FJ Reitz High School: Difference between revisions

FJ Reitz High School
Location
Evansville , Indiana USA
Information
Type	Public high school
Motto	"Where it's a pleasure to learn!"
Established	1918
Principal	Christine Settle
Faculty	87
Number of students	1,352
Color(s)	blue and grey
Mascot	Mighty Panthers
Website	FJRHS

Francis Joseph Reitz High School is a historic public high school on the west side of Evansville, Indiana. It was founded in 1918, and is the second oldest high school still in use today in the city. It is a member of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Coporation.

In 2005-06 enrollment numbered 1,352. 78% of the class of 2005 attended college. This may be a result of the large local post-secondary education facilities. F.J. Reitz High School has a predominately white student population.

Reitz had roughly 87 full time teachers on hand during the 2005-06 school year. The average age for a teacher was 40.3, with an average experience of 12.1 years. The average salary was $43,231 with an average supplemental salary of $2,207. There were, on average, 15.6 students per teacher. Though with a large faculty base, F. J. Reitz High School did not make the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) associated with George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind policy for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 school years in special education needs. The 2004-2005 school year concluded with a "passing" AYP grade in all categories.

The idea for a school on the west side of Evansville came from the Centennial Club, led by Mrs. C.F. Werner, who fought a genteel, but determined battle with the reluctant school board. The ladies said the Evansville High School (old Central) was too far away to be financially practical for many west side families. After four years of crusading, the Centennial Club won.

The school board had planned to call the school West Side High School. That was before the board discovered a lack of funds and F.J. Reitz agreed to finance the building of the school. A grateful school board immediately voted that this new hall of learning (which incidentally cost $223,844.00) should be named after Mr. Reitz. Thus Reitz High School became the first high school on the west side and the second in Evansville.

At first Reitz was intended to be a Junior High School, including only seventh, eighth, and ninth grades, but as the student body grew older, the curriculum was geared to fit the needs of older students. Reitz graduated its first seniors in 1921.

In September 1918 a two-story and basement building of brick and stone classic design was open. In 1921, the first year in which Reitz High School was fully accredited by North Central Association, the 10,000-seat Reitz Stadium was completed. In 1926, a four-story classroom building was added to the west end of the building. In 1956, an addition of a new office wing, nurse's suite, counselors' offices, home economics kitchen, dining rooms, sewing rooms, print shop, band and choir rooms, library, and study hall was added. In 1957, a five-story classroom wing, a second gym, seating more than 3,000, department offices, teachers' lounges, industrial shops, a new auditorium, a new cafeteria, and new restrooms were added. In 1973, a new greenhouse was completed. In 1977, a driving range on Barker Avenue was added to accommodate the Driver's Education Department. The Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation owns the land on which the range is located.

The school evolved into a hodgepodge of corridors, floors, and rooms from additions over the years, yet Reitz was still the smallest high school in the area and had the smallest cafeteria. Finally the school board opted for renovation and after more than $26 million, Reitz celebrated its 80th anniversary in 1998 with a whole new look that makes it the largest and most advanced high school structure in Evansville.

The Reitz Bowl, one of the great natural stadiums in the nation, was born by accident. It was originally planned as a retaining wall for the new F. J. Reitz High School. Foresight by a school member noted that with some small changes a football stadium could be made too. In 1921, the first year in which Reitz High School was fully accredited by North Central Association, the 10,000-seat Reitz Stadium was completed. The first two years was a reserve schedule and then in 1921 Reitz began varsity play.

In 1931, Reitz played its first night game. Also in 1931, Reitz played Bosse an extra game for charity on December 4th. This was during the great depression. 1959 was the last Thanksgiving Day game in the State of Indiana, Reitz against Bosse. 1973 saw the new all transistor scoreboard go into effect. It was, as all past Reitz scoreboards, a gift of the West Side Nut Club. In 1974 Prescription Athletic Turf (PAT) was introduced to the Reitz Bowl. PAT is a method of draining and irrigation from pipes laid beneath the playing surface. What occurs during this process is the drainage of any excess water by a vacuum system when the field is flooded by rain, and irrigating water to the surface of the field when it is too dry.

Along with PAT came the renovation of the bowl seating, walkways, and stairs. A new all weather track was added too. In 1976 all metal permanent type bleachers become a reality. Play Clocks were introduced to the Bowl in 1995, and 2003 saw a brand new sound system that rivals those in the Big Ten Conference.

In addition to being the home site for Panthers football games, home site for nearby Catholic High School Mater Dei Wildcats football games, the Bowl also hosts the annual Drums on the Ohio drum & bugle corps competition.

Reitz's original school colors were orange and purple, but those were given to Lincoln High School during the first half of the century. After they gave away their colors they picked blue and gray, as Reitz sits on the Mason-Dixon Line, and blue and gray were the colors of the North and South during the Civil War.

Sung to the tune of On Wisconsin, Edna Mae Shaw (Class of '31) composed the now-famous lyrics to RHS Boys. They are as follows:

RHS Boys, RHS Boys

Fight on for her fame Take the ball right down the field, And win for her this game. Rah! Rah! Rah! RHS Boys, RHS Boys To this name be true Fight Fellows, fight, fight, fight We're backing you. R-R-R-E-I, I-I-I-T-Z

Reitz, Reitz, Victory!

• Herman Byers, legendary football coach
• Don Hanson, NFL player
• Rudy Charles, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling senior referee
• Matt Williams, producer of The Cosby Show, Home Improvement, and Roseanne

• Reitz High School
• Reitz High School Departments
  • Reitz Journalism
  • Reitz Science
• Reitz High School Sports
  • Reitz Baseball
  • Boy's Basketball
  • Girl's Basketball
  • Football
    • ReitzFootball.com
    • Reitz Football
  • Boy's Soccer
  • Boy's Soccer
• Reitz High School Alumni
  • 1989
  • 1988
  • 1984
  • 1983
  • 1982
  • 1981
  • 1980
  • 1979
  • 1978
  • 1955
  • 1946