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OBA 10-11-2008

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August 18th

Band Booster Meeting Minutes 

BERRYHILL TRADITIONS,

 a rich and storied tradition   

Our school’s history goes back over 80 years and so to pass that tradition on, here is how the story goes and you will know it…

The true story that was told by a third grade teacher here (Mrs. Elsie Hargis-Staires also the first principal) was that a Creek Indian farmer by the name of Thomas Berryhill moved here in 1903 from St. Joseph, MO to obtain a 160-acre allotment shortly before Oklahoma Statehood in 1907. 

In 1910 he donated the land that our campus sits on today for the purpose of eventually starting a school.  According to historians, there was a one-room school here already, called “Happy Hollow School” as early as 1904--started for farm kids that lived close by in the communities of Lost City (today-Chandler Park) & Happy Hollow. 

An organized State sanctioned school actually began around the year 1920.  The school chose to adopt the mascot names Berryhill Chiefs & Maidens in honor of Mr. Berryhill’s name and his Creek Indian heritage. 

Berryhill was a 1st--8^th grade two-room school in the early 1920s and was located in a wooden frame building on the West side of this auditorium just behind you. In the spring of 1928 the addition of the 4 brick classrooms to the North of this auditorium were added. 

Those classrooms have come down (in 2002) to make room for a new cafeteria and new classrooms.  And for P.E. we have a brand new activities gymnasium that was completed in 2005.

The addition that would house the first high school was added to the South along with this auditorium, and gym in the 1930s and reflects what is called WPA architecture which was part of a federally funded building program during the Great Depression of the 1930s. 

Berryhill’s first football team was started in 1954 under the direction of Coach Gale Welch.  He was succeeded by a gentleman named Guy Claybaugh who was followed by Jack Kiper, then Jerry Caroll, and Grover Wade whom many parents and grandparents will remember from your school days up through the 1970s.  

The first football game was against Collinsville High School at Collinsville on a rainy night and the rivalry was fierce for many years until they outgrew us.  Berryhill also once played surrounding schools Jenks, Union, Owasso, Skiatook, Catoosa, Bixby in what was called the Tulsa Seven Conference. 

We were all about the same size throughout the 1950s & 60s.  Interesting enough, you may be familiar with the expression ‘what goes around comes around’ as we renew that old rivalry with the Collinsville Cardinals once again. 

Our school fight song is ‘On Wisconsin’ chosen from one of the popular Big Ten Conference schools in the early 1950s.  You sing it to the tune of ‘On BHS’.  It was quite popular and was chosen by several surrounding schools including our neighbor to the South, Jenks. 

The “high school” 9-12 began with the ninth-grade class in the fall of 1933 with the first graduating class coming in the spring of 1937. 

We have a rich heritage and tradition indeed!  Incidentally, the lady who told me the story (Mrs. Hargis-Staires) passed away in her 90’s--she was also the first girl’s basketball coach for Berryhill High School.

The image of Berryhill Schools as an enviable band and athletic power was secured years ago.  Even better news is that we are now making great strides toward being perceived as a strong academic school.   We have our first National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholar, senior Michael Moore. 

Having National Merit Semi-Finalists is the equivalent of winning academic state championships!  That is how it should be, academics first, extra-curricular activities second.  We already have some of the highest standardized and state test scores in Tulsa County year in and year out so we know it can happen here…

Embrace that rich pride and tradition that is Berryhill Public Schools.

From the 2003 Freshman Class Graduation/Traditions

Speech by Dr. Clark Ogilvie

May 21, 2004

Revised