HISTORY OF FAIRMONT HIGH SCHOOL

Fairmont High School is on Highway 130 Bypass and has been located at the current site since 1976. Prior to 1976, it was located on lona Street in Fairmont in a three-story building constructed in 1922. The school has 725 students and more than 50 professional staff members. The school has been accredit­ed continuously by the state and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

The curriculum consists of a broad range of courses including advanced placement cours­es, college preparatory, general academics, vocational, arts, computer science, foreign languages, and physical education. Extra cur­ricular activities consist of numerous clubs and a full range of interscholastic athletics. Many county and district championships have been won along with state championships in football (1949) and basketball (1994). The Hal S. Floyd Athletic Complex was completed in 1979 and includes well-lighted football and baseball fields, tennis courts, track, permanent bleach­ers and well-equipped field house and training rooms. The work was funded locally with much work by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The original Fairmont High School building was constructed on lona Street in 1922 and consolidated area schools. A marker is located on this site which cites the history of the old building. A portion of the Barnesville School joined the high school in 1964. Integration occurred from 1968-1970 and added Rosenwald and a portion of Fairgrove School. Following countywide merger, Orrum High School became a part of the high school. The school was operated by the county until the General Assembly created Fairmont City Schools in 1939. For fifty years, until merger in 1989, Fairmont City administrative unit operat­ed the school. Superintendents of the former Fairmont unit were Broadus Littlefield, Rowe Henry, Robie McCollum, Joe Wishon, and Leon M. McLean who served as superintendent for 26 of the 50 years (1963-1989).

Capable principals have served the school, including the current, Mr. Ronald Kent Prater. John L. Johnson had the longest tenure (1968-1980), Elister Peterson, former Rosenwald principal, was an assistant administrator from 1970-1975. Other principals include Talmadge Teague. J.H. McRainey, Joyner Lewis, Terry Cernugel, Cameron West, William Brown, J.C. Hawkins, Pete CoHee, Ronald Berry, Leon McLean, Don­ald Johnson, John Mew, Donald Bullock, Colon Lane, Allen Faircloth, Dr. Dallas Freeman, Lannie Edwards and Dr. Sally Jones.

Former Fairmont City School Board mem­bers include Milton Jordan, A.D. Lewis, Lin­wood Floyd, Jimmy Oliver, P.C. Purvis, William Brady, Willie Webster, Percy Hill, Buddy Freeman, Ellen Floyd, Fay Sellers, Robert Hughes, Abner Harrington, John Jackson, Gosnold Floyd, Kenneth Hardin, Jill Hough, Helen Thompson, Jack Moody, Patricia Hunt, Furman Floyd, and C.A.Floyd. Abner Harrington, Steve Martin and Steve Stone have represented the school on the current Board of Education.

Many teachers have been influential, but the names of Ervin Gause and William Johnson are often cited for their service.

Graduates regularly enroll in colleges of their choice and alumni are successful in businesses and professions.Written by: Leon M. McLean