Thomas Jefferson High School (San Antonio, TX)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jefferson High School is a public high school
in San Antonio, Texas
and is one of ten high schools in the San Antonio Independent School District
. Completed in 1932 at a cost of $1,250,000, it was the third high school built in the city.
The citizens of San Antonio passed a $3,700,000 school bond proposal and the newly founded senior high school referred to in Life magazine as “the most outstanding high school in America” was to the last project in this public school building program. The San Antonio Independent School District, with the recommendation of Superintendent Hartley, purchased a 33 acre tract of land known as Spanish Acres for $94,588.75. It was a site, overgrown with weeds and mesquite trees, only accessible on horseback because there were no roads past Fredericksburg Road at the time.
The School Board and Phelps and DeWees, project supervising architects, recommended the architectural firm of Adams and Adams to design the building. Created in a Spanish Moorish design to reflect its proximity to The Old Spanish Trail, it was to be an expensive building costing more that $1,250,000. School District officials were criticized for this extravagance during the Depression Era when 100’s were waiting in bread lines and families were going hungry. The structure looked like a luxury hotel, a university campus or a palatial residence built like a Spanish estate [see Architecture].
The construction of the school in 1931-32 did put food on the table for many local families. Local artisans in the Works Progress Administration Program built most of the structure and their logo still remains on tiles in the library at the school. Eight mule-drawn rigs were used to dig the 35 foot deep holes for the foundation. An Italian immigrant, Hannibal Pianta and his son Eugene did the elaborate carvings that create the columns of the entryway at the main entrance. The ornamental concrete was made in sections using concrete molds located at the Pianta Company on Fredericksburg Road and then transported to the site. The Pianta family also did the ornamental work at the Aztec theater and their grandfather contributed to the elaborate stonework at the Texas State Capitol. The interior of the school and a special hexagonal pond located in an interior patio are all decorated with decorative tile in the Spanish motif created by Mr. Tony Lozano of Redondo Tile.
Construction began in the fall of 1930 and when completed in January of 1932 it was like no other school in the entire country. The building itself, in Spanish-Moorish design, is built around two large patios and with a large silver doomed tower and a sub-tower. The roof is made of red Spanish tile and wrought iron balconies protruded from the windows.
The Auditorium had a capacity of 2,000 students, an inclined floor which led to a sunken orchestra pit and an enclosed movie projection booth. A large proscenium arch in a half circle design crowns the auditorium stage. The school was the first to have its own gymnasium and its own “Heraldic Coat of Arms” created by Max Fredrick of Adams and Adams. The crest is cast on all four sides of the tower dome bears the motto “In omni uno” or “All for one and one for all.”
When it opened, Jefferson High School held regular classes in history and math but they also featured classes in manners, dancing and radio broadcasting. The nearly 1,400 students who chose to transfer from Main Avenue High School picked the name Thomas Jefferson High School, the colors red and blue and the mustang as their mascot and before the end of the first decade of service Jefferson High School had become nationally and internationally known.
In 1937, Jefferson High became nationally known when it was chosen out of 1,500 schools as the most outstanding high school in America. The following year, March 1938, Life Magazine featured the story of Jefferson High School in pictures. Twentieth Century Fox filmed two movies on the Jefferson campus: “High School” starring Jane Withers in 1938 and its sequel “Texas Girl” also with Jane Withers in 1939. On March 14, 1938, Paramount Pictures began making a special newsreel of Jefferson as America’s most modern high school. By the close of 1938, Jefferson had appeared in Life, The American Weekly and several European publications and in 1947 it also appeared in National Geographic magazine.
The feature in Life Magazine had a cover photo of two of the famous Jefferson Lassos, a pep club founded by Miss Constance Douglas in October of 1932. The uptown cowgirl look of the group featured a blue flannel skirt, blue bolero jacket, red satin blouse and a pearl gray Stetson had and a lasso rope. In April of 1940, in support of the war effort, shots were made for the introduction of a new short film, “Lasso Wizards” which would entertainment of servicemen overseas during the war. In 1944 the students had bought enough way bonds to buy 40 Jeeps and an airplane for the Air Force which was named “The Spirit of Thomas Jefferson”. By November of 1942, Jefferson had added 500 beds to her 105 bed emergency hospital which led any other agency in Texas at the time. Thomas Jefferson High was behind the war effort and was ready for any emergency.
To preserve the unique heritage of the school, the Student Council of 1982-83 sought to have the building declared a city Historical Landmark. On May 15, 1983 after approval of the School Board, the San Antonio Historical Society and the San Antonio City Council made it official. On July 30, 1983 the Texas State Historical Society voted unanimously to make the structure a state landmark as well. The Society also recommended to the Federal Department of the Interior that Jefferson be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and both the landscaping and architecture were approved on September 22, 1983.
Over the years, both the school building and the student body have received national and international recognition in newspapers, magazines, and films. The school has produced numerous outstanding alumni in the fields of Government, the military, communications, education, athletics, science, the medical and legal professions, business and the fine arts. Thomas Jefferson High School remains a cornerstone of the community today. With its Spanish Moorish design, it reflects the cultural diversity of the City of San Antonio as it reminds us of the many possibilities and talents of the men who helped build it during the hard times of the Depression Era.
There is a school we all love well,
‘tis THOMAS JEFFERSON
Her glories we all always tell,
Our THOMAS JEFFERSON.
On field and campus winning boys
And girls all ready stand for
Dear old THOMAS JEFFERSON
Our Alma Mater Grand
THOMAS JEFFERSON
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Dear old school of mine,
I’ll sing thy praises everywhere,
Dear THOMAS JEFFERSON.
FIGHT SONG - (FIGHT THE TEAM) ACROSS THE FIELD
Fight the team across the field
Show them Jeff High is here
Set the Earth reverberating
With a mighty cheer
RAH! RAH! RAH!
Hit them hard and see how they fall
Never let that team get the ball
Hail! Hail! The gang's all here
So let's beat the Bears now!
THOMAS JEFFERSON
THOMAS JEFFERSON
For who! For whom!
For JEFFERSON!
The purpose of the TJHS Historical Preservation Society is to provide a focal point for the leadership and involvement required to develop and implement plans to preserve and encourage the continued preservation of buildings, objects, and places related to the historical significance of Thomas Jefferson High School and its architectural and natural beauty. We want those who walk through its doors today, those that have come before, and those in the future to continue to be guided by the richness of Jefferson's heritage.
TJHS Historical Preservation Society wants to inform the public of our efforts and invite those who would step forward to help us in our efforts. TJHS Historical Preservation Society is honored by your commitment to the historical preservation of Thomas Jefferson 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 San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
and is one of ten high schools in the San Antonio Independent School District
San Antonio Independent School District
San Antonio Independent School District is a school district based in Downtown San Antonio, Texas .San Antonio ISD is one of 15 school districts serving San Antonio. San Antonio ISD serves the downtown and inner city areas of San Antonio. San Antonio ISD also serves a small portion of the city of...
. Completed in 1932 at a cost of $1,250,000, it was the third high school built in the city.
History
Sitting amid 30 acres of land on the north west side of San Antonio, is the beautiful and historic campus of Thomas Jefferson High School. It was built in 1931-32 with the assistance of local artisans and craftsmen. In 1929 only two high schools existed in San Antonio, Brackenridge High on the South Side of town and Main Avenue High on the North. While Brackenridge was somewhat new at that time, the Main Avenue High campus was showing its age and due to population growth in the northern areas of town, it was also extremely crowded.The citizens of San Antonio passed a $3,700,000 school bond proposal and the newly founded senior high school referred to in Life magazine as “the most outstanding high school in America” was to the last project in this public school building program. The San Antonio Independent School District, with the recommendation of Superintendent Hartley, purchased a 33 acre tract of land known as Spanish Acres for $94,588.75. It was a site, overgrown with weeds and mesquite trees, only accessible on horseback because there were no roads past Fredericksburg Road at the time.
The School Board and Phelps and DeWees, project supervising architects, recommended the architectural firm of Adams and Adams to design the building. Created in a Spanish Moorish design to reflect its proximity to The Old Spanish Trail, it was to be an expensive building costing more that $1,250,000. School District officials were criticized for this extravagance during the Depression Era when 100’s were waiting in bread lines and families were going hungry. The structure looked like a luxury hotel, a university campus or a palatial residence built like a Spanish estate [see Architecture].
The construction of the school in 1931-32 did put food on the table for many local families. Local artisans in the Works Progress Administration Program built most of the structure and their logo still remains on tiles in the library at the school. Eight mule-drawn rigs were used to dig the 35 foot deep holes for the foundation. An Italian immigrant, Hannibal Pianta and his son Eugene did the elaborate carvings that create the columns of the entryway at the main entrance. The ornamental concrete was made in sections using concrete molds located at the Pianta Company on Fredericksburg Road and then transported to the site. The Pianta family also did the ornamental work at the Aztec theater and their grandfather contributed to the elaborate stonework at the Texas State Capitol. The interior of the school and a special hexagonal pond located in an interior patio are all decorated with decorative tile in the Spanish motif created by Mr. Tony Lozano of Redondo Tile.
Construction began in the fall of 1930 and when completed in January of 1932 it was like no other school in the entire country. The building itself, in Spanish-Moorish design, is built around two large patios and with a large silver doomed tower and a sub-tower. The roof is made of red Spanish tile and wrought iron balconies protruded from the windows.
The Auditorium had a capacity of 2,000 students, an inclined floor which led to a sunken orchestra pit and an enclosed movie projection booth. A large proscenium arch in a half circle design crowns the auditorium stage. The school was the first to have its own gymnasium and its own “Heraldic Coat of Arms” created by Max Fredrick of Adams and Adams. The crest is cast on all four sides of the tower dome bears the motto “In omni uno” or “All for one and one for all.”
When it opened, Jefferson High School held regular classes in history and math but they also featured classes in manners, dancing and radio broadcasting. The nearly 1,400 students who chose to transfer from Main Avenue High School picked the name Thomas Jefferson High School, the colors red and blue and the mustang as their mascot and before the end of the first decade of service Jefferson High School had become nationally and internationally known.
In 1937, Jefferson High became nationally known when it was chosen out of 1,500 schools as the most outstanding high school in America. The following year, March 1938, Life Magazine featured the story of Jefferson High School in pictures. Twentieth Century Fox filmed two movies on the Jefferson campus: “High School” starring Jane Withers in 1938 and its sequel “Texas Girl” also with Jane Withers in 1939. On March 14, 1938, Paramount Pictures began making a special newsreel of Jefferson as America’s most modern high school. By the close of 1938, Jefferson had appeared in Life, The American Weekly and several European publications and in 1947 it also appeared in National Geographic magazine.
The feature in Life Magazine had a cover photo of two of the famous Jefferson Lassos, a pep club founded by Miss Constance Douglas in October of 1932. The uptown cowgirl look of the group featured a blue flannel skirt, blue bolero jacket, red satin blouse and a pearl gray Stetson had and a lasso rope. In April of 1940, in support of the war effort, shots were made for the introduction of a new short film, “Lasso Wizards” which would entertainment of servicemen overseas during the war. In 1944 the students had bought enough way bonds to buy 40 Jeeps and an airplane for the Air Force which was named “The Spirit of Thomas Jefferson”. By November of 1942, Jefferson had added 500 beds to her 105 bed emergency hospital which led any other agency in Texas at the time. Thomas Jefferson High was behind the war effort and was ready for any emergency.
To preserve the unique heritage of the school, the Student Council of 1982-83 sought to have the building declared a city Historical Landmark. On May 15, 1983 after approval of the School Board, the San Antonio Historical Society and the San Antonio City Council made it official. On July 30, 1983 the Texas State Historical Society voted unanimously to make the structure a state landmark as well. The Society also recommended to the Federal Department of the Interior that Jefferson be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and both the landscaping and architecture were approved on September 22, 1983.
Over the years, both the school building and the student body have received national and international recognition in newspapers, magazines, and films. The school has produced numerous outstanding alumni in the fields of Government, the military, communications, education, athletics, science, the medical and legal professions, business and the fine arts. Thomas Jefferson High School remains a cornerstone of the community today. With its Spanish Moorish design, it reflects the cultural diversity of the City of San Antonio as it reminds us of the many possibilities and talents of the men who helped build it during the hard times of the Depression Era.
Architecture
Its Moorish/Spanish architecture make it a visually distinct element in what was the old Woodlawn district.Recognition
In 1983 Jefferson was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1995, it was included in the Local Historic District by the City of San Antonio.School Song
THOMAS JEFFERSON ALMA MATERThere is a school we all love well,
‘tis THOMAS JEFFERSON
Her glories we all always tell,
Our THOMAS JEFFERSON.
On field and campus winning boys
And girls all ready stand for
Dear old THOMAS JEFFERSON
Our Alma Mater Grand
THOMAS JEFFERSON
THOMAS JEFFERSON
Dear old school of mine,
I’ll sing thy praises everywhere,
Dear THOMAS JEFFERSON.
FIGHT SONG - (FIGHT THE TEAM) ACROSS THE FIELD
Fight the team across the field
Show them Jeff High is here
Set the Earth reverberating
With a mighty cheer
RAH! RAH! RAH!
Hit them hard and see how they fall
Never let that team get the ball
Hail! Hail! The gang's all here
So let's beat the Bears now!
THOMAS JEFFERSON
THOMAS JEFFERSON
For who! For whom!
For JEFFERSON!
TJHS Historical Preservation Society
The Thomas Jefferson High School Historical Preservation Society is a Non-Profit IRS Designation 501(c)3 Organization.The purpose of the TJHS Historical Preservation Society is to provide a focal point for the leadership and involvement required to develop and implement plans to preserve and encourage the continued preservation of buildings, objects, and places related to the historical significance of Thomas Jefferson High School and its architectural and natural beauty. We want those who walk through its doors today, those that have come before, and those in the future to continue to be guided by the richness of Jefferson's heritage.
TJHS Historical Preservation Society wants to inform the public of our efforts and invite those who would step forward to help us in our efforts. TJHS Historical Preservation Society is honored by your commitment to the historical preservation of Thomas Jefferson High School.
Athletics
- Corky NelsonCorky NelsonCorky Nelson is a former American football player and coach. He is known for his coaching stint at the University of North Texas, but was more successful on the high school level....
, Football Coach, North Texas State University - Kyle RoteKyle RoteWilliam Kyle Rote, Sr. was an American football player and sports announcer.-Early life:Rote attended Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was an all-state basketball and football player....
, All American - Pat Knight, NFL Official
- Gabriel RiveraGabriel RiveraGabriel Rivera is a former All American football defensive tackle. Rivera was the 21st selection of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers...
, All American - Tommy NobisTommy NobisThomas Henry Nobis, Jr. is a former American football player. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School where he was an all-state offensive end and middle linebacker...
, All American - Peggy Feldman, First female captain, Anapolis Swimming Team
- Emily Burrer Foster, Tennis Coach, Trinity University, Third in Nation in Singles
- Rick Bullock, set basketball scoring record at Texas Tech University
- Charlie Parker, Track
- Perry Samuels, Track
- Laura Neugebauer-Groff, Head Coach UTSA Volleyball
Arts & Entertainment
- Holly DunnHolly DunnHolly Dunn is a country music artist who first found fame with her 1986 Top-10 hit "Daddy's Hands" from her self-titled début album. Dunn has charted more than a dozen country singles, two of which reaching the #1 spot.Dunn is the daughter of a minister father...
, Country Music Artist - Marcia McClain, former soap opera star; TV Commercials; stage
- Stewart Pratt, wrote closing theme for "Happy Days"
- Arch Campbell, movie critic, TV, Washington, DC
Business
- Tom Murrah, Vice President, Victoria Bank
- George Geiser, Construction
- Pat O'Connell, Construction
- Willard E. Simpson, Engineer
- Bert Riemenschneider, Ph.D., Texas Instruments
- W.W. McAllister, Jr., Banker
- Blair Labatt, Labatt Company, Wholesale Grocery
- Charles Gunther Orsinger, Orsinger Buick
- Bernard Rapoport, co-founder of American Income Life Insurance Company
Business - Lawyers
- Cecil Bain
- Lester Louis Klein
- Bradford Francis Miller
- Bruce Waitz
- Bond Davis
- Burleson Smith
- Robert T. Sautelle
- C. Stanley Banks, Jr.
- Robert Lee Bobbitt, Jr.
- John W. Goode, Jr.
- Albert McNeel, Jr.
- Joe Rollins (deceased)
Communications
- Jim LehrerJim LehrerJames Charles "Jim" Lehrer is an American journalist and the executive editor and former news anchor for PBS NewsHour on PBS, known for his role as a frequent debate moderator during elections...
, MacNeil/Lehrer Report, PBS - Allen Ludden (deceased)
- Dr. Doug Harlan, writer
- Greg Simmons, local TV
- Sam Saucedo, local TV
- Wendy Rigby, local TV
- Bill Watkins, Radio/TV Commentator, San Angelo, Texas
- Bruce Hathaway, local radio
- Gina Galaviz, local TV
- Steve Hahn, local radio
Education
- Byron N. McClenney, Chancellor, San Antonio College
- David Frederick, 1983 Rhoades Scholar
- Bob Chambers, Superintendent, Lackland School District
- Frank E. Gerth, III, Ph.D., Managing Director, Harbor Branch Foundation (marine Science Research Project), Dt. *Pierce, Florida
- Dr. Sterling Wheeler, former Vice President of Southern Methodist University; Methodist minister; Peace Corps, *Africa; Public Relations, Cummins Diesel; Professor, Incarnate Word University
- Keith Stewart, Ed.D., Psychologist
- Diane Daugherty, Ph.D., Northern Illinois University
Government
- Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez
- Judge John Wood (decreased), Federal Judge
- Blair Reeves, Fourth Court of Appeals
- Preston Dial, Fourth Court of Appeals
- Rose Birnbaum Spector, District Judge
- John F. Onion, Court of Criminal Appeals, Austin
- Fred Biery, District Judge
- Phil Harris, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2
- Robert G. Lee, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4
- Joe Alderete, City Councilman
- Gus Garcia (deceased), First Mexican American to go to the Supreme Court to argue a case and win
- Peter Michael Curry, District Judge
- John Yates, District Judge
- Tony Fero, District Judge
- Bill Harris, Assistant District Attorney, Bexar County
- John Steen, former City Councilman
- Ed Garza, former Mayor of the City of San Antonio
- Julian Castro, Mayor of the City of San Antonio
- Joaquin CastroJoaquín CastroJoaquín Castro is an American politician from San Antonio, Texas. Castro is a representative in the Texas Legislature representing District 125. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Higher Education Committee and is a member of the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee...
, Texas Legislature - Leticia Van de Putte]], Texas Legislature
Military
- Col. Robert Cole (deceased), a Commander in the Normandy Invasion, World War II, Medal of Honor, Cole High School is named for him
- Brig. Gen. Lillian Dunlap, first general in Nursing Corps from Texas
- Lt. Millett A. Strayghan, Jr., POW for 40 months, World War II
- Maj. Gen. Alfred Valenzuela
Science - Doctors
- Lee Allen Koontz
- August Berchelmann
- Charles M. Manhoff
- David A. Berchelmann, Sr.
- Jim Mims, III
- Curtis Heinrich
- Dennis Galindo
- Richard Morales
- Nan Ellzey
- Sam Miller
- Dan Knauf
- Frank N. Fore
- Don Quick
Others
- Leroy Denman
- Albert Biedenharn, Jr.
- Fidel Chamberlain
- Albert Maverick, III
- John Camp
- Reagan Houston
- Aaron Cohen
- Marcia Nasatir
- Blair Reeves
- Toby Reyna