Banks High School

L. Frazier Banks Middle School is a middle school in the Birmingham Public School System that feeds into Woodlawn High School. The school, which is named for former superintendent L. Frazier Banks, occupies six buildings in a residential area on on 86th Street South in the South East Lake neighborhood. The capacity of the school is 1,192, but as of 2006 the school's enrollment is only 447. The principal is Teresa Thomas.

The school was opened as a high school in 1957 and, at first, accepted only freshmen. The first graduating class matriculated in 1961. The school's athletic teams in that 1960-61 season won the Birmingham city football, basketball and baseball championships. The football team, initially made up of those who didn't make the Woodlawn team as freshmen, was coached by Jimmy Tarrant. The basketball team was coached by Albert Morton.

In the early part of that decade, a U. S. Air Force F-86D "Sabre" [1] painted in the school colors of Columbia Blue and Scarlet was installed as a mascot and landmark in front of the school.

In 1972 and 1973, Coach Shorty White led the Jets to consecutive 4A state football championships. The school was recognized nationally as a football power, even appearing in the pages of National Geographic. Future NFL quarterback Jeff Rutledge led the team into a 1974 showdown with Woodlawn High School and running back Tony Nathan at Legion Field. The crowd was estimated at 42,000.

In the 1980s Banks was transformed into a middle school under the direction of Superintendent Cleveland Hammonds.

In December 2000 arson caused extensive damage to the auditorium, destroying approximately $30,000 worth of band instruments which, because of ever-tightening public school budgets, have been only partially replaced. In February 2006, the South East Lake Neighborhood Association voted to appropriate $5,000 of their neighborhood funds to go toward new band instruments.

In October 2006 the Facilities and Technology Committee of the Birmingham Board of Education heard a recommendation from new superintendent of schools Stan Mims to close Banks and transfer its students to the new Ossie Ware Mitchell School which is being expanded for K-8. The recommendation would need to go through a process of community comment before being voted on by the board. If approved, the transfer could happen during the 2006 Christmas break.

Banks High School alumni

• John Archibald, Birmingham News columnist
• David Cutcliffe (1972), football coach (Coached Banks HS in 1980-81 with 17-4-1 record)
• Bill Carden, engineer
• Jeff Herrod (1983), NFL linebacker
• Alan Jacobs, (1975), scholarly author
• Bobby Kerley, Alabama Power executive
• Bobbie Knight, Alabama Power executive
• Robert R. McCammon, writer
• Johnny Musso, College Football Hall of Fame player
• Jeff Rutledge, (1974), NFL quarterback
• Gary Rutledge, football player
• Greg Shaw, Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Judge
• Mike Shaw, pastor of 1st Baptist, Pelham
• Jimmy Sidle, Auburn quarterback
• Boyce Smith, founder of Southeastern Youth Camp
• David Lee Smith, actor
• Beth Thornley, singer

Reference

• Jordan, Phillip. (March 23, 2006) "Hitting the right note: Can neighborhood associations help fill the funding gap for city schools?" Birmingham Weekly.
• Ingram, Ron (September 20, 2006) "Ex-Jets recall success." Birmingham News.
• Hickerson, Patrick (October 3, 2006) "Banks Middle closing pondered." Birmingham News.
• Archibald, John (October 5, 2006) "Sad, unsafe school once was mighty." Birmingham News.

External links

• Banks Middle School profile at www.bhm.k12.al.us