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East High School’s 100th-Year Building Celebration Reunites the Past with the Present
October 7, 2022 -- Representing true Tiger Pride, dressed in black and orange attire, dozens of alums gathered at the front entrance of East High School, kicking off an afternoon of festivities marking the building's centennial anniversary.
Within the crowd, a group of alumni begins singing the fight song, "We are the Tigers."
"Everywhere we go, people want to know who we are, so we tell them. We are the Tigers, the mighty, mighty Tigers!" They sang.
East High School was initially constructed in 1922 and is one of the oldest school buildings in the District. Renovations to the school were completed in December 2008.
The work included restoring numerous skylights throughout the building, refinishing the solid woodwork and wrought iron railings, and installing energy-efficient lighting fixtures. In addition, the renovation included a 34,000-square-foot gymnasium, which features three full-sized basketball courts and seating for 1850 spectators.
The community came together for the 100-year milestone during East's homecoming week. Alumni from as far back as the class of 1960 and current students prepared to march with the Mighty Marching Tigers in a parade around the East Columbus neighborhood to Harley Field.
Students, alums, faculty, family, and community members heard opening remarks from East High School Principal Dr. Kelvin Watson and Dr. Sandy Womack, Region 3 Area Superintendent of Columbus City Schools.
Dr. Watson spoke of the school's legacy and its future.
"I have learned and witnessed in my interactions with teachers, students, staff, alumni, and community, that East High School is a pillar of this community. A pillar representing a strong tradition and history," said Dr. Watson.
Additionally, Dr. Watson shares that this celebration is an opportunity for the community to come together as a family.
"As a family-oriented school, there is a history of staff and community working together to ensure a safe haven for students to excel and aspire for greatness," said Dr. Watson
Similarly, Dr. Womack shares in Dr. Watson's excitement, explaining the legacy of East High School and its alumni.
"We are here to celebrate the rich history and legacy of East High School. It intertwines with the foundational roots of our great city and one I am proud to be a part of," said Dr. Womack.
After the opening remarks concluded, Class of 1993 alumna Ruciana Wallace-Tate, surrounded by past graduates, event attendees, and school staff, cut the ribbon in memorial of the evening's celebration.
"We are working hard to restore the roar and honor the legacy of those that came before us. It's a great day to be a Tiger," said Wallace-Tate.
Following the ribbon-cutting, attendees were escorted back into the building by the East High School drumline and drill team; attendees walked around the campus and excitedly toured the historic building.
Walking through the corridor, alumnus Ronald Payne-Burke, class of 1973, and Dr. Tom Simpson, Assistant Principal at East from 1972 - 1978, are enjoying the event and socializing with friends and classmates.
As Payne-Bruce guides Dr. Simpson through the crowd, he shares how Dr. Simpson supported him throughout his academic career at East.
"Dr. Simpson would push you so hard that you would want to do the right thing. He didn't believe in suspending kids. He wanted you to stay in school so that he could keep an eye on you; he wanted to keep you out of trouble," said Payne-Burke.
With a smile, Payne-Burke glances over at Dr. Simpson. Then, with a slight chuckle, he remembers how Dr. Simpson would react when he caught students gambling or smoking in the restroom.
"He'd catch us in the bathroom gambling. He would pick up the money, telling us to return to class. We found out that he would take the money and buy lunch for the kids that didn't have the means to buy lunch. If he caught us smoking, he would break our cigarettes," said Payne-Burke laughing.
"He's a good guy; he always had a job, said Dr. Simpson of Payne-Burke.
Payne-Burke shares that being a Tiger means having a lot of pride, especially within the community.
"Growing up in the neighborhood, your teachers lived in your area. They did a lot for the community and us. We had access to our teachers outside of school, said Payne-Burke.
A sharp Dr. Simpson shares that one of his fondest memories at East High School was how well the students got along.
"The students were very close. They cared about the community and helping others," said Dr. Simpson.
Dr. Simpson said that his time spent at East was like another home. He loved working with his students and staff.
"We have a strong background at East. I love East because they love me. They gave me an opportunity to show what I could do. The kids were like my kids," said Dr. Simpson.
Class of 1966 alumnus Bishop Donald Washington, Pastor at Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, was also in attendance. He shares what East High School means to him.
"It was wonderful to see all of my friends and classmates today. Being a Tiger means being ethical and treating your brothers and sisters right. I am so proud to be a part of East's century-long legacy," said Bishop Washington.
Some of Bishop Washington's fondest memories while at East were attending the pep rallies and participating in school plays.
"The pep rallies were fun! When we came together for the pep rallies, it was an awesome experience. Participating in plays taught us how to handle speaking and performing in front of large crowds; we always had a good time," said Bishop Washington.
Standing in front of the famous Hall of Fame wall, Bishop Washington points to a picture of himself as a track and field team member. Here, he reminisces about his time as a student-athlete.
"Dr. Simpson was my track coach. In this picture, we are in Lancaster, Ohio, at a track meet," said Bishop Washington. I jumped a 22'9" that day; no one from the opposing school believed I could jump that high; I know I could've jumped a 23. As of today, I hold the school record in the long jump at 23'7" and 6'4" in the high jump, respectively," said Bishop Washington proudly.
No one has yet to beat his record.
East High School is believed to have one of the city's most robust and engaged alumni support. While there are numerous examples, here are a few notable East High School alumni:
- Judge Robert Duncan's legacy lives on today as he made the 1977 landmark decision in Penick vs. Columbus Board of Education, which led to the desegregation of Columbus Public Schools.
- Senator Herchel Craig is a proud East alum whose career as a public servant goes back decades. He remains committed to the Columbus community and East High School.
- Ann B. Walker is a woman of many firsts. She was the first woman in broadcast management at WLWC-TV in Columbus, the first female broadcaster to report on the Ohio Legislature, and the first black woman from Franklin County given a White House appointment. She continues to give back to the Columbus community, sharing her knowledge and wisdom with our students.
- Chief of Staff Monique Jacquet is a proud East High School graduate who has dedicated her career to Columbus City Schools, specifically East High School. She served as a teacher, then as principal here at East before her current position.