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{{Infobox School
{{Infobox School
|name          =Mortimer Jordan High School
|name          =Mortimer Jordan High School
|image          =[[Mortimer Jordan High School logo.png]]
|image          =[[Image:Mortimer Jordan High School rendering.jpg|250px]]
|established    =1920
|established    =1920
|district      =[[Jefferson County Schools]]
|district      =[[Jefferson County Schools]]
|grades        =9-12
|grades        =9-12
|principal      =Byron Campbell
|principal      =Craig Kanaday
|enrollment    =931
|enrollment    =931
|enroll-year    =2007
|enroll-year    =2007
|colors        =blue & white
|colors        =royal blue & white
|mascot        =Blue Devils
|mascot        =Blue Devils
|address        =8601 [[Old Highway 31]]
|address        =1920 Blue Devil Drive
|city          =Morris
|city          =Kimberly
|website        =[http://www.mortimerjordan.com/ mortimerjordan.com]
|website        =[http://mortimerjordanhigh.jefcoed.com/Pages/Default.aspx mortimerjordanhigh.jefcoed.com]
}}
}}


'''Mortimer Jordan High School''' ('''MJHS''') is a four-year public high school located at 8601 Old Highway 31 in the town of [[Morris]] ({{Locate_address_inline|address=8601+Old+Highway+31|city=Morris}}).  It is part of the [[Jefferson County School System]]. The athletic teams are called the "Blue Devils".  The school's motto is "Love it . . . or leave it."  The principal is [[Byron Campbell]], who is an MJHS alumnus.
__NOTOC__
'''Mortimer Jordan High School''' ('''MJHS''') is a four-year public high school in  the [[Jefferson County School System]] located at 1920 [[Blue Devil Drive]] in [[Kimberly]]. It was founded on [[Old Highway 31]] in [[Morris]] in [[1920]] and named for [[World War I]] hero [[Mortimer Jordan (WWI)|Mortimer Jordan]]. The school's motto is "Love it . . . or leave it."  The principal is [[Craig Kanaday]].


== History ==
==History==
Mortimer Jordan High School was named after Captain [[Mortimer H. Jordan]], an officer in [[World War I]]. He was commanding Company K, 16th infantry, 42nd "Rainbow Division" when he was mortally wounded while leading his sector in battle. He died of his wounds in [[1918]] and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Parents in the Morris area organized for the founding of the new school, which opened in the fall of [[1920]]. Ninety students were enrolled at the start of the year, and the first graduating class consisted of [[Sudie Rogers|Sudie Counts]] and [[Eileen Lovelady|Eileen Jenkins]], both of whom became teachers. The faculty consisted of three female teachers and [[Mennie Halliman]] as the school's first principal.


The school first opened in the fall of [[1920]]. The student body numbered ninety and only two students graduated that year. The faculty consisted of three female teachers and [[Minnie Holliman]] as the school's first principal.
A Mr Gordon took over as principal in [[1921]]. He began the clearing of a wooded lot that later served as a playground by sending misbehaving students out to cut down trees and dig up stumps. Twelve students graduated in the second full year of classes. Thirteen-year-old [[Mabel Creel]] graduated in [[1928]] as the valedictorian of her class.


The school's original building had five rooms, but growth required the addition of a frame building of eight rooms. The school's first gym was built by the Works Progress Administration from [[1936]] to [[1937]], around the same time the lunchroom program was established. Indoor plumbing and restrooms were installed between [[1937]] and [[1941]].  A football and athletic field was added in the early 1950's.
The school's original building had five rooms, but growth required the addition of a frame building of eight rooms. The school's first gym was built by the [[Works Progress Administration]] in [[1936]][[1937|37]], around the same time the lunchroom program was established. Indoor plumbing and restrooms, fed by pump from [[Turkey Creek]], were installed before [[1941]].  A football and athletic field was added in the early 1950's.


[[Jimmie Trotter]] served as principal for 32 years. The school's football stadium, named for Trotter, has since been demolished and the site redeveloped as the [[Trotter Parc]] subdivision.
[[Image:Mortimer_Jordan_HS_centeniall_logo125px.jpg|right|125px]]
[[Image:Mortimer Jordan High School.jpg|left|thumb|Mortimer Jordan High School as it looked in the 1960s]]
In recent history, the school served grades 7-12.  With the opening of [[North Jefferson Middle School]] in the fall of [[2004]], Mortimer Jordan began serving only grades 9-12.
In recent history, the school served grades 7-12.  With the opening of [[North Jefferson Middle School]] in the fall of [[2004]], Mortimer Jordan began serving only grades 9-12.


== Sports ==
In [[2011]] the school moved to a new 232,000 square-foot building at the end of [[Bone Dry Road]] (renamed Blue Devil Drive) in Kimberly. The new campus, designed by [[Davis Architects]], includes a 650-seat performing arts center, a culinary arts kitchen, and several computer and science labs. [[Winter Construction]] built the new facility.
Mortimer Jordan currently competes at the [[AHSAA Level 5A]]. The school has won two state championships, boy's basketball in [[1928]] and girl's fast pitch softball in [[1999]].
 
The old school building was converted into the new home for the [[William E. Burkett Center]] for handicapped students.
 
==Athletics==
[[Image:Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils logo.png|right|125px]]
 
The Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils compete in [[AHSAA Level 5A]]. [[AHSAA Region 6|Region 6]]. The [[1928]] boys' basketball team, coached by [[Clarence Vines]], won a state title and went on to finish second in the national finals in Chicago, Illinois. The girls' fast pitch softball team, coached by [[Laura Rickman]], has brought home state titles in [[1999]], [[2008]], [[2009]] and [[2011]].
 
The Blue Devils football team, coached by [[Greg Watts]], plays its home games at 4,500-seat [[Jimmie Trotter Field]], named for the school's long-time principal.
 
==Principals==
* [[Mennie Halliman]], 1920–21
* Mr Gordon, 1922–1923
* Mr Sams, 1923-1925
* [[J. O. Suddeth]], 1959
* [[Jimmie Trotter]], 1967–2000
* [[Byron Campbell]], c. 2000–2008
* [[Barbara Snider]], 2008–2014
* [[Craig Kanaday]], 2014–
 
==Notable graduates==
* [[Lum Harris]], major league baseball player
* [[Peter Willis]], NFL quarterback


== References ==
== References ==
* [http://www.mortimerjordan.com/about.htm School History].  Accessed January 17, 2007.
* Willis, Ann (1963) "[http://www.jefcoed.com/sites/Schools/MortimerJordanHS/PublishingImages/Mortimer%20Jordan%20High%20School.jpg Mortimer Jordan High founded in 1920]" - accessed January 24, 2012
* Baker, Jerry (February 29, 2000) "Mortimer Jordan leader set to retire after 32 years." ''Birmingham News'', page 3-B
* Montgomery, Ben (October 13, 2011) "Officials cut ribbon at Mortimer Jordan High School". ''North Jefferson News''
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mortimer_Jordan_High_School Mortimer Jordan High School]" (December 9, 2011) Wikipedia - accessed January 24, 2012


== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://www.mortimerjordan.com/ Mortimer Jordan High School] website
* [http://mortimerjordanhigh.jefcoed.com/Pages/Default.aspx Mortimer Jordan High School] website
* [http://www.mjhsbluedevils.com/ Mortimer Jordan High School Athletics] website
* [http://www.ahsfhs.org/Teams2/teampage.asp?Team=Mortimer%20Jordan  Mortimer Jordan High School football history] from AHSFHS.org site


[[Category:Jefferson County schools]]
[[Category:Jefferson County schools]]
[[Category:High schools]]
[[Category:High schools]]
[[Category:1920 establishments]]
[[Category:1920 buildings]]
[[Category:1920 buildings]]
[[Category:Old Highway 31 Morris|8601]]
[[Category:Old Highway 31 Morris]]
[[Category:New Deal projects]]
[[Category:2011 buildings]]
[[Category:Blue Devil Drive]]
[[Category:Davis Architects buildings]]

Latest revision as of 10:37, 7 September 2019

Mortimer Jordan High School
Mortimer Jordan High School rendering.jpg
Established 1920
School type Public
District Jefferson County Schools
Grades 9-12
Principal Craig Kanaday
Enrollment 931 (2007)
Colors royal blue & white
Mascot Blue Devils
Location 1920 Blue Devil Drive
Kimberly
Website mortimerjordanhigh.jefcoed.com


Mortimer Jordan High School (MJHS) is a four-year public high school in the Jefferson County School System located at 1920 Blue Devil Drive in Kimberly. It was founded on Old Highway 31 in Morris in 1920 and named for World War I hero Mortimer Jordan. The school's motto is "Love it . . . or leave it." The principal is Craig Kanaday.

History

Parents in the Morris area organized for the founding of the new school, which opened in the fall of 1920. Ninety students were enrolled at the start of the year, and the first graduating class consisted of Sudie Counts and Eileen Jenkins, both of whom became teachers. The faculty consisted of three female teachers and Mennie Halliman as the school's first principal.

A Mr Gordon took over as principal in 1921. He began the clearing of a wooded lot that later served as a playground by sending misbehaving students out to cut down trees and dig up stumps. Twelve students graduated in the second full year of classes. Thirteen-year-old Mabel Creel graduated in 1928 as the valedictorian of her class.

The school's original building had five rooms, but growth required the addition of a frame building of eight rooms. The school's first gym was built by the Works Progress Administration in 193637, around the same time the lunchroom program was established. Indoor plumbing and restrooms, fed by pump from Turkey Creek, were installed before 1941. A football and athletic field was added in the early 1950's.

Jimmie Trotter served as principal for 32 years. The school's football stadium, named for Trotter, has since been demolished and the site redeveloped as the Trotter Parc subdivision.

Mortimer Jordan HS centeniall logo125px.jpg
Mortimer Jordan High School as it looked in the 1960s

In recent history, the school served grades 7-12. With the opening of North Jefferson Middle School in the fall of 2004, Mortimer Jordan began serving only grades 9-12.

In 2011 the school moved to a new 232,000 square-foot building at the end of Bone Dry Road (renamed Blue Devil Drive) in Kimberly. The new campus, designed by Davis Architects, includes a 650-seat performing arts center, a culinary arts kitchen, and several computer and science labs. Winter Construction built the new facility.

The old school building was converted into the new home for the William E. Burkett Center for handicapped students.

Athletics

Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils logo.png

The Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils compete in AHSAA Level 5A. Region 6. The 1928 boys' basketball team, coached by Clarence Vines, won a state title and went on to finish second in the national finals in Chicago, Illinois. The girls' fast pitch softball team, coached by Laura Rickman, has brought home state titles in 1999, 2008, 2009 and 2011.

The Blue Devils football team, coached by Greg Watts, plays its home games at 4,500-seat Jimmie Trotter Field, named for the school's long-time principal.

Principals

Notable graduates

References

  • Willis, Ann (1963) "Mortimer Jordan High founded in 1920" - accessed January 24, 2012
  • Baker, Jerry (February 29, 2000) "Mortimer Jordan leader set to retire after 32 years." Birmingham News, page 3-B
  • Montgomery, Ben (October 13, 2011) "Officials cut ribbon at Mortimer Jordan High School". North Jefferson News
  • "Mortimer Jordan High School" (December 9, 2011) Wikipedia - accessed January 24, 2012

External links