Montgomery Bell Academy
Encyclopedia
Montgomery Bell Academy (often referred to as MBA) is a preparatory day school for boys in grades 7 through 12 in Nashville, Tennessee
.
The school ideal is "Gentleman, Scholar, Athlete." Montgomery Bell Academy is noted for a large number of National Merit and other scholarship winners. Like many traditional prep school
s, MBA is governed by an honor code
, which has been run by the student body since 1945.
MBA was established in the 1866 in the aftermath of the American Civil War
. It is the successor to two well-known schools, the Western Military Institute
, which Sam Davis
, the "Boy Hero of the Confederacy", attended, and the former University of Nashville
. The school's board still operates under the corporate title, "Board of Trustees of the University of Nashville", although that institution was otherwise disbanded in the early 20th century.
From 1870 to 1875, former Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith
was the chancellor of the University of Nashville
, which operated both a two year college operating as the University of Nashville, and MBA, the preparatory high school and grammar school. In 1875 a financial crisis and a timely donation from the Peabody Fund caused an organizational separation of the university and the preparatory school. The university was operated under a new board of trustees and used the proceeds of the Peabody Fund to operate the university under the name of Peabody Normal College, later called the George Peabody College for Teachers. The board of trustees of the University of Nashville continued to operate MBA as a preparatory school.
In 1881, the campus of MBA was moved to an estate which was at the time well west of downtown Nashville which was previously known as "Totomoi". The military nature of one of the predecessors notwithstanding, under its current name it has always operated as a civilian institution, as a day school rather than a boarding school. The school is named in honor of Montgomery Bell
, a Pennsylvania
native who made his fortune as the early 19th century "ironmaster" of Middle Tennessee
and whose will endowed it, with the stipulation that it forever be an all-male institution. That this practice has survived into the 21st century has proved to be quite startling to some, but in recent decades there has been little local sentiment in favor of a change since a number of excellent girls-only and coeducational academic options have developed in Nashville. Probably more of its graduates go on to attend Vanderbilt
(down to 7% in recent years) than any other university
, but no single institution of higher learning attracts a very large proportion of the graduates.
The 1989 motion picture Dead Poets Society
starring Robin Williams
, depicts a school patterned on Montgomery Bell Academy. The Alumni Department of Montgomery Bell Academy, according to a website http://www.deliriumsrealm.com/delirium/movies/dps.asp about the film, has stated:
MBA also has extensive exchange links with other boys' schools throughout the English-speaking world; arrangements are in place with Eton College
and Winchester College
in England, Kearsney College
and Michaelhouse
in South Africa
, and The Southport School
, The King's School and, most recently, Melbourne Grammar School
in Australia
and Christ's College, Canterbury
in New Zealand
. Winchester College
and Eton College
demonstrate similarities to MBA through discipline, dress code, and having an all-male student body.
The Montgomery Bell Academy Varsity Football team has a unique history in the state of Tennessee as well as nationally. Having over 100 years of experience to its name, the football program has enjoyed remarkable success at the highest level of competition. Alumni in the NFL include: Bill Wade, Hunter Hillenmyer, Ingle Martin, Will Bartholomew, and Tom Santi. MBA has been nationally recognized several times for its success on the gridiron ranging from 9th in the nation in 2003 to, most recently, 19th in the nation in 2007 with an undefeated 13-0 season. "Roll red" is the battle cry and motto of the sports teams.
In recent years, the MBA Cross Country team has proven to be an elite program in the state of Tennessee and on the national stage. They have won 2 consecutive State Championships, and in 2010 they became the first team in TN history to sweep the State meet.
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Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
The school ideal is "Gentleman, Scholar, Athlete." Montgomery Bell Academy is noted for a large number of National Merit and other scholarship winners. Like many traditional prep school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
s, MBA is governed by an honor code
Honor code
An honour code or honour system is a set of rules or principles governing a community based on a set of rules or ideals that define what constitutes honorable behavior within that community. The use of an honor code depends on the idea that people can be trusted to act honorably...
, which has been run by the student body since 1945.
History
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It is the successor to two well-known schools, the Western Military Institute
Western Military Institute
The Western Military Institute was a preparatory school and college located first in Kentucky, then in Tennessee. It was founded by Thornton Fitzhugh Johnson in 1847, and initially located in Georgetown, Kentucky....
, which Sam Davis
Sam Davis
Sam Davis is called the Boy Hero of the Confederacy. He was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee. He served in various combat roles in the Confederate army in 1861 through 1863 during the American Civil War...
, the "Boy Hero of the Confederacy", attended, and the former University of Nashville
University of Nashville
The University of Nashville was an educational institution that existed as a distinct entity from 1826 until 1909. During its history, it operated at various times a medical school, a four-year military college, a literary arts college, and a boys preparatory school...
. The school's board still operates under the corporate title, "Board of Trustees of the University of Nashville", although that institution was otherwise disbanded in the early 20th century.
From 1870 to 1875, former Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith was a career United States Army officer and educator. He served as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, notable for his command of the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy after the fall of Vicksburg.After the conflict ended Smith...
was the chancellor of the University of Nashville
University of Nashville
The University of Nashville was an educational institution that existed as a distinct entity from 1826 until 1909. During its history, it operated at various times a medical school, a four-year military college, a literary arts college, and a boys preparatory school...
, which operated both a two year college operating as the University of Nashville, and MBA, the preparatory high school and grammar school. In 1875 a financial crisis and a timely donation from the Peabody Fund caused an organizational separation of the university and the preparatory school. The university was operated under a new board of trustees and used the proceeds of the Peabody Fund to operate the university under the name of Peabody Normal College, later called the George Peabody College for Teachers. The board of trustees of the University of Nashville continued to operate MBA as a preparatory school.
In 1881, the campus of MBA was moved to an estate which was at the time well west of downtown Nashville which was previously known as "Totomoi". The military nature of one of the predecessors notwithstanding, under its current name it has always operated as a civilian institution, as a day school rather than a boarding school. The school is named in honor of Montgomery Bell
Montgomery Bell
Montgomery Bell was a manufacturing entrepreneur who was crucial to the economic development of early Middle Tennessee...
, a Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
native who made his fortune as the early 19th century "ironmaster" of Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee
Middle Tennessee is a distinct portion of the state of Tennessee, delineated according to state law as the 41 counties in the Middle Grand Division of Tennessee....
and whose will endowed it, with the stipulation that it forever be an all-male institution. That this practice has survived into the 21st century has proved to be quite startling to some, but in recent decades there has been little local sentiment in favor of a change since a number of excellent girls-only and coeducational academic options have developed in Nashville. Probably more of its graduates go on to attend Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
(down to 7% in recent years) than any other university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, but no single institution of higher learning attracts a very large proportion of the graduates.
The 1989 motion picture Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society is a 1989 American drama film directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams. Set at the conservative and aristocratic Welton Academy in Vermont in 1959, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry.The script was written...
starring Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
, depicts a school patterned on Montgomery Bell Academy. The Alumni Department of Montgomery Bell Academy, according to a website http://www.deliriumsrealm.com/delirium/movies/dps.asp about the film, has stated:
- The screenplay for the movie Dead Poets SocietyDead Poets SocietyDead Poets Society is a 1989 American drama film directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams. Set at the conservative and aristocratic Welton Academy in Vermont in 1959, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry.The script was written...
was written by Mr. Thomas SchulmanTom SchulmanThomas H. Schulman is an American screenwriter most famous for his screenplay Dead Poets Society which won the Best Screenplay Academy Award for 1989....
, a 1968 graduate of Montgomery Bell Academy. The teacher, portrayed by Robin WilliamsRobin WilliamsRobin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
in the movie, was based on one of Mr. Schulman's teachers during his time as a student at MBA, Mr. Sam Pickering. The events in the movie, however, are fictional.
MBA also has extensive exchange links with other boys' schools throughout the English-speaking world; arrangements are in place with Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
in England, Kearsney College
Kearsney College
Kearsney College is a private boarding school for boys in Botha's Hill, a small town that lies between the provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the largest city of KwaZulu-Natal, a province in South Africa.- History :...
and Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse is a full boarding senior school for boys founded in 1896. It is located in the Balgowan valley in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.- History :...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and The Southport School
The Southport School
The Southport School , is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school for boys, located in Southport, a suburb on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia....
, The King's School and, most recently, Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, located in South Yarra and Caulfield, suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Christ's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Christchurch is an independent, Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand....
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
demonstrate similarities to MBA through discipline, dress code, and having an all-male student body.
The Montgomery Bell Academy Varsity Football team has a unique history in the state of Tennessee as well as nationally. Having over 100 years of experience to its name, the football program has enjoyed remarkable success at the highest level of competition. Alumni in the NFL include: Bill Wade, Hunter Hillenmyer, Ingle Martin, Will Bartholomew, and Tom Santi. MBA has been nationally recognized several times for its success on the gridiron ranging from 9th in the nation in 2003 to, most recently, 19th in the nation in 2007 with an undefeated 13-0 season. "Roll red" is the battle cry and motto of the sports teams.
In recent years, the MBA Cross Country team has proven to be an elite program in the state of Tennessee and on the national stage. They have won 2 consecutive State Championships, and in 2010 they became the first team in TN history to sweep the State meet.
Notable alumni
- Dr. Bill FristBill FristWilliam Harrison "Bill" Frist, Sr. is an American physician, businessman, and politician. He began his career as an heir and major stockholder to the for-profit hospital chain of Hospital Corporation of America. Frist later served two terms as a Republican United States Senator representing...
, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader - Dr. Thomas Frist, founder of Hospital Corporation of AmericaHospital Corporation of AmericaHospital Corporation of America is the largest private operator of health care facilities in the world, It is based in Nashville, Tennessee and is widely considered to be the single largest factor in making that city a hotspot for healthcare enterprise.-History:The founders of HCA include Jack C....
- Lt. Gen. Frank Maxwell AndrewsFrank Maxwell AndrewsFrank Maxwell Andrews was a general officer in the United States Army and one of the founding fathers of the United States Air Force. In leadership positions within the Army Air Corps, he succeeded in advancing progress toward a separate and independent Air Force where predecessors and allies...
, aviation pioneer, World War II European commander for whom Andrews Air Force BaseAndrews Air Force BaseJoint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
is named - Robin BeardRobin BeardRobin Leo Beard, Jr. was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee who served from 1973 to 1983.-Early life:...
, former member of U.S. House of Representatives - Madison Smartt BellMadison Smartt BellMadison Smartt Bell is an American novelist. He was raised Nashville, and lived in New York, and London before settling in Baltimore, Maryland....
, novelist - R.A. Dickey, professional baseball pitcher
- Jacob M. DickinsonJacob M. DickinsonJacob McGavock Dickinson was United States Secretary of War under President William Howard Taft from 1909 to 1911. He was succeeded by Henry L. Stimson.-Biography:...
, U.S. Secretary of War - Frank Drowota, former Chief Justice, Tennessee Supreme Court
- Morgan EntrekinMorgan EntrekinMorgan Entrekin is the president and publisher of Grove/Atlantic Inc. Books in New York City. He is one of six owners of the publishing company. He is from Nashville, Tennessee.-Timeline:...
, Grove/Atlantic Inc. president - J. Frederick Essary (1881-1942), journalist
- Jesse Hill FordJesse Hill FordJesse Hill Ford was an American writer of Southern literature, best known for his critical and commercial success in short fiction as well as the novels Mountains of Gilead and The Liberation of Lord Byron Jones.Born in Troy, Alabama, Ford was raised in Nashville, Tennessee...
, novelist - Hunter HillenmeyerHunter HillenmeyerHunter Taverner Hillenmeyer is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was originally selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round with the 31st pick of the 2003 NFL Draft. Hillenmeyer attended high school at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville...
, Chicago Bears linebacker - John Jay HookerJohn Jay HookerJohn Jay Hooker, Jr. is a Nashville, Tennessee attorney, entrepreneur, perennial candidate and political gadfly.- Early life :John Jay Hooker was born to relative wealth and privilege in one of the Nashville area's more prominent families...
, attorney, entrepreneur, perennial candidate and political gadfly. - Madison JonesMadison JonesMadison Percy Jones is a novelist, born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1925. He has published almost a dozen novels, and is considered "one of the major figures of contemporary southern letters".-Biography:...
, novelist - Alan LeQuireAlan LeQuireAlan LeQuire is an American sculptor from Nashville, Tennessee. Many of his sculptures are installed in the city.LeQuire's father, Virgil, was a physician and researcher on the faculty of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. His mother, Louise, was a painter, art teacher, and writer. The...
, sculptor - Ingle MartinIngle MartinHarry Ingle Martin, IV is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League for three seasons during the early 2000s...
, FootballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player (NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
QuarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
) - Samuel PickeringSamuel F. Pickering Jr.Samuel F. Pickering is a professor of English at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. His unconventional teaching style was one of the inspirations for the character of Mr. Keating, played by Robin Williams in the film Dead Poets Society...
, essayist - Admiral Joseph W. Prueher, a former Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command and Ambassador to ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. - Grantland RiceGrantland RiceGrantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
, early 20th century American sportswriter - Brandt SnedekerBrandt SnedekerBrandt Snedeker is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.-Early years through College:Snedeker was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He was introduced to golf by his maternal grandmother, who managed a golf course in Missouri...
, PGA TourPGA TourThe PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
Golfer - Thomas Schulman, author of Dead Poets SocietyDead Poets SocietyDead Poets Society is a 1989 American drama film directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams. Set at the conservative and aristocratic Welton Academy in Vermont in 1959, it tells the story of an English teacher who inspires his students through his teaching of poetry.The script was written...
- Richard Speight, Jr.Richard Speight, Jr.Richard Speight, Jr. is an American actor, probably best known for his recurring role as Deputy Bill Kohler on the TV series Jericho prior to its cancellation...
, Band of Brothers actor - Caldwell Tanner, cartoonist and illustrator, contributor to CollegeHumorCollegeHumorCollegeHumor is a comedy website owned by InterActiveCorp and based in New York City. The site features daily original comedy videos and articles created by its in-house writing and production team, in addition to user-submitted videos, pictures, articles and links. In early 2009, CollegeHumor's...
- Ralph Totten, diplomat, first U.S. ambassador to South Africa
- Bill Wade, Pro BowlPro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
quarterback, first overall selection in 1952 NFL DraftNFL DraftThe National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order... - Kyle HatcherBrendan Kyle HatcherBrendan Kyle Hatcher is a United States diplomat who was called "the most closely surveilled American in Russia" by ABC News Investigative Reporter Brian Ross in a September 2009 investigative report...
, U.S. Diplomat
External links
- MBA website
- Official Facebook page
- Official Twitter feed
- Official YouTube channel
- Recent Graduates' College Choices
- Charity Navigator rating of MBA
- Privatebug.org page on MBA
- Richard Speight address to MBA students about his role in Band of Brothers
- MBA Football Historical Scores (1899-Present)
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