History
West High opened for the 1968-69 school, constructed to relieve the stress on schools in a growing city. The principal, Edwin K. Baker, and vice principal, James Ferguson, allowed students to shape the schools identity and gave them a large role in student governance, including selection of school colors and mascots. They also introduced Domestic Affairs Week and International Week, where classes are suspended in favor of debate of current events. Guest speakers are often invited to these weeks as well.
In conjunction with City High, the "Boot" trophy was established. The idea, spearheaded by junior Steve Holland, is awarded to the winner of the annual football game between the schools. West High lineman Bob Kodros donated the first Boot. Holland approached the West High Student Council about a traveling trophy and then was asked to be in charge of the football trophy. The Kodros Boot had a cleat torn out, which gave it character, and it was selected from about a dozen donated football shoes. The summer before the first game the Kodros boot was dipped in bronze at Harry's Custom Trophy. Holland was given the honor, along with Randy Dryer, the City High Student Council president, of showing it at halftime of the first game.
The first student council president was Tom Karson. Gina Gelman, a senior in the first graduating class of 1969, composed the new school's fight song, which is set to the tune of the University of Houston fight song. The school's newspaper was named the "West Side Story". Betty Lou Tucker was the first newspaper adviser. The school's yearbook was named the "Epic", with Kathy Scharf as editor. The first "Homecoming Queen" was Christy Maxwell. When the school opened, the high school handled grades 7 through 12, and the first two classes remained at West High through all six years of their secondary education. Eventually, when Northwest Junior High was completed, subsequent 7th and 8th grade students were all redirected to the local school district's junior high schools.
Read more about this topic: Iowa City West High School
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