Fordson High School Totally Explained

Everything about Fordson High School totally explained

Fordson High School is a secondary school located in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. It was completed in 1928 on a fifteen-acre parcel of land which was then the village of Fordson. Prior to the opening of the school, students attended the nearby Miller School. Ground was broken for the original school building in 1926 with representatives from each of the four entering grades participating. The senior class president was George E. Sarkozy, one of those that participated in the ceremony. The school was designed by architect H.J. Keough of the Detroit architectural firm Van Leyen, Schilling & Keough. The school building, at $2.2M was the first American school building to cost more than $1m, and was inspired in part by the Lawyer's Club at the University of Michigan as well as the Rushton and Apethore halls in Northamptonshire, England. The exterior of Fordson is made of granite and uses Briar Hill standsone trim. The library has hand carved oak paneling, a fireplace, painted wall murals by Zoltan Sepeshy, tapestries and Jacobean fumed-oak furnishings and many bronze and marble statutes including, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Nike, Niobe, Venus, and Mercury. The main entrance has ten busts that include philosophers and mathematicians like Plato, Aristedes, Sophocles, Homer, Demosthenes, Aesculapius, Euripedes, Pindar, Archimedes, and Socrates. The main hall also includes a blue and gold Fordson Tractor with lettering of state champions imprinted on its top.(External Link

) The building features architectural sculpture by Corrado Parducci. Fordson's architecture was represented in the 1987 film, The Rosary Murders when the library and tower were displayed. The school also became recognized as a Michigan Historical Site in 1998.
Fordson has many traditions within its history. Every class that graduates from Fordson provides the school with a gift. The class of 1956 presented seventy-six flags representing members of the United Nations of that year. The flags have been used at every graduation since then with many other flags being donated over the years. Football has a strong tradition within the school and the helmet is a basic element of this example. The helmet at Fordson comprises yellow with two blue stripes over the top for the varsity team, one for the junior varsity team and zero for the freshman team.
In 2005, an addition was adjoined to the northwestern body of the school. A cafeteria, ten classrooms including science and computer labs, and the replacement of the greenhouse comprised the new wing. The addition preserved the structure and appearance of the school by using the altering dark and light limestone scheme and proceeding with the same architectural model developed from the school's inception. Consequently, Fordson received the Governor's Award for Historic Preservation and has been featured in many publications including the Masonry Institute of Michigan(External Link

)and the architects of the addition, TMP architecture. (External Link

) In 2007, the athletic facility underwent an extensive renovation. The football field formerly encompassing grass and the practice field on the eastern side of the athletic campus were replaced to AstroTurf. The track and tennis courts were replaced as well. Behind the tennis courts on the northern side of the campus, the sidewalk was expunged for trees. Sarkozy field, the prior soccer field for the school was sold to the city of Dearborn for $800,000. The total cost before the sale was $1.6 Million.

Fordson Tower

The Tower was constructed in 1926 and has been used for innumerable things. During World War II, the Tower was used to spot enemy aircraft that could have been headed for the River Rouge Plant, where tanks were in production. The media center has used the Tower for archival storage, classes, and media center office space. Students of Fordson hung signs over the Tower including a "for sale" sign in the 1950s and the most recent in 1993 exclaiming Fordson's State Championship in football.

Present day

As of 2007, the school principal is Imad Fadlallah, where he's served in that capacity since 2004. Fordson High is located in the largest Arab community outside the Middle East, where more than 30% of the residents are of Arab ancestry. This is reflected at Fordson High, where approximately 95% of the 2,300 student body is of Arab ancestry. According to SchoolMatters, in 2006, 51.6% of students passed the Michigan reading test while 40.4% passed the math portion. Of the students taking the ACT, the average score was 19.7 out of a possible 36. See: Dearborn, Michigan

Winthrop Trip

Every spring since 1991, a few Fordson juniors and seniors have had the opporutunity to travel by train across the country to Winthrop, Washington. They visit Liberty Bell Junior-Senior High School and teach the local elementary students about the history and politics of Michigan. (External Link

)

Athletics

Fordson is a member of the Michigan Mega Conference. The Fordson Tractors have a strong tradition in its athletics. Their primary rivals are intracity foes Dearborn High School and Edsel Ford High School while also having a longtime rivalry with Monroe High School, an opponent since 1928 when Fordson was established. The school's strongest program lies within its football team. Fordson Football has accumulated 4 state championships (1930, 1943,1971, 1993) and 3 state runner-up seasons (1980,1982,1984). Fordson had an undefeated season in 1972, but wasn't regarded as the number one team. The Tractors have won more league championships than any team and have the only state championship in playoff play within the 28-member conference. The wrestling team has enjoyed much success recently. In 2002, Fordson became the first school in the city of Dearborn to win a regional championship in the sport. Currently, Fordson is in the MEGA Red, the highest division in the MEGA Conference and has won six consecutive district and all-area championships. The girls' tennis team has prospered in the past decade. Since 2000, the team has won six of the seven conference championships and have gone on to the state finals four times. Fordson also accomplished rare feats in Michigan girl's tennis. During three seasons from 2000-2002, Fordson won 31 consecutive matches, and 30 consecutive conference wins placing the team fifth and ninth respectively in Michigan's girl's tennis history. (External Link

) Fordson sports include (achievements are since 1999-2000 season): Fall Sports

Boy's Cross Country
- 2001 MEGA Red Champions
- 2002 MEGA Red Champions
- 2002 State Finalists (16th)
- 2003 MEGA Red Champions
- 2007 State Finalists (26th)
Girls' Cross Country
- 2005 MEGA Blue Champions
Football
- 2000 MEGA Red Champions
- 2002 District Champions
- 2002 MEGA Red Champions
- 2003 District Champions
Boy's Soccer
- 2007 MEGA Blue Champions
Girl's Swimming
Boy's Tennis
- 2003 MEGA White Champions
Volleyball
- 2002 MEGA Blue Champions
- 2003 MEGA Blue Champions Winter Sports
Boy's Basketball
- 2001 District Champions
- 2004 District Champions
- 2007 MEGA White Champions
Girl's Basketball
Boy's Swimming
Wrestling
- 2000 District Champions
- 2002 MEGA White Champions
- 2002 District Champions
- 2002 Regional Champions
- 2003 MEGA White Champions
- 2003 District Champions
- 2004 District Champions
- 2005 District Champions
- 2006 District Champions
- 2007 District Champions
- 2008 District Champions Spring Sports
Baseball
- 2001 MEGA Gold Champions
- 2002 MEGA Gold Champions
- 2003 MEGA Gold Champions
Girl's Soccer
- 2005 MEGA Blue Champions
Softball
Girl's Tennis
- 2000 MEGA Blue Champions
- 2001 MEGA Blue Champions
- 2001 State Finalists (17th)
- 2002 MEGA White Champions
- 2002 State Finalists (17th)
- 2003 MEGA Red Champions
- 2003 State Finalists (16th)
- 2005 MEGA Red Champions
- 2005 State Finalists (19th)
- 2006 MEGA Red Champions
Boy's Track
Girl's Track
- 2008 MEGA Blue Champions

State Champions and Runners-up

Year	Sport	Result	Class
1928	Boy's Basketball	State Runners-Up	B
1930	Football	State Champions	B
1935	Boy's Swimming	State Runners-Up	OPEN
1940	Boy's Basketball	State Runners-Up	A
1943	Football	State Champions	A
1944	Boy's Track	State Runners-Up	A
1952	Boy's Swimming	State Champions	A
1953	Boy's Basketball	State Champions	A
1953	Boy's Swimming	State Champions	A
1954	Boy's Swimming	State Champions	A
1971	Football	State Champions	A
1975	Volleyball	State Champions	A
1976	Volleyball	State Champions	A
1980	Football	State Runners-Up	A
1982	Football	State Runners-Up	A
1984	Football	State Runners-Up	A
1993	Football	State Champions	AA

Fordson won the 1975 State Volleyball Championship albeit it wasn't an MHSAA-sanctioned tournament. The MHSAA started sponsoring volleyball in 1976. (External Link

)

Fordson Fight Song

Come on ye Fordson, dear maize and blue
Come on ye Fordson High!
We're here to fight for you
And we'll cheer for you
As ye go down that line
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Come on ye Fordson fight for victory
As we'll loyal be
Straight for the fame
Of our fair name
Go ye Fordson win that game!
Fight ye Fordson fight!
Fight ye Fordson fight!
Hit them high, hit them low
Go ye Fordson go
Come on ye Fordson, dear maize and blue
Come on ye Fordson High!
We're here to fight for you
And we'll cheer for you
As ye go down that line
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Come on ye Fordson fight for victory
As we'll loyal be
Straight for the fame
Of our fair name
Go ye Fordson win that game!

Notable alumni

Michael Adray, philanthropist, founder of Adray Appliance

Abdul Alzindani, class of 1996; 1995 National High School Cross Country Champion, NCAA All-American in 1999 and 3 time All-ACC while at North Carolina State University;also member of the USA Cross Country team in 1997 and named to the 50th Anniversary ACC Men's Cross Country Team. (External Link

) (External Link

)

Tom Anastos, Montreal Canadiens hockey player and four time letterwinner at Michigan State University, former hockey coach at University of Michigan-Dearborn, and current commissioner of the CCHA (External Link

)

Dr. Alex Anckonie III, earned a Doctorate for Nuclear Physics and Doctorate Engineering; developed nuclear submarines and served for the US Navy on the USS Pargo, USS Pollack, and USS Ethan Allan; was commanding officer of the historic USS Nautilus that was first to complete a submerged transit across the North Pole; became professor of economics at George Washington University and Georgetown University. (External Link

)

Dr. Rachel Ankeny, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney

Dr. Robert Aranosian, Director of Emergency Services, Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital; was team physician for Detroit Pistons and provided medical services at the Palace of Auburn Hills and the Pontiac Silverdome

Ed Bagdon, guard and linebacker for Chicago Cardinals and Washington Redskins. At Michigan State University, he received the 1949 Outland Trophy for being the nation's top lineman.

Leo C. Beebe, former CEO of K-Tron International from 1985 until 1992 (External Link

)

Dr. Harry Begian, former director of marching bands at Wayne State University, Michigan State University, and University of Illinois; also was director of Purdue University's symphonic band. (External Link

); was inducted into the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Band Conductors in 1994.

Cornelius Peter Berbec, Second Lieutenant who was an interpreter at a 1969 conference between U.S. President Richard Nixon and Romanian President Nicolae Ceauşescu at the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania. (External Link

)

Michael Berry, first Muslim lawyer in Michigan and longtime chairman of the Wayne County Road Commission. A terminal is also named after him at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

Gregory Bill, Wayne County Circuit Court Judge

William K. Brehm, class of 1947; Former Chairman of SRA International; donated $44 Million to the University of Michigan Health System; was also Assistant Secretary of Defense under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford (External Link

) (External Link

)

Steve Burke, former Purdue University quarterback.

Rick Byrnes, first person in world to drive a production-based hydrogen fuel-cell race car over 200 mph, clocking in at 207.297 mph. (External Link

)

Chuck Davey, Michigan State University boxer, United States olympic boxer, and boxing commissioner for the United States.

William Dear, Hollywood director, most notably of Angels in the Outfield and Harry and the Hendersons.

Dr. Judith Benyi Diffenderfer, one of the physicians who died on Corporate Airlines Flight 5966 (External Link

)

Russell Dean Donelson, class of 1985; Eastern Michigan University football player; 1987-1990 (External Link

)

Jim Dunbar, radio program director, talk show host, and news anchor; was elected to the National Radio Hall of Fame for his work with KGO in 1999. He is also portrayed in the 2007 film Zodiac.

Charlene Mekled Elder, first Muslim female of the United States to hold a judicial position. She was appointed to the Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court in 2006. (External Link

)

Chad Everett film and TV actor

Marv Fodar, Cincinnati Reds baseball player

Dr. Thomas Forsthoefel, current chair of the religious studies department at Mercyhurst College

Gary Paul Gates, Author, most significantly co-authored with Dan Rather on "The Palace Guard"

Russ Gibb, concert promoter, most notably of MC5 and Iggy Pop

Dr. Aubrey Gorbman, zoologist who chaired the zoology department at the University of Washington; was presented the Presidential Award for Mentoring in Science by President Bill Clinton. He also served as President of the American Society of Zoologists in 1976. (External Link

)

Robert P. Griffin, former US Senator, former Michigan Supreme Court associate justice. (External Link

)

Michael A. Guido, class of 1972; Mayor of Dearborn from 1986-2006; was United States Conference of Mayors President in 2006.

Ralph Guy, Jr., Senior Judge of Sixth United States Circuit Court of Appeals; appointed by President Ronald Reagan

Norman Hammoud, class of 1990; Bowling Green Offensive lineman from 1990-1994

Joe Hamood, Houston Mavericks basketball player

Michael Iaquaniello, Michigan State Quarterback, Miami Dolphins Quarterback (External Link

)

Marian Bayoff Ilitch, Founder and Owner of Little Caesars Pizza and Motor City Casino

Art James, Television game show host; hosted Blank Check and The Magnificent Marble Machine and also voiced for a dozen game shows including Family Feud.

Andrea Joyce, CBS Sports Broadcaster (External Link

)

John Lesinski, Jr. former Congressman for Michigan (D, 1951-1965) (External Link

)

Linda Line, former Vice President of NBC Daytime Programming

Adele Mara, American actress, most famous for her role in Sands of Iwo Jima

George T. Martin, Wayne County Circuit Judge

Dr. Gregory Z. Mavian, Neurosurgeon; Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. (External Link

)

Dr. Andrew Mazzara, former President of Henry Ford Community College, current board chairman of Laptop Design USA (External Link

)

Charles "Kid" McCoy, world champion boxer

Brian Mosallam, class of 1993; Michigan State University Offensive lineman from 1993-1996.

Alex Moslimani, played for two-time Division II national champions Northern Michigan University and the Green Bay Packers.

Joe Nagi, first Michigander to swim English Channel (External Link

)

Dr. Paul Pearsall, lecturer and author of sixteen international best-selling books (External Link

)

Gino Polidori, Michigan's current 15th District Representative

Walter Reuther, President of United Auto Workers (UAW) from 1946-1970

Tom Saidok, Played tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles (1957), New York Titans (1960-61), and Buffalo Bills (1962)

Robert Saleh, current Defensive Assistant for Houston Texans; former Defensive Assistant for Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, and University of Georgia. He also started at tight end for four seasons at Northern Michigan University. (External Link

)

Tarick Salmaci, boxer, also featured on reality TV show The Contender

Dr. Ronald M. Scott, DVM, Federal Veterinarian-In-Charge for the State of Michigan, APHIS, US Department of Agriculture, 1973-1981

Martin Shakar, actor in Saturday Night Fever, played Tom's (John Travolta) brother

Dr. Jonathon Shannon, Anthropologist and Associate Professor at CUNY

Eddie Slovik, only American soldier to be executed for desertion since the United States Civil War; was executed during World War II

Alex Smail, played football for the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers

Carlos Smith, class of 1998; played football at Western Michigan University from 1998-2002 and was team captain for his senior season.

Jim Snyder, played baseball for the Minnesota Twins from 1961-1964. He also managed the Seattle Mariners in 1988.

Virginia A. Sobotka, former 19th District Judge for State of Michigan. (External Link

)

Tom Spiroff, Producer of many TV series including Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Minnie Tvaska, broke record for years competed in the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships with 62 consecutive annual participations. (External Link

)

Tom Utsman, Deputy Director of Kennedy Space Center and Director of Shuttle Operations

Dr. Frank Robert Westie, authored best-selling novel Ash Wednesday '45; was a professor of sociology at Indiana University for 33 years. (External Link

)

Dr. Jerome Wiesner, President of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 1971-1980 and science advisor to United States Presidents, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson

Richard Wygonik, current 19th District Judge for State of Michigan (External Link

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