Banks High School

Banks High School
	Birmingham City Schools
Years	1957–1980s
Location	8301 8th Avenue South, (map) South East Lake
Grades	9-12
Principal	Jesse Daniel
Enrollment	[[List of high schools by enrollment|]] ()
Colors	Columbia blue and scarlet
Mascot	Jets
Website

L. Frazier Banks High School (originally South East Lake High School) was a high school in the Birmingham Public School System from 1957 until the 1980s, after which it was converted into a middle school until it was finally closed in 2007. It was named for former superintendent L. Frazier Banks and occupied six buildings in a residential area on 86th Street South in the South East Lake neighborhood. The capacity of the school was 1,192. The last principal was Jesse Daniel.

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 1961, the Alabama Air National Guard loaned the school a U.S. Air Force F-86D "Sabre" [1] which was a relic of the Korean War. The plane was painted in the school colors of Columbia blue and scarlet and was installed as a mascot and landmark on the roof 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. Students from Banks went on to Woodlawn High School after the 8th grade.

Principals

• J. O. Simmons, 1957-

Notable alumni

• John Amari, District Court Judge
• John Archibald, Birmingham News columnist
• David Cutcliffe, 1972, football coach (Coached Banks HS in 1980-81 with 17-4-1 record)
• Bill Carden, engineer
• Ann Fowler, 1966, Miss Alabama 1970
• Jeff Herrod 1983, NFL linebacker
• Alan Jacobs, 1975, scholarly author
• Bobby Johns, 1964, football player and coach
• Bobby Kerley, Alabama Power executive
• Bobbie Knight, Alabama Power executive
• Del Marsh, Alabama State Senate president pro tem
• 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
• Billy Shields, 1971, NFL offensive lineman
• 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." The Birmingham News
• Hickerson, Patrick (October 3, 2006) "Banks Middle closing pondered." The Birmingham News
• Archibald, John (October 5, 2006) "Sad, unsafe school once was mighty." The Birmingham News
• Hickerson, Patrick (January 5, 2007) "Students, staff value Banks' replacement." The Birmingham News
• Archibald, John (May 31, 2007) "Banks jet to be mighty once more." The Birmingham News
• Archibald, John (June 29, 2008) "Oh no! It's all on my permanent record." The Birmingham News
• McGinnis, Cory (June 21, 2013) "Unsecured documents found at Banks Middle School." ABC3340.com

External links

• Banks High School football history from ahsfhs.org website