History
Richland High School History
(as published in "The History of North Richland Hills" by George N. Green)
RHS 1962
Principals: Billy Smith, Ben Shilcutt, John Rice, Ray Williams, Gary Clark, Annette Keller and Randy Cobb.
Richland High School opened its doors in the fall of 1961. Some people talked about the "foolish idea of constructing a new high school in the middle of a muddy pasture where there would never be any homes." Some said there would never be enough students to start school much less fill the building. Construction began during the 1960-61 school year.
The saying, "Just build it and they will come" was certainly true. The north wing of the new high school was incomplete, but classes began the first day of school with 740 students. Teachers had to adjust to the inconveniences and reminded each other that someday they would laugh about it all. Rowena Ballew held homemaking classes in the teacher's lounge, and George Virgili's band played enthusiastically in the hall. His choir class wrote the school's fight song. Even though band uniforms had been ordered early, they did not arrive in time for the first game; however, "plan B" worked well and dark trousers and white T-shirts were worn by the marching band. The gym wasn't finished, so pep rallies were held outside.
The Richland "Rebel" theme had been chosen, "Dixie" was the school song, "Johnny Reb" the mascot, and David McCombs, son of Joe and Estelle Combs was the first Johnny Reb. The Confederate battle flag was chosen the school symbol. Blue and gray was chosen as the school colors.
Theo Rigsby went to Richland as head coach. The following years would prove him to be a highly respected coach and gentleman both on and off the football field. He built a staff of coaches second to none -- Dub Stewart, Bobbie Lambert and others. Dub Stewart spent the rest of his career at RHS, retiring in 1989.
A group of 42 girls organized the Rebelettes in 1961 and made their first appearance at the November 10, 1961 football game and the Veteran's Day parade the following day. Lt. Noel Morrow was drill team instructor. Jane Reddell (Curtis) organized the Dixie Belle girls drill team in 1964. Joyce Baker remembered helping design and make the first uniforms. There was a real problem with the length of the skirt -- it had to be short enough to dance and march in, but not so short to cause the group to fall out of favor with the public.
Events in the world affected the curriculum in the schoolroom. If this country hoped to remain the leader in the military arms race, then students must be educated to become engineers and scientists. In 1961 the highest level of mathematics offered was triginometry, but by 1968 the students of Ron Tillery were the first class to finish analytical geometry. The 1970's had added classes in elementary analysis I and II, calculus and pre-calculus, and a second year of chemistry and physics taught by Ruth Metts.
Vocational education became an important part of the curriculum in the 1960's. Several work-study programs quickly came into favor with RHS students. Vocational health, office education, child care, industrial training, cosmetology, drafting, general mechanical repair and auto mechanics each placed students in work-related jobs to correlate with their classwork.
Evelyn Parrent started Reading Improvement in 1969. It became so popular that she stopped teaching English and taught five classes of reading. It was one of the first programs of its kind in the state.
During the 1960's and years following, each school began staffing counselors, nurses, speech therapists and resource teachers. In the beginning, some of these staff members traveled to two or more different campuses.
A highlight of the year for Minerva Kimbell's Spanish classes was a trip to Mexico for advanced students during the Easter holidays.
Horst Krause began teaching classes in German in 1967, and in just a few years it became a four-year program. The German Club became the largest organization on campus.
The Music and Drama departments of RHS have always been outstanding. The stage productions of these combined groups evoke many memories -- South Pacific, Bye-Bye Birdie, Oklahoma, West Side Story, Music Man -- the list goes on and on. Dub Fisher, Paula Brooks, George Virgili, Owen Phillips, Terry Sinclair, David Hall, Patricia Neighbors and many others helped in all these success stories.
The Rebellaires singing group formed in 1966. Members were chosen from the best voices in school and their reputation as a fine vocal group has continued through the decades.
In 1971 in the school cafeteria, hamburgers, stew, and chili and beans cost 25 cents. Vegetable soup cost 20 cents.
In 1974-75 competitive girls' sports were approved.
In 1976, Krause's German program and the Spanish program of Minerva Kimbell were recognized among the five best foreign language departments in the state of Texas.
In October, 1978, Wiley G. Thomas retired as superintendent of Birdville ISD. On February 22, 1979, the coliseum was renamed W.G. Thomas, Jr. Coliseum.
Another Richland tradition was begun in the 1977-78 year -- selecting a distinguished alumnus to be presented at the homecoming pep rally and game. The first alumnus to be honored was Lori Smith ('75).
The 1980's saw sweeping changes to Richland High's traditions. The school was receiving pressure to change the Rebel flag symbol. Students were very opposed, arguing it was a spirit symbol only, representing school heritage and nothing more. In most recent years, however, many of the Richland traditions have experienced change.
The 80's presented several other issues to occupy time and energy of teachers and staff: to change or not to change from junior high schools to middle schools; earrings "yes" or "no" for male students; school prayer; the dress code; competency testing for teachers and administrators.
Richland High was the object of a huge new building program in the mid-90's which, along with many other changes and much added space, created a new large building now facing south instead of west. The burgeoning enrollment at RHS received some relief when the new Birdville High School opened for the 1999-2000 school year.