Bradshaw High School Explained

Bradshaw High School
Location:Florence, Alabama
Country:USA
Mascot:Bruins
Colors:Orange and Brown
Type:Public high school

Bradshaw High School was a public high school in Florence, Alabama. It was founded in 1966 as the second public high school in Florence because of continued growth for youth in the eastern parts of the city.[1] But in the 1980s, due to economic decline in the area, the population of families with young people likewise fell, ending the need for two schools. After the 2003–04 school year, the school merged with Coffee High School to form Florence High School,[2] which took up residence on the old Bradshaw campus.[2]

The school's colors were Orange and Brown and were selected based on the colors of the NFL's Cleveland Browns by the school's first cheerleaders and football players.[3]

History

Bradshaw High School opened its doors in August 1966.[4] The school was named in honor of local attorney Mr. Henry A. Bradshaw who was an attorney for the Florence City Schools, as well as the Lauderdale County School System. The initial enrollment was 790 students, and within 10 years the enrollment grew to more than 1000 students. In its final year as Bradshaw, the high school had an enrollment of over 900 students.

Athletics

During the 38 years of the school's operation, Bradshaw won several Alabama State Championships in several sports[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mahan . Pat M. . Schools of Lauderdale County, Alabama . ALGenWeb . October 10, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131109130929/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~allauder/edu-schools1.htm . November 9, 2013 . dead .
  2. Edwards . Mitch . Pomp and Circumstance Marks School's First Graduation . Alabama Education News . May 2005 . 28 . 9 . 5 . October 10, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141018025421/http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED511004.pdf . October 18, 2014 . dead .
  3. News: Delinski . Bernie . Classic rock: Bradshaw class of '71 renews painting tradition . newspaper . Florence, AL . Times Daily . March 24, 2022 . March 25, 2022 . Austin pointed out the first cheerleaders and football players at the school selected the school colors from a candidate list of National Football League teams. They selected the orange and brown of the Cleveland Browns. .
  4. Web site: Bradshaw High School Alumni Association . Bradshaw High School Alumni Association . History . March 7, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161014182901/http://bradshawhigh.com/main.htm . October 14, 2016 . March 25, 2022 . dead .
  5. Web site: Alabama High School Sports History . Alabama High School Football Historical Society . Bradshaw Bruins Sports History . 2017 . March 25, 2022 .