Permian High School
Encyclopedia
Permian High School is a public high school
located in Odessa, Texas
and is part of the Ector County Independent School District
. It was the subject of the book Friday Night Lights
which in turn inspired a movie and TV series of the same name.
that preceded the largest mass extinction in the history of life.
Satin Strings is regularly asked to play at major state and national functions. In 1994, Satin Strings played at the D-Day
celebrations in Normandy, France and this performance led to an invitation to play at the 1997 Inauguration
of President Bill Clinton
. The ensemble played for the Inauguration of the Governor of Chihuahua, Mexico in 1998. The group also performed at the 2001
and 2005
inaugurations of President George W. Bush
.
has long been extremely popular in Texas
. The story of Permian High School's 1988 Permian Panthers team and its run towards the state championship was the subject of the best-selling
book Friday Night Lights
, published in 1990. A movie based on the book was made in 2004 and the NBC television network airs a TV series
loosely based on the school and book. Roy Williams
, formerly of the Detroit Lions
and Dallas Cowboys
, and a current wide receiver for the Chicago Bears
, went to school at Permian and portrayed an assistant coach for Midland Lee, Permian's arch rival, in the movie.
The team, whose rallying cry is "Mojo", won the Texas state championship in the 4A classification (the state's largest until 1980) in 1965 and 1972 and the 5A classification in 1980, 1984 (a co-championship with French High School,located in Beaumont, Texas the last time that a football co-championship was awarded by the UIL; it would later adopt NCAA overtime rules), 1989 and 1991. Permian is also considered the unofficial national champions for 1972 and 1989.
The term "Mojo" is supposed to have originated in 1967. When a group of Permian alumni met the team in Abilene Cooper for the game between the Panthers and Cougars, they started chanting "Go Joe" for one of the Permian players. Other fans misheard this as "Mojo". The term has come to symbolize "pride", "spirit", "winning" and all the other intangibles that go into a championship program.
Permian plays its home football games at Ratliff Stadium
.
Permian's arch rivals are the Odessa High Bronchos
and the Midland Lee Rebels.
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....
located in Odessa, Texas
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
and is part of the Ector County Independent School District
Ector County Independent School District
Ector County Independent School District is a public school district based in Odessa, Texas .In addition to Odessa, the district also serves the communities of West Odessa, Gardendale, and Goldsmith as well as rural areas in Ector County....
. It was the subject of the book Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream
Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream is a 1990 non-fiction book written by H. G. Bissinger. The book follows the story of the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team from Odessa, Texas as they made a run towards the Texas state championship...
which in turn inspired a movie and TV series of the same name.
History
Opened in 1959, Permian High is named for the Permian Basin, the geological formation which underlies Odessa. The name stems from the age of the rocks in the basin where the school is located, which are from the geological periodPermian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
that preceded the largest mass extinction in the history of life.
Satin Strings
Founded by Charles Nail, currently directed by Todd Berridge, Satin Strings is an elite strolling strings ensemble of the Permian High School Orchestra. The members of the group "stroll" (carry their instruments while performing), including the cellists, but excluding the bass players.Satin Strings is regularly asked to play at major state and national functions. In 1994, Satin Strings played at the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
celebrations in Normandy, France and this performance led to an invitation to play at the 1997 Inauguration
Second inauguration of Bill Clinton
January 20, 1997 signified both the second inauguration of Bill Clinton as President of the United States as well as being the last inauguration of a president in the 20th century. Born August 19, 1946 in the town of Hope, Arkansas, Bill Clinton had a long career in law before his first...
of President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. The ensemble played for the Inauguration of the Governor of Chihuahua, Mexico in 1998. The group also performed at the 2001
First inauguration of George W. Bush
The first inauguration of George W. Bush as the 43rd President of the United States took place on January 20, 2001. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of George W. Bush as President and Dick Cheney as Vice President...
and 2005
Second inauguration of George W. Bush
The second inauguration of George W. Bush as the 43rd President of the United States took place on Thursday January 20, 2005. The inauguration marked the beginning of the second term of George W. Bush as President and Dick Cheney as Vice President. Ailing Chief Justice William Rehnquist...
inaugurations of President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Permian High School Orchestra
The Permian Orchestra was founded in 1959 with the opening of Permian High School. Under the baton of J.R. McEntyre, the program quickly gained a reputation for excellence that has endured nearly half a century. The Symphony Orchestra has received consecutive sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest for over thirty years. The Chamber String Orchestra (Satin Strings) has received sweepstakes every year since it was founded in 1988. The Symphony, Philharmonic and Chamber String Orchestras have each achieved individual success at festivals across the nation. The groups have been named “Best in Class” and “Outstanding Orchestra” at competitions in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The Permian Symphony Orchestra has been selected as the TMEA State Honor Orchestra twice, once in 1980 and again in 1984. The orchestra program has only had five directors in its history: J.R. McEntrye (1959–72), Charles Nail (1972–88), Kathy Fishburn (1988–99), David Golden (1999–2008), and Todd Berridge (2008–present).Football
High school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
has long been extremely popular in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The story of Permian High School's 1988 Permian Panthers team and its run towards the state championship was the subject of the best-selling
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
book Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream
Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream is a 1990 non-fiction book written by H. G. Bissinger. The book follows the story of the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team from Odessa, Texas as they made a run towards the Texas state championship...
, published in 1990. A movie based on the book was made in 2004 and the NBC television network airs a TV series
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
loosely based on the school and book. Roy Williams
Roy Williams (wide receiver)
Roy Eugene Williams, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a member of the Chicago Bears. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions seventh overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
, formerly of the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, and a current wide receiver for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, went to school at Permian and portrayed an assistant coach for Midland Lee, Permian's arch rival, in the movie.
The team, whose rallying cry is "Mojo", won the Texas state championship in the 4A classification (the state's largest until 1980) in 1965 and 1972 and the 5A classification in 1980, 1984 (a co-championship with French High School,located in Beaumont, Texas the last time that a football co-championship was awarded by the UIL; it would later adopt NCAA overtime rules), 1989 and 1991. Permian is also considered the unofficial national champions for 1972 and 1989.
The term "Mojo" is supposed to have originated in 1967. When a group of Permian alumni met the team in Abilene Cooper for the game between the Panthers and Cougars, they started chanting "Go Joe" for one of the Permian players. Other fans misheard this as "Mojo". The term has come to symbolize "pride", "spirit", "winning" and all the other intangibles that go into a championship program.
Permian plays its home football games at Ratliff Stadium
Ratliff Stadium
Ratliff Stadium is a stadium in Odessa, Texas. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field for the city's two public high schools, Odessa and Permian High Schools.The stadium opened in 1982 and holds 19,302 people...
.
Permian's arch rivals are the Odessa High Bronchos
Odessa High School
Odessa High School is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. The full name of the school is Odessa Senior High School. This name was originally to differentiate it from Odessa Junior High School...
and the Midland Lee Rebels.
Coaching history
| Years | Coach | Record | Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959–1961 | Ted Dawson | 21-10-0 | .677 | Bi-District Finalist |
| 1962–1964 | Jim Cashion | 15-15-0 | .500 | No Playoffs |
| 1965–1970 | Gene Mayfield Gene Mayfield -Further reading:... |
62-10-2 | .851 | State Champions and State Finalist 2x |
| 1971–1972 | Gil Bartosh Gil Bartosh -References:... |
23-1-0 | .958 | State Champions and National Champions High School Football National Championship The High School Football National Championship is a national championship honor awarded to the best high school football team in the United States of America based on rankings from USA Today and the National Prep Poll. There have been some efforts over the years at organizing a single-game playoff... |
| 1973–1985 | John Wilkins John Wilkins (American football) John Wilkins is a former American football coach. He was highly successful in his 13 years as head coach of Permian High School in Odessa, Texas, amassing a 148–16–7 record and two Class 5A state titles.... |
148-16-6 | .888 | State Champions 2x and State Finalist 4x |
| 1986–1989 | Gary Gaines Gary Gaines Gary Gaines is a high school football coach. Gaines was the head coach of the 1988 Permian High School football team which was the focus of the H. G. Bissinger book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team and a Dream and the 2004 motion picture Friday Night Lights starring Billy Bob Thornton... |
46-7-1 | .861 | State Champions and National Champions High School Football National Championship The High School Football National Championship is a national championship honor awarded to the best high school football team in the United States of America based on rankings from USA Today and the National Prep Poll. There have been some efforts over the years at organizing a single-game playoff... |
| 1990–1993 | Tam Hollingshead Tam Hollingshead Tam Hollingshead is an American football coach. He currently serves as Director of High School Relations for June Jones at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Hollingshead previously spent two seasons at Temple High School, and three seasons as the inaugural head coach at newly... |
43-4-2 | .898 | State Champions |
| 1994–1999 | Randy Mayes | 45-25-1 | .641 | State Finalist |
| 2000–2002 | T. J. Mills | 15-15 | .500 | No Playoffs |
| 2003–2004 | Scott Smith | 10-10 | .500 | No Playoffs |
| 2005–2008 | Darren Allman | 38-11 | .776 | District Champions 2x and Regional Finalists 3x |
| 2009- | Gary Gaines Gary Gaines Gary Gaines is a high school football coach. Gaines was the head coach of the 1988 Permian High School football team which was the focus of the H. G. Bissinger book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team and a Dream and the 2004 motion picture Friday Night Lights starring Billy Bob Thornton... |
18-15 | .545 | Area finalists, Bi-District finalists |
Alumni
- Raymond BensonRaymond BensonRaymond Benson is an American author best known for being the official author of the adult James Bond novels from 1997 to 2003. Benson was born in Midland, Texas and graduated from Permian High School in Odessa in 1973...
- Author for the official James BondJames BondJames Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
novels from 1997 to 2003. - Jim J. Bullock - Stage, television and film actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. - Bront BirdBront BirdBront Bird is an American football linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at Texas Tech...
- National Football LeagueNational 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...
linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Stoney CaseStoney CaseStoney Jarrod Case is a quarterback in the Arena Football League, and a former National Football League quarterback with four teams.-High school and college:...
- Former National Football LeagueNational 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...
and Arena Football League quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. - Mike ConawayMike ConawayKenneth Michael "Mike" Conaway, is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is located in West Texas and includes Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Brownwood and Fredericksburg....
- United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
member from Texas's 11th congressional districtTexas's 11th congressional district-References:*...
. - Britt HagerBritt HagerBritt Harley Hager is a former American football linebacker who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams...
- Former National Football LeagueNational 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...
linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. - Daniel Ray Herrera - Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
currently playing for the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. - Kimberly Kay Smith - Actress and modelModel (person)A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
. - Toby StevensonToby StevensonToby "Crash" Stevenson is an Olympic class pole vaulter from the United States. He is known for being the only pole vaulter in the international elite to wear a helmet during jumps.-Biography:...
(1995 graduate) - Pole vaultPole vaultPole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
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Silver medalist. - Mechelle AveyMechelle AveyFelice Mechelle Avey is an African-American author. Avey founded the now-defunct Multicultural Writers Group on AOL. After the group disbanded, Avey completed her first novel: A Lifetime Loving You, which she self-published under the Cadeau imprint for Yeva Corporation. Avey's second book: Ms...
(nee Felice Wafer) - AuthorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:... - Roy WilliamsRoy Williams (wide receiver)Roy Eugene Williams, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a member of the Chicago Bears. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions seventh overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
- National Football LeagueNational 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...
wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Kelly WilsonKelly SchmedesKelly Schmedes is an American soccer forward who last played for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer, and was a member of the United States women's national soccer team....
- Women's Professional SoccerWomen's Professional SoccerWomen's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
forward currently playing for Philadelphia Independence and member of the United States Women's National Soccer TeamUnited States women's national soccer teamThe United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
. - Robert Rummel-Hudson - Author of Schuyler's MonsterSchuyler's MonsterSchuyler's Monster: A Father's Journey with His Wordless Daughter is a book by Robert Rummel-Hudson. Rummel-Hudson began writing online in 1995 and also writes a parenting blog called Fighting Monsters with Rubber Swords; both book and blog concern the author's and his wife's parenting of their...
. - Daryl HuntDaryl HuntDaryl Lynn Hunt was a professional American football player, a linebacker for six seasons for the Houston Oilers appearing in 78 career regular season games after being selected by Houston during the 6th round of the 1979 NFL Draft.-University:Hunt is considered one of the best University of...
- Played football for the Houston Oilers and was an All-American at the University of OklahomaUniversity of OklahomaThe University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
.
External links
- Permian High School website
- Permian High School alumni website
- Permian Baseball Booster site
- Permian Baseball News & History
- Permian Basketball Booster site
- Permian Football Booster site
- Permian Football News & History
- Permian Golf Booster site
- Permian Gymnastics Booster site
- Permian Track & Field Booster site
- Permian Volleyball Booster site
- Permian High School Marching Band website
- Permian High School Orchestra and Satin Strings website
- Ratliff Stadium provided by TexasBob.com