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| FLHS 2022, a retro look |
By Jane Feehan
The cornerstone of Fort Lauderdale High School, known first as Fort Lauderdale Central, was laid in 1915 on land donated by the pioneer Stranahan family. A Mediterranean Revival structure designed by Miami architect August Geiger, the school drew students from Pompano Beach, Davie and all the unnamed rural areas that are named municipalities in Broward County today.
More interesting facts:Track team uniforms of 1918 served as inspiration for the school’s student body nickname, the
Flying L's. Uniforms with the Flying L logo were provided free to students beginning in 1922. In 1934, during one year of the Great Depression, there were only 16 members of the graduating class. Times were so tough that they were unable to publish a yearbook.
During World War II, diplomas were given to male students who completed one semester and enlisted in the military..jpg)
The school band, before Castro took over Cuba in 1959, made yearly trips by boat to Havana (see photo at right from a 1948 yearbook). The school building closed in 1962 and relocated to the current site on NE Fourth Avenue. The Class of 1962 laid a commemorative plaque at the old site, now the site of a bank.
Notable graduates:
Sandy Nininger, the first soldier of World War II awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous).
Peter T. Fay, senior judge of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta
Sources:
Sun-Sentinel. Telling Tales Out of School by Jane Feehan. April 11, 2004
Gillis, Susan. Fort Lauderdale: The Venice of America. Charleston: Arcadia (2004).
Tags: Fort Lauderdale history, Florida in the early 1900s, Fort Lauderdale High School history
During World War II, diplomas were given to male students who completed one semester and enlisted in the military.
The school band, before Castro took over Cuba in 1959, made yearly trips by boat to Havana (see photo at right from a 1948 yearbook). The school building closed in 1962 and relocated to the current site on NE Fourth Avenue. The Class of 1962 laid a commemorative plaque at the old site, now the site of a bank.
Notable graduates:
Bob Clark (attended) - writer/ director of the movie, Porky’s
C.M. Newton, former athletic director of the University of Kentucky;
C.M. Newton, former athletic director of the University of Kentucky;
Sandy Nininger, the first soldier of World War II awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous).
Rita Mae Brown, author and women’s rights activist;
Peter T. Fay, senior judge of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta
Sources:
Sun-Sentinel. Telling Tales Out of School by Jane Feehan. April 11, 2004
Gillis, Susan. Fort Lauderdale: The Venice of America. Charleston: Arcadia (2004).
Tags: Fort Lauderdale history, Florida in the early 1900s, Fort Lauderdale High School history
