Pine Bluff High School

History

Established in 1868, Pine Bluff High School is one of the state's oldest schools and pre-dates the opening of Branch Normal College, which would later become University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In 1924, Pine Bluff High School became a charter member and accredited by the North Central Association, now named AdvancED. In 1925, the school's football team, coached by Foy Hammons, was crowned National Champions when it defeated Baton Rouge High School in the High School Football National Championship game by the score 26 to 0. The 1925 squad gained 8,588 total yards and held this national single-season record for 73 years and has remained as the state record.

The school's campus consists of multiple buildings located primarily between West 8th and 11th streets (north and south) and Olive and Poplar streets (East and West). Major facilities include the McGeorge Building that houses the main administrative offices and the Little Theater, the Trice Building and Trice Gym, the Patterson Building that contains classrooms, the Arts Building, the Student Union, tennis courts, athletic fieldhouse and ROTC building, the Hill-Alford Softball Field, and Jordan Stadium that is used for football games and track meets.

Curriculum

The assumed course of study follows the Smart Core curriculum developed by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), which requires students complete 22 units prior to graduation. Students complete regular courses and exams and may select Advanced Placement (AP) coursework and exams that may lead to receiving college credit. In addition to being accredited by the ADE, Pine Bluff High School is a charter member and is accredited by AdvancED (formerly North Central Association).

In 2012, Pine Bluff High School was listed and unranked in the Best High Schools report from U.S. News & World Report.

Extracurricular activities

The Pine Bluff High School mascot is the Zebra with cardinal and white serving as the school colors.

AFJROTC

Unit AR-061 is a prestige unit that is classified as a group. They contain a diverse population of 100 cadets and are under the leadership of LtCol. Underwood and MSgt. Murry. The cadet participate in drill meets, flag folding ceremonies, football games, as well as presenting the colors for formal assemblies and where ever necessary throughout the state (for the mayor, Purple Heart Association). They compete against schools mainly in three areas: unarmed drill, color guard, and sabre team. |http://www.au.af.mil/au/holmcenter/AFJROTC/AFJROTCunits.asp%7C

Athletics

For 2012–14, the Pine Bluff Zebras compete in the 7A Classification—the state's largest classification—within the 7A/6A South Conference. The Zebras participate in numerous interscholastic sports and events administered by the Arkansas Activities Association including: football, basketball (boys/girls), cheer, cross country (boys/girls), soccer (boys), baseball, softball, swimming (boys/girls), tennis (boys/girls), and track and field (boys/girls).

Football

The Zebras football team have one of the most successful programs in the nation, which includes 711 all-time wins (as of 2014) and 24 state championships between 1915 and 2015 including three consecutive titles in 1993, 1994 and 1995. Both the 1993 and 1995 squads finished 14-0 seasons and were ranked No. 19 and No. 22 in the nation by USA Today, respectively. In 2010, synthetic turf was installed at Jordan Stadium, and the field was named the Torii Hunter Field. The 1925 squad (16–0) won the High School Football National Championship and still maintains single season state records with 16 wins, 8,588 total yards gained and a national-record 8,081 rushing yards gained. In 1930, future Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Hutson caught 5 touchdown passes in a game, which still stands as an Arkansas' state record (tied twice since then). The Zebras have produced several PARADE All-American High School Football Team selections to include:

1963 – Gordon Norwood, Back

1968 – Bill Kennedy, Lineman

1984 – Eric Mitchel, Quarterback

Basketball

The Zebras boys basketball squad has raised 13 state (classification) championships between 1923 and 2015 along with two (overall) championship banners (1977, 1990), the latter of which is no longer contested. Pine Bluff teams won three consecutive titles in 1933, 1934 and 1935. The most recent coming in 2015, when the 6th seeded Zebras, led by Coach Clarence Finley upset three #1 seeds in route to Arkansas State Championship.

Baseball

The Pine Bluff Zebras baseball team is the one of the nation's and state's most successful programs with a state-record 10 state baseball championship titles (tied-10th national all-time titles) from 1959 through 1995, including four consecutive titles - "Dynasty Years" (1983–86). As of 2012, the Zebras have been to 15 state title games, 19 state semi-finals, 37 state tournament appearances and 61 state tournament wins. Coach Billy Bock was named National Coach of the Decade for the 1980s by USA Today.

Track & field

The Zebras track and field teams have been competitive throughout most of the school's history with the boys squad winning 14 state championships between 1971 and 2000, going undefeated and earning a top-3 national ranking in 1981 coached by Andrew Butler during a period known as the "decade of dominance." The 1981 team also produced 7 High School All-Americans. The girls squad has won six state championships between 1981 and 2002. Several Pine Bluff student-athletes maintain state records in individual events and relays.

Clubs and traditions

Official clubs are recognized by the school and have established by-laws, elected officials, and are sponsored by teachers

Notable alumni

The following are notable people associated with Pine Bluff High School. If the person was a Pine Bluff High School student, the number in parentheses indicates the year of graduation; if the person was a faculty or staff member, that person's title and years of association are included:

Billy Bock (Educator/coach, 1982–96)—Inductee, American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, National High School Coach of the Century.

Bill Carr—Olympic Gold Medalist.

Rhonda Coullet—Singer-actress.

Jay Dickey (1957)—Politician; U.S. Congressman.

Jeff Gross (1984)— Former Major League Baseball Scout (Texas Rangers/Chicago Cubs) Co-Owner: PB Locomotives Professional Baseball Club

John Gross (1978)— Former Major League Baseball Scout (Texas Rangers/Chicago Cubs) Co-Owner: PB Locomotives Professional Baseball Club

Jackie Harris-Professional football player (Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys).

Torii Hunter—Retired Major League Baseball player 19 seasons 12 with the Minnesota Twins,5 With the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,and 2 with the Detroit Tigers

Don Hutson (1930)—Professional football player (Green Bay Packers); charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Mike Jeffcoat—Former Major League Baseball player; collegiate baseball coach.

David Johnson—Professional football player (Pittsburgh Steelers).

Martha Mitchell (1937)—Washington DC celebrity.

Smokie Norful—(1991)Gospel singer.

Willie Roaf—(1988)Professional football player; inductee, Pro Football Hall of Fame (2012).

Dennis Swilley—Professional football player (Minnesota Vikings).

Mark Bradley-Professional football player (Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

John Cloud, (1989) Senior writer at TIME Magazine. (born 1971-died December 2016)

Danny Bradley - former professional football player and Dallas Cowboys executive.

Monte Coleman - former professional football player (Washington Redskins), Head Football Coach (University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff).

Terry Rowden - Author -The Songs of Blind Folk: African American Musicians and the Cultures of Blindness, University of Michigan Press, 2009 Associate Professor English Department (1977)