![]() ![]() The Kirkman Golden Hawks Gym hosted many citywide wrestling meets on the weekends. Kirkman won that game.Ī modern gymnasium was built and the University of Chattanooga selected the new gym for the Mocs home court during the 1962-63 basketball season. The afternoon of the first football game on “Hawk Hill,” students were recruited to pop popcorn and before the evening was over every bag was sold. Mary Ziegler directed the expansion of girls’ sports including a winning basketball team. Ernie Lewis, Tom Weathers, Carey Henley and Nick Bratcher were among the early coaches. Dirt was moved and a nice football stadium opened on "Hawk Hill" for the first football season in 1963. The school board had purchased property when the Westside was being developed. ![]() The mid 60’s saw the school's largest graduating classes. Kirkman grew during the 60’s adding sports and music programs. The combination of Kirkman shop training and hanging around a radio station prepared me for my nearly 55-year broadcast career. During my high school years I spent a lot of time at WAPO radio in the Read House working as an intern. The shop introduced me to the fundamentals of what made radios and televisions tick. I can’t remember exactly why I chose Kirkman High School except my love for radio. She said her automobile mechanic was a KTHS graduate. Mary Houghton said several thousand veterans from World War II received vocational training at Kirkman. Lewis said, “Kirkman’s tradition will never be lost so many of our teachers loved the school so much they refused transfers and promotions.” I’m in no way a Kirkman historian, but as a 1965 graduate I remember many conversations about the school, its teachers, and students.ĭuring a radio interview after Kirkman closed, principal and Coach Ernie Lewis estimated 11,300 students graduated from KTHS during its 63 years. "There’s plenty of space at Sequoyah to build all types of shops to train our students.” “I would like to see Sequoyah Vocational School near Soddy Daisy expanded," she said. Hamilton County School Board member Rhonda Thurman supports more vocational facilities. Smith is looking forward to the day when Hamilton County can break ground for a new modern technical school "for all our students." Smith said the old renovated Mary Ann Garber School will soon open as a vocational center but have limited shops because of space. Wamp and hopes plans will be soon forthcoming. School Board member Joe Smith said it’s very exciting he’s behind Mr. “Several of my cousins went to school at Sequoyah and I know its value,” he said. Wamp said he is not opposed to expanding the Sequoyah Vocational School. Wamp isn’t ready to make any announcements but said vocational education is very much on his radar screen, saying, “Stay tuned - there are a lot of moving parts going on in Hamilton County.” Wamp said, “You can’t bring Kirkman back, but we can bring back and expand training that prepares men and women for the work force.” Wamp got interested in vocational education when Governor Bill Lee appointed him to the Broad of Regents and he realized Hamilton County had fallen behind the rest of the state in this area. Newly-elected Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp has pledged to build a new “state of the art technical high school” and he mentioned naming it Kirkman. Some of the shops were re-located to other city schools but for the most part, all that was left was high school memories. Kirkman closed in 1991 to make way for riverfront development. Henry said there might not have been a vocational school if it hadn’t been for O.C. Kirkman “the father of vocational education in Chattanooga.”ĭr. Jim Henry, who served as City School superintendent, labeled Mr. Kirkman died Jand the school was re-named Kirkman Vocational High School to honor its founder.Īppropriately so, the late Dr. His daughter Julia said, “Dad cared for his fellow man.” ![]() They said the Tyner resident bought groceries, bus fare, and paid medical bills for some of his under-privileged students. Kirkman was a great Christian humanitarian. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |