Bradley Central High School - Ocoeean Yearbook (Cleveland, TN)

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The first basketball team in 1915-16 didn't mind that their initials were CHS.'' Referred to as “Central High School, it was the only school in the county at that time, and bore the initials of its future cross-town rival. Where is the modern industrial growth of Ocoee Street? Yet to be developed In the 1930’s, Bradley High was snuggled cozify on a deserted field, with only the principal’s house on campus to keep it company. Our Cornerstones Every morning hundreds of cars and buses pulled off South Lee Highway and into the gates of the 62 acre Bradley Central campus. Thousands of students and faculty members flocked into the 250,000 square feet of building facilities, which cost in excess of 5V4 million dollars to build — 4 million of which came from local money, and VA million from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Included was a stadium capable of seating 5,000. Facilities also included a gymnasium which could seat 7,500 spectators. But it hadn’t always been that way. In 1911, the original Bradley County High School was situated in Charleston. In 1915 bonds were voted to fund the building of the first Bradley Central High School. Within months, the completed single brick building situated on Ocoee Street opened, housing grades 9-12. Hence the establishment of Bradley Central on September 11, 1916. It opened with nearly one hundred students and eight teachers. However, no cafeteria was pro- vided, necessitating the need for students to bring their own lunches from home. As student population grew, extra class rooms, a study hall, and a library were added to the North and South Wings in 1936. Also, the gymnasium was enlarged and renovated. An entirely new gymnasium, along with an auditorium, was con- structed in 1947 and 1948. Only eight years later, in 1956, a new wing was built onto the south side. It contained a spanking new library, and cafeteria, band, art, and home economics rooms, and a vocational department which held shops and classrooms for the vocational- agricultural department. Also, concrete staircases replaced the wooden ones in the main building, and it was rewired and re-decorated. In addi- tion, the gymnasium offices and shower rooms were enlarged and improved. Finally, in 1972, the present day campus was built on grounds then occupied by the Golf and Country Club. At that time, the school was the second largest three-year secondary school in the state, and was soon to become the first. The facilities were hailed as the finest in the Southeastern United States. Principals throughout the history of Bradley Central High School were in chronological order: 0. M. Smith W. B. Parks A. L. Rankin Roy Anderson E. J. Frazier G. B. Tripp Clifton Smith C. A. Kyle Emil Farr Roy Wiseman Condor Wasson Bill Schultz Dale R. Hughes Today, Bradley is indeed the largest three-grade high school in Ten- nessee with an enrollment of nearly two thousand and a staff ex- ceeding one hundred and twenty five. Presently, two assistant prin- cipals participate in the administration of our school. They are Jerry Frazier and Roy Farmer. Together with Mr. Hughes, they encourage a series of programs that have collectively made Bradley a model for high schools throughout the Southeast. Opening 5

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The hustling parking lot of Central High the first year it opened, 1916, faintly resembles the local chariot races. Note the fashionable knee-breeches of the students. 4 Opening

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s T U D E N T L I F E Back in the days of Daniel Boone, bears were widespread in the East Ten- nessee region. They found their domain there, and made it their territory. A natural part of the habitat, they were known to be very gentle and docile creatures. When riled, however, their hulking mass could quickly effect a Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde. An angered grizzly posed one of the most dangerous threats of the woods. Under its powerful muscles, its adversaries fell helpless, and one sweep of a mighty paw could remove the head of any victim. It was for this cause that the name “bear struck a chord of fear in the heart of even the bravest man. Today, that spine tingling sensation is aroused in the souls of Bradley High adversaries. When the words Bradley Bears appear on the sports schedule, they know they’ve got a true opponent. When exactly the Bradley teams adopted the name Bears is not certain. Nor is the person responsible for the choice known. Coach Jimmy Lovell has been suggested as a candidate for the honor. What is known is that the name bear was first mentioned in print in the Ocoeean. In 1927, the ladies basketball team was dubbed the little bears.” Possibly, this was because just like their grizzly forefathers, the young ladies were very docile and sweet until they were riled on the court. Then they turn- ed into aggressive ball players and defeated their opponents. The name stuck, and the next year the boys basketball team began to be called the bears.” The ladies retained the name little bears. Eventually, all the sports teams at Bradley were called the bears. Later the ladies’ name was switched to Bearettes, a supposedly more feminine form of the word. Today the bear is recognized as the official ferocious mascot of Bradley Central High School. Our own 1984 Bradley Bear. Jeanie Edwards tunes her ears to the sound of victory. Jeanie was present to cheer at every football game. 6 Student Life