Central High to celebrate 100 years of graduates with event Saturday

April 06, 2023

by Toni Hopper

The original school was built in 1921-’22, was destroyed by fire March 25, 1952. Its original gym was constructed in 1930. Photo Courtesy of LeAnn Johnson

Central High will have a grand celebration this Saturday, in honor of 100 years of Central High School District’s graduates. The event is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be held in the school cafeteria.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and all current students and graduates will be the “guests of honor.”

In the Central High PTO Facebook page, lifelong resident and CH alum LeAnn Johnson has been busy gathering old photos and sharing plenty of history regarding the school district’s progress.

A list of superintendents dates to 1922, and only includes 20 individuals to ever hold that position. Bennie Newton held the position the longest, nearly two decades, from 2001 to 2020.

They are: 1922-1928 J.A. Lemons; 1928-‘31 D.C. Corbin; 1931-‘38 R.D. Herring; 1938-‘42 Jack Woodruff; 1942-‘43 Bishop and J.C. Thomas; 1943-‘44- J.C. Thomas; 1944-‘51 Dwight Gayle; 1951-‘54 Boyd Clark; 1954-‘56 Cecil Cranfill; 1956-‘64 Glynn Martin; 1964-‘69 Vernon Coyle; 1969-’70 Leroy Ireton; 1970-’73 Randall Rayburn; 1973-‘80 Harold Wingfield; 1980-‘81 Olan Isbell; 1981-87 Ray McCarter; 1987-96 Leonard Garrison; 1996-‘01 Steve Henderson; 2001-2020 Bennie Newton; and current superintendent Kevin Dyes took the helm in 2020.

Johnson has highlighted everything from construction to sports, FFA and more and many of these elements will be on display at the event. Interesting facts: In 2004, the district obtained a FEMA grant to build a community-school safe room/storm shelter. Daryl Sparks was credited for helping with the application process.

The original school was built in 1921-’22, was destroyed by fire March 25, 1952. Its original gym was constructed in 1930.

For more information, contact the Shonda Harris at the Central High School’s district office.