Thornton Township High School

Thornton Township High School, often simply referred to as Thornton is a public high school founded in 1899, located in Harvey, one of the South Suburbs of the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. The school is one of three administered by Thornton Township High Schools District 205. It is occasionally confused with the two other similarly named schools in the district, Thornridge High School and Thornwood High School. A predominantly African American and Hispanic high school, Thornton is best known for its alumni who have been successful in both the Performing Arts and athletics. History The site for Thornton Township High School was decided by a special election on May 28, 1898, where Harvey was selected over Dolton by a 1,504 to 1,123 vote, with the estimate of the school's cost being $40,000. Oscar L. Murray was the architect of the building whose cost by October 1898 was $35,000, and was planned that included physical and biological laboratories, a library, gymnasium, a 280-seat assembly room, and bicycle/lunch rooms. By May 1899, the plans had been firmed up to include a two-story structure with basement, with an interior to be finished in red oak. Heat would be provided by steam, with electric fans and an automated clock and signal system. The main floor assembly room was expanded to seat 700. Construction was set to begin in June, with completion in October. The original building was located at 154th Street and Columbia Avenue. In 1913, Thornton was one of nine schools, and the only south suburban school, invited to found what became the Suburban League, which mostly consisted of schools like Thornton which had formerly been members of the Cook County High School League. Thornton Junior College, now spun off and renamed South Suburban College, was organized in 1927. In 1928, 16-year-old Betty Robinson (between her Junior and Senior years at Thornton) not only won the very first Olympic gold medal awarded to a woman in the 100 meters (at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam), but set a world record which stood until 1932. During World War II, like many high schools, Thornton made changes to accommodate the war effort. Evening classes for adults started in 1942 to begin training people for necessary war jobs. By 1943, the school was open for 87 hours each week, and had been converted almost exclusively to wartime training. Additions were made to the building in 1912 (costing $140,000), 1927 ($345,000) and 1937 ($300,000). A third floor was added in 1948. In 1949, a new physical education facility was added, including a natatorium, wrestling rooms, locker facilities and classrooms for health classes, in addition to two gymnasia, one of which could seat 3,500 for basketball games. The new gymnasium was dedicated in April 1950. Athletics Thornton's sports teams, which are referred to as the Wildcats, compete in the Southland Athletic Conference. The teams also compete in state championship series sponsored by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). The school colors are purple and white. Teams are stylized as the "Wildcats". The school sponsors interscholastic athletic teams for boys and girls in basketball, soccer, track and field and cross country. Boys may also compete in baseball, American football, swimming and diving and wrestling. Girls may compete in cheerleading, softball and volleyball. The following athletic teams have won or placed top four in their respective IHSA sponsored state tournament: Basketball (Boys) – State Champions (1933, 1966); 2nd Place (1934, 1935, 1961, 1995, 1996); 3rd Place (1983, 1997, 2009); 4th Place (1965) Football – State Champions (1991) Wrestling – State Champions (1954, 1955, 1959) Activities Thornton is known for its illustrious Speech team. The following groups advanced to the IHSA State Finals competition, sponsored by the IHSA, and were crowned champions. Debate: State Champions (1975) Drama: State Champions (1985, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2019) Group Interpretation: State Champions (1981, 1983, 1997) Individual Events: State Champions (1988, 1993) Notable alumni References External links Thornton Township High school