By Tamas Mondovics
Brandon High School administration, along with teachers, students and staff, have launched a project which will celebrate a major milestone not only for the school, but also for the entire community.
Starting this summer with a series of preparatory meetings, the Brandon community is asked to help plan, promote and participate in the upcoming 100th anniversary celebration of Brandon High School scheduled for next spring.
“We are in the very early planning stages and everyone in the community is encouraged to participate,” said Cheryl Stanbro, adding that participants do not have to have graduated from the school and although its early, the eventual celebration is planned as a community event and everyone is welcome.
Brandon High School originally opened in 1914 on the current site of McLane Middle School and a half a century later, in 1972, the school moved to its current location at 1101 Victoria Street.
Proud of its maroon and white colors accompanied by the Eagle as its mascot, Brandon High boasts of many achievements as it currently stands as an “A” school on the school district’s high school grading scale. BHS has also been awarded Blue Ribbon School status.
Thanks to its exceptional wrestling program led by head coach, Russ Cozart, BRH earned national recognition for holding the national record for longest winning streak (40 years, 500 wins) by a high school sports team.
Often referred to best known as “The Streak” came to an end on January 5, 2008, when Brandon was defeated by South Dade High School, 32-28. The team also boasts 23 Florida State Team Championships (including a current State Record Streak of 23 in a row) and more than 165 state placers, all of whom are listed on the west wall of the Brandon wrestling workout room.
Celebration organizers emphasized that their mission is simple and it is to celebrate the rich traditions and wonderful memories that have come from the first high school in the Brandon area, which has endured for a century.
While many details are yet to be worked out, the proposed celebration date is March 1, 2014 to be held at McLane Jr. High School, Brandon High School Football Complex with weekend-long activities planned for the whole community of Brandon.
Committee meetings are held every Monday of the month at The Original Beef O Brady’s at the corner of Kings Ave. and Robertson Dr. in Brandon starting at 6 p.m.
The next meeting is scheduled for July 1, to which business owners, community leaders, alumni, students and media and anyone and everyone that would like to support the event are all invited.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/BHS100thAnniversay?ref=tn_tnmn, so you’ll receive regular notices and posts of interest. You can also email the committee chairs at bhs100th@yahoo.com.
