History
The first high school was founded in 1901 as a two-year school by William R. Dorris, who became the first principal, according to Brian Keller of the O’Fallon Historical Society.
In 1900, the city had built a new building to serve as the elementary school. One room, Room 10, was set aside for the high school studies.
In 1903, the first graduating class of O’Fallon had only five people.
O’Fallon’s high school officially became OTHS of District 203 in 1920, and the original school song, “Blue and Old Gold” was first sung at graduation in 1925. The school's mascot is the Panthers, which the 1934 basketball team takes credit for choosing. According to Mr. George Bender, class of 1937, the basketball team visited a sports store in 1934 and was impressed by the large picture of a panther in the store’s display window. The team, not having a mascot of their own yet, liked the idea of using the panther. By November 1934, the team was nicknamed the 'Panthers,' a name which would eventually represent the entire school.
Read more about this topic: O'Fallon Township High School
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—Henry Ford (1863–1947)
“There is a history in all men’s lives,
Figuring the natures of the times deceased,
The which observed, a man may prophesy,
With a near aim, of the main chance of things
As yet not come to life.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“The history of every country begins in the heart of a man or a woman.”
—Willa Cather (1876–1947)