Richard J. Reynolds High School

Richard J. Reynolds High School now the Richard J. Reynolds Magnet School for the Visual and Performing Arts (often simply R. J. Reynolds High School or Reynolds) is a high school in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Named for R. J. Reynolds, the founder of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the school opened in 1923. The school colors are Old Gold and Black, and the school's mascot is a demon.

Richard J. Reynolds High School
Address
Map
301 N. Hawthorne Road

27104

United States
Information
TypePublic
Established1923 (101 years ago) (1923)
OversightWinston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools
CEEB code344445
PrincipalCalvin D. Freeman
Teaching staff91.21 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1,692 (2022-23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio18.55[1]
Campus typeUrban
Color(s)Old Gold and Black
  
Athletics conference4-A; Central Piedmont Conference
Richard J. Reynolds High School and Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium
Richard J. Reynolds High School is located in North Carolina
Richard J. Reynolds High School
Richard J. Reynolds High School is located in the United States
Richard J. Reynolds High School
Location301 Hawthorne Rd., Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Coordinates36°06′05″N 80°15′48″W / 36.10139°N 80.26333°W / 36.10139; -80.26333
Area27.4 acres (11.1 ha)
Built1922 (1922)–1924
ArchitectCharles Barton Keen
Architectural styleColonial Revival, Classical Revival, Early 20th-century industrial
NRHP reference No.90002139[2]
Added to NRHPJanuary 11, 1991
MascotDemons
Websitewsfcs.k12.nc.us/reynolds

Establishment

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Katharine Smith Reynolds-Johnston, the widow of R. J. Reynolds and the mother of Zachary Smith Reynolds, donated funds and land for the creation of the school in memory of her first husband. The site was known as Silver Hill.[3] Just weeks before Reynolds-Johnston's death, a souvenir program for the dedication of the Memorial Auditorium says: "In 1919, the City of Winston-Salem, in the course of its ex-tended school building program, planned a model high school, and wished to honor the memory of Richard J. Reynolds, by naming it 'The Richard J. Reynolds High School.'

It seemed to his wife, now Mrs. J. Edward Johnston, that a memorial of this kind was very fitting, as Mr. Reynolds had had such a large part and was so interested in the development of this city. Mrs. Johnston had wanted to erect some really worth while memorial personally, and when notified of the action of the city authorities, it seemed that this plant, which would be so closely identified with the life of the people, young and old, presented the opportunity for which she was looking. She therefore notified the city that she would be glad to give a suitable site upon which to erect the high school, the selection to be left to the City, and to present as a personal memorial, a beautiful auditorium in connection with the high school plant."[4]

Campus

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The School and Auditorium sit on a piece of land known as "Society Hill". The complex consists of five buildings, three of which are contributing buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. They are the High School Building (1922–1923), the Power House (1923), and the Auditorium (1923–1924). They were designed in the late 1910s by architect Charles Barton Keen of Philadelphia and built as part of a single project.[5]

Original plans for the School included two grand school buildings sitting on either side of an Auditorium. Construction on the School began in 1919, under the direction of Reynolda House architect Charles Barton Keen. The first classroom building was finished in 1923, but construction on the second building was delayed and eventually abandoned after the Stock Market Crash of 1929. In the early 1990s, the high school building was thoroughly renovated and restored to its original appearance with some modern updating (e.g., a computer lab to replace the former language lab, and central air-conditioning).

The R. J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium is on the campus and is often used for school functions. The auditorium was constructed in 1924, and a formal opening was held the same year, with Harry Houdini performing. An extensive renovation was completed in 2003. A customized acoustical shell was added to Reynolds Auditorium in 2009.

A fine arts/performing arts building, named the Judy Voss Jones Arts Center for a member of the class of 1968, is on the campus between the R. J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium and Hawthorne Road. Reynolds became a magnet school for the arts in fall of 2007.

The Richard J. Reynolds High School and Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.[2]

To mark the school's 100th anniversary, artist Nick Bragg created an 32-inch by 8-foot mural Silver Hill to Diversity on the second floor whose 40 images illustrate events in the school's history as well as major events in world history. It is the 24th mural created by Bragg, whose work is featured in other areas of the campus.[3]

Athletics

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State Championships

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R. J. Reynolds has won the following North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) team state championships:[6]

  • Boys Basketball: 1949 (2A), 1975 (4A), 2000 (4A), 2001 (4A), 2002 (4A)
  • Boys Cross Country: 1974 (Open), 1975 (Open), 1976 (Open), 1977 (Open), 1978 (Open)
  • Football: 1952 (3A), 1953 (3A), 1958 (3A), 1964 (4A)
  • Boys Golf: 1945 (Open), 1946 (Open), 1968 (Open)
  • Boys Swimming & Diving: 1984 (Open)
  • Boys Tennis: 1976 (Open), 2010 (4A), 2011 (4A), 2012 (4A)
  • Girls Tennis: 1997 (4A)
  • Boys Indoor Track & Field: 2006 (Open)
  • Boys Outdoor Track & Field: 1953 (Open), 1955 (Open), 1962 (Open), 2005 (4A)
  • Girls Outdoor Track & Field: 2001 (4A)

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "R J Reynolds High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  3. ^ a b O'Donnell, Lisa (January 25, 2023). "Reynolds High School is 100. A new mural by Nick Bragg celebrates the school's history". Winston-Salem Journal.
  4. ^ "Souvenir program, dedication, Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium and Music Festival : Winston-Salem, North Carolina, May 8, 9, 10, 11, 1924". Internet Archive. 1924.
  5. ^ Elizabeth H. Dull (August 1990). "Richard J. Reynolds High School and Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  6. ^ Record Books - NCHSAA. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Levy, Bonnie Angelo. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  8. ^ Alumni spotlight: Robbie Bach (’80) key in the invention of Xbox. pinewhispers.net. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  9. ^ (Oct 9, 2016). Felder, Lynn. Howell Binkley, Winston-Salem native, designing his way into the spotlight. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  10. ^ Shattuck, Kathryn (June 24, 2009). "One or Two Things He Knows About Teenagers". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  11. ^ Luciano Delbono - Men's Soccer Roster - Wake Forest University. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  12. ^ Reflecting on a time of division and adversity. pinewhispers.net. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  13. ^ Local Icon: Tourney honors Purvis Ferree. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  14. ^ "UWE awards honorary degree to Peaches Golding OBE". UWE Press Office. University of the West of England. November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  15. ^ Tommy Gregg Stats. Baseball-Reference. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  16. ^ O'Neill Conor. (Oct 12, 2017). Kimani Griffin, Winston-Salem native, focused heading into speedskating nationals. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved Nov 30, 2019.
  17. ^ (Sep 14, 2017). Newell, Sarah. Reynolds High to induct 13 members into Arts Hall of Fame on Saturday. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  18. ^ Hidel, Denise. (Apr 11, 2014). Mark Harris: Local Man Runs for US State Senate. forsythwoman.com. Retrieved Nov 30, 2019.
  19. ^ Whit Holcomb-Faye, 2002 Point guard - Rivals.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  20. ^ a b From The Desk Of Peter Holsapple: "A Short History Of A Small Place" By T.R. Pearson. Magnet. Retrieved Nov 30, 2019.
  21. ^ (Jun 9, 2016). Huffman, Eddie. Greg Humphreys returning home for Ribfest. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  22. ^ "Winston-Salem producer, star screens family movie made in city".
  23. ^ UNCSA grad gives students a tour of sound design. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  24. ^ Smith, Rauhauser Kate. (October 30, 2016). History-Maker: Earline Heath King. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  25. ^ Ed Lyons. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved Nov 30, 2019.
  26. ^ (March 1, 2020). Colter, N. Joseph. Melissa McBride Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth and Other Facts. networthsalary.com. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  27. ^ (March 17, 2018). Silvers, Janson. Head Coach Of History-Making UMBC Basketball Team Played High School Ball In The Triad. wfmynews2.com. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  28. ^ (Jul 14, 2016). Watts, Norcross Kathy. 'Seven Ways We Lie explores 'grimy' adolescence. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  29. ^ "Shavon Revel Jr. - Football". ecupirates.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  30. ^ Program History & Alumni. thewinstonsalemstealers.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  31. ^ Q&A With Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey. Magnet. Retrieved Nov 30, 2019.
  32. ^ (Aug 2, 2002). Daniels, Rob. MULTITALENTED TERRY COMMITS TO UNC\ BASKETBALL RECRUITING ANALYST BOB GIBBONS WILL PLACE REYSHAWN TERRY 55TH NATIONALLY IN HIS POST-SUMMER RANKINGS. Greensboro News & Record. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  33. ^ (Sep 21, 2017). Jones Howard, Ashlea. Reynolds inducts 13 into Arts Hall of Fame. http://wschronicle.com. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  34. ^ Yates, Earl Preston. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
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