L. Frazier Banks Middle School
Encyclopedia
L. Frazier Banks Middle School (formerly Banks High School) was a former high school
and middle school
in the Birmingham Public School System
in Birmingham, Alabama
, USA. The school, which was named for former superintendent L. Frazier Banks, occupied six buildings in a residential area of Birmingham's South East Lake neighborhood.
The school was opened as a high school
in 1957
and, at first, accepted only freshmen. The high school's first graduating class matriculated in 1961. The school's athletic teams in that 1960-61 season won the Birmingham city football, basketball and baseball championships.
In the early part of that decade, a U. S. Air Force F-86D/L "Sabre", tail number 52-4243, was acquired when it was taken off active service. The aircraft was painted in the school colors of Columbia Blue and Scarlet, then was installed as a mascot and landmark in front of the school.
In 1972 and 1973, Coach Shorty White led the Banks Jets to consecutive 4A state football championships. The school was recognized nationally as a football power, even appearing in the pages of National Geographic. Future NFL quarterback Jeff Rutledge
led the team into a 1974 showdown with Woodlawn High School and running back Tony Nathan
at Legion Field
. The crowd was estimated at 42,000.
In the 1990s Banks was transformed into a middle school under the direction of Superintendent Cleveland Hammonds. As a middle school, Banks fed into Woodlawn High. A December 2000 arson damaged the auditorium and destroyed dozens of band instruments.
In October 2006 the Facilities and Technology Committee of the Birmingham Board of Education heard a recommendation from new superintendent of schools Stan Mims to close Banks and transfer its students to the new Ossie Ware Mitchell School. The recommendation was approved, with students transferring during the 2006 Christmas break.
In the fall of 2007, after the school's closure, the state of Alabama agreed to turn over the landmark jet, which was actually still owned by the USAF, to the Southern Museum of Flight
, where it will be restored to its original Maine Air National Guard active military color scheme for display.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
in the Birmingham Public School System
Birmingham City Schools
Birmingham City Schools is the public school district that serves the U.S. city of Birmingham, Alabama.It is currently the fourth largest school system in Alabama behind Mobile County Public School System, Jefferson County School System, and Montgomery Public Schools...
in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, USA. The school, which was named for former superintendent L. Frazier Banks, occupied six buildings in a residential area of Birmingham's South East Lake neighborhood.
The school was opened as a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in 1957
1957 in architecture
The year 1957 in architecture involved some significant events.-Buildings:* Byrd Station commissioned in West Antarctica.* The Interbau project in West Berlin is completed, with buildings designed by forty-eight architects....
and, at first, accepted only freshmen. The high school's first graduating class matriculated in 1961. The school's athletic teams in that 1960-61 season won the Birmingham city football, basketball and baseball championships.
In the early part of that decade, a U. S. Air Force F-86D/L "Sabre", tail number 52-4243, was acquired when it was taken off active service. The aircraft was painted in the school colors of Columbia Blue and Scarlet, then was installed as a mascot and landmark in front of the school.
In 1972 and 1973, Coach Shorty White led the Banks Jets to consecutive 4A state football championships. The school was recognized nationally as a football power, even appearing in the pages of National Geographic. Future NFL quarterback Jeff Rutledge
Jeff Rutledge
Jeffrey Ronald Rutledge is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the head football coach at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee.-Early years:...
led the team into a 1974 showdown with Woodlawn High School and running back Tony Nathan
Tony Nathan
Tony Curtis Nathan is an American football coach and former running back.Nathan was a running back from Alabama who was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, with whom he played from 1979-1987...
at Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
. The crowd was estimated at 42,000.
In the 1990s Banks was transformed into a middle school under the direction of Superintendent Cleveland Hammonds. As a middle school, Banks fed into Woodlawn High. A December 2000 arson damaged the auditorium and destroyed dozens of band instruments.
In October 2006 the Facilities and Technology Committee of the Birmingham Board of Education heard a recommendation from new superintendent of schools Stan Mims to close Banks and transfer its students to the new Ossie Ware Mitchell School. The recommendation was approved, with students transferring during the 2006 Christmas break.
In the fall of 2007, after the school's closure, the state of Alabama agreed to turn over the landmark jet, which was actually still owned by the USAF, to the Southern Museum of Flight
Southern Museum of Flight
The Southern Museum of Flight is an aviation museum located three blocks east of the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama. It features a valuable collection of aviation artifacts spanning the 20th century in the various areas of aviation. It explores eight decades...
, where it will be restored to its original Maine Air National Guard active military color scheme for display.
Notable Banks High School alumni
- Perry H. Cook, (1966) GMA Offensive Player of the Year
- David CutcliffeDavid CutcliffeDavid Cutcliffe is the head football coach of the Duke University Blue Devils. He is best known for coaching Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee, and Manning's younger brother and fellow Super Bowl Champion Eli at the University of Mississippi...
(1972), football coach (Coached Banks HS in 1980-81 with 17-4-1 record), previous Tennessee Offensive Coordinator, former 'Ole Miss Head Football Coach and currently Duke University Head Football Coach - Marcus Dowdell, (1992–93) NFL New Orleans Saints, (1995–96) NFL Arizona Cardinals
- Jeff HerrodJeff HerrodJeff Sylvester Herrod is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the ninth round of the 1988 NFL Draft...
(1983), NFL linebacker - Alan Jacobs, scholar, C. S. LewisC. S. LewisClive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
biographer - Robert R. McCammonRobert R. McCammonRobert Rick McCammon is an American novelist from Birmingham, Alabama. His parents are Jack, a musician, and Barbara Bundy McCammon. After his parents' divorce, McCammon lived with his grandparents in Birmingham. He received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Alabama in 1974. McCammon...
, writer - Johnny Musso, College Football Hall of Fame player
- Gary Rutledge, one time Alabama National Championship Quarterback
- Jeff RutledgeJeff RutledgeJeffrey Ronald Rutledge is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the head football coach at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee.-Early years:...
, (1975), NFL quarterback, two time Alabama National Championship Quarterback and currently Arizona Cardinals Quarterbacks Coach - Billy ShieldsBilly ShieldsWilliam Dean "Billy" Shields is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League. He who played eleven seasons for the San Diego Chargers , the San Francisco 49ers , the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets . Shields attended Georgia Institute of Technology...
, (1971) NFL Offensive Lineman - David Lee Smith, actor
- Beth ThornleyBeth ThornleyBeth Thornley is an American singer-songwriter.-Biography:Beth Thornley was born in Birmingham, Alabama and attended the now closed L. Frazier Banks High School. She later went to Samford University and studied classical music where she earned a degree in music education...
, songwriter and recording artist - Mark WarnerMark Warner (guitarist)Mark Warner is a Nashville, Tennessee session guitarist, published songwriter and music producer who has contributed to many Rock and Pop music recordings. []...
(1980), session guitarist, music producer, published songwriter http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=1599267&search_in=c&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=20&start=1 - Larry WillinghamLarry WillinghamLarry Levi Willingham is a retired professional American football player. He played in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals and in the World Football League for both the Birmingham Americans and Birmingham Vulcans...
, NFL Arizona Cardinals, WFL Birmingham AmericansBirmingham AmericansThe Birmingham Americans were a professional American football team located in Birmingham, Alabama. They were members of the four-team Central Division of the World Football League . The Americans, founded in late December 1973, played in the upstart league's inaugural season in 1974...
External links
- Banks High website
- Banks Middle School profile at www.bhm.k12.al.us
- Banks High School at Bhamwiki.com