burned on January 21, 1971. The original segregated school for African Americans became Cherokee Middle School and contained grades 5 through 8. That school closed at the end of the 2006/2007 school year and is being consolidated into Cherokee Elementary and Cherokee High Schools.
Alma mater
On our city's northern borderReared against the sky,
Proudly stands our Alma Mater,
As the years go by.
Forward ever be our watchward
Conquer and prevail,
Hail to thee our Alma Mater
Cherokee, all hail!
Athletics
Cherokee High School is a member of the Alabama High School Athletic AssociationAlabama High School Athletic Association
The Alabama High School Athletic Association , based in Montgomery, is the agency which oversees interscholastic athletic programs for public schools in Alabama....
Class 2A. The school colors are Blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
and vegas gold
Gold (color)
Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold....
. The school mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is the "Indians".
Football
Cherokee High School has been notable for its sports teams through the years. Bud Mills (1950-1973, 1989), is a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of FameAlabama Sports Hall of Fame
The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is a state museum located in Birmingham, Alabama, dedicated to communicating the state’s athletic history...
. Mills had a career record of 152-81-4 during 25 years as a head coach. Garner Ezell (1983-85) led the Indians to Area Championships twice in three years, advancing to the Semi-finals in the 1984 season and the Quarter-finals in 1985. In 1985, the Indians recorded their first 12 win season while leading the area in most stats.
Gene Mitchell (1990-2001), led the Indians to 6 consecutive playoff appearances (1996-2001) and back to back Region Championships in 1998-99.
Baseball
From 1937 to 1950 not a lot has been found about Cherokee baseball. From 1951 to 1973 the school did not field a baseball team. Only the city league was available to the players. In 1974, Bud Mills started baseball again at the school and have fielded a team every year since then. Other than Mays and Mills, Brad Bradford and Richard Phillips are the only former coaches to this point to lead the Indians. Wade Turberville is the current coach of the Indians baseball team.Coach Richard Phillips, along with his long time assistant Kenny Aycock, amassed 403 career victories in 29 years as the head coach. During those 29 years, he also led the Indians to 16 Area Championships and 19 Play-Off Appearances. Of those 19 appearances, 4 years ended in losses in the State Semi-finals, and 4 years ended as the State Runner-Up. 2002 was the last time the Indians made an appearance in the State Play-offs. They lost to Gordo in the State Semi-Finals during that year.
Basketball
The 2007-08 basketball team was ranked in the top 10 in the state for class 2A and led by long-time assistant Kenny Aycock.The 2008-2009 team made it to the playoffs and was three games away from making it to the state championship.
Notable Graduates
- Senator Bobby DentonBobby E. DentonBobby E. Denton is a Democratic member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 1st District since 1978, and is currently the Dean of the Senate, an honorary title...
- Cecil Dowdy - University of AlabamaUniversity of AlabamaThe University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
footballAlabama Crimson Tide football|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
star during the coaching years of Paul "Bear" BryantBear BryantPaul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
.