# Tanner High School

34°43′59.37″N 86°58′24.96″W﻿ / ﻿34.7331583°N 86.9736000°W﻿ / 34.7331583; -86.9736000
Tanner High School is a K–12 school located in Tanner, Alabama. It is a part of the Limestone County School District.

## History
### 1960s

A fire at Tanner High School occurred on December 10, 1960. A blaze destroyed the wooden home economics building, which had been added to the old high school built in 1922. Firefighters from Athens and Decatur managed to save the new high school, a nearly finished structure, along with several nearby elementary and high school buildings. The loss was estimated between $25,000 and $30,000. The fire was first spotted by a local resident, Mrs. George E. Murphy, who noticed smoke plumes between 11 a.m. and noon and alerted the fire department. Firefighters from Athens and Decatur responded, using multiple trucks to battle the flames. Despite efforts to contain the fire, nothing was saved from the building, which housed kitchen units and a mock apartment setup with appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, sewing machines, and sinks. Flames spread quickly, endangering other buildings, but teachers and students managed to move desks, athletic equipment, and other items outside. M. L. Stancil, a teacher who was among the first to see the fire, described how the heat and rapid spread of the flames made it impossible to salvage anything from the burning building. The cause of the fire had not been determined at the time of the report.
On May 23, 1967, Alabama Governor Lurleen Wallace addressed the graduating seniors of Tanner High School in Limestone County, Alabama. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of life experiences in shaping wisdom and sound judgment, stating that intuition, moral values, and ethical principles often play a greater role than formal education and specialization. She encouraged the graduates to apply moral and ethical values when making decisions and to use their religious heritage as a guiding standard for judgment. Additionally, she advised students to approach their futures with humility and maintain a proper perspective. Her speech reflected broader themes of virtue, justice, and ethical responsibility, aiming to inspire the graduating class as they embarked on their next stages in life.

### 1970s

In June 1974, Tanner, Alabama, became the site of a historic breakthrough in youth baseball when 11-year-old Lori Hays and seven other girls broke the gender barrier by trying out for the previously all-male Farm League Baseball teams. The movement began when Hays, watching a Tanner High School baseball game, approached team manager Earl Greene and asked if girls could play that season. Initially uncertain, Greene consulted with Youth League Commissioner Blackie Chandler, who confirmed that girls could try out, though he predicted it would take a court order for them to advance to higher levels such as the Dixie Youth and Babe Ruth leagues. Hays impressed coaches Charles McCaig and veteran Ed Sevigne, who rated her among the top three players in the league. While many welcomed the change, some, like 11-year-old Gary Mayberry, expressed skepticism, citing gender stereotypes about girls' abilities in baseball. The event marked a significant step toward gender inclusion in youth sports in North Alabama, challenging long-standing barriers in Tanner’s athletic programs.

## Athletics
### Football

On December 7, 2012, the Tanner Rattlers Football team made history by winning its first 2A Championship. The Rattlers beat the Washington County Bulldogs 28 to 14.
On December 6, 2013, the Rattlers won their second 2A state championship in a rematch against the Washington County Bulldogs 21 to 13. Oscar Bonds is the current head coach.

### Basketball

The school's basketball boys and girls teams both won state titles in 1986 and 2011 and are the only school in Alabama to do so. The current head coaches are Dale Taylor (boys) and Jordan Paul (girls).
The state championship 1986 Tanner boys basketball team was led by coach Billy Owens and players Greg Yarborough (3A MVP had 51 points, 25 rebounds in 3 playoff games), Roylanda Moore and Logan Tisdale.
On March 8, 1986, the Tanner High School girls' basketball team won the Class 3A state championship with a 68-53 victory over Phil Campbell. Led by Cornelia Fuqua, who scored 22 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to earn Most Valuable Player honors, Tanner dominated the second half after holding a 9-point lead at the end of the first quarter. The team broke the game open in the third quarter, building a 20-point advantage at one stage to secure the championship. Phil Campbell’s Karyn Oliver scored 19 points in the loss. Tanner's victory was part of a broader championship weekend that saw other Alabama high schools winning titles in various classifications. The win added to Tanner High School's strong tradition in athletics, solidifying its reputation as a competitive force in state-level basketball.
On March 3, 2011, the Tanner High School boys' basketball team won the Class 2A state championship after a dramatic 54-51 comeback victory over Barbour County at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Complex Arena. Trailing by 11 points at halftime, Tanner, led by coach Chris Whitt, outscored their opponents by 14 points in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Matt Hines played a key role, scoring 20 points, including crucial free throws in the final seconds. Greg Maclin contributed two key three-pointers late in the game, while Trey Cosby added nine points. Despite Barbour County's significant rebounding advantage, their 27 turnovers proved costly. The victory marked Tanner’s first boys' basketball state title since 1986, matching an earlier win that day by the school’s girls' basketball team, which also secured a state championship. The win solidified Tanner's reputation as a competitive force in Alabama high school athletics.
On March 1, 2013, Tanner High School's boys' basketball team clinched the Alabama Class 2A state championship by defeating St. Luke's Episcopal 56-44 at the BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham. This victory marked Tanner's first state title since 2011 and their third overall. The Rattlers finished the season with a 30-1 record, showcasing a dominant performance throughout the year. Head coach Chris Whitt, who also led the team to their previous championship, praised his players for their resilience and dedication. Senior guard Jermel Spencer was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, contributing significantly in both scoring and defense. The championship win solidified Tanner High School's reputation as a powerhouse in Alabama high school basketball.

## Notable alumni

* Reshard Langford, NFL player (Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles)
* Gary Redus, Former MLB player (Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers)
* Henry A. White, Alabama state representative and educator