Westport High School (Missouri)

Westport High School
Address
315 East 39th Street Kansas City, Missouri 64111 United States
Coordinates	39°03′21″N94°34′55″W / 39.055923°N 94.582019°W / 39.055923; -94.582019 (Westport High School)
Information
Type	Public
Motto	"Where Education Is Our Priority"
Established	1907
Closed	2010
School district	KCMSD
Superintendent	John Covington
Grades	9-12
Color(s)	Blue and Gold
Athletics	Football Basketball Volleyball Cross Country Track and Field
Nickname	Tigers
Rival	Central High School
Newspaper	The Crier
Yearbook	The Herald

Westport High School was a public high school located at 315 East 39th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. It was part of the Kansas City, Missouri School District. A trowel was used to lay the cornerstone of the school on June 8, 1907. The Class of 1957 presented a frame with the exact trowel on October 6, 2007 to coincide with their 50th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the school. Westport closed in 2010; its building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

History

The school was established in the 19th century, moving into its own building in 1891 with an 1897 addition coming subsequently, and joining the Kansas City school system in 1898 as Westport was annexed to Kansas City. ^[1] The high school was across the street from Westport Middle School and it opened in the fall of 1908. It was considered the finest school in Kansas City and among the finest in the county, at a cost of nearly $500,000, and built of stone and vitrified brick. ^[2]

Westport High School was the last school to become Achievement First in 2009-2010. The purpose was to prepare students for post-secondary education and high-quality careers.

School closing

Westport High closed on June 3, 2010, because of school district Superintendent John Covington's right-sizing plan to close almost 30 schools. ^{[3] [4]} Mr. Harold Hawkins was the last principal of Westport High due to the school closing. He was called out of retirement to become principal on April 7, 2009. ^[5]

After Westport closed in 2010, Southwest Early College Campus took the attendance zone of Westport. ^{[6] [7]}

Yearbook

The Herald was the name of the school yearbook.

The 2007-2008 yearbook was the first yearbook to be a DVD. The 2008-2009 yearbook was the second yearbook to be a DVD and the first in HD.

Newspaper

The Weekly Crier was the name of the school newspaper.

Student activities

• Student Council
• National Honor Society
• JROTC
• Drill Team
• Choir
• Debate
• Cheerleading
• Tutoring
• Various stage activities

Westport's last ROTC programs or drill teams were in the mid to late 1940s. There was a chapter of the Future Teachers of America.

Principal

Partners in community service

Westport High School and Herndon Career Center were partners in community service with SkillsUSA, FBLA, and FCCLA. April 28, 2007 marked the first community service project for Westport and Herndon Career Center from Raytown, Missouri. ^{[8] [9]} The theme was "Restoring Westport High". April 19, 2008 marked the second community service project for both schools. The theme was "Schools Helping Schools."

Notable alumni

• Sumner Blossom, editor of American Magazine ^[10]
• Walt Bodine, Kansas City broadcaster
• Betty Caywood, 1948, one of first female MLB radio commentators when she was at the mike for Kansas City Athletics broadcasts in 1964 ^[11]
• Friz Freleng, 1923, animator and film director for Warner Bros. Cartoons and others ^[12]
• Hugh Harman, 1922, animator, film director, and producer. Created Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. ^[13]
• Ewing Kauffman, 1934, pharmaceutical executive and owner of Kansas City Royals ^[14]
• Bob O'Brien, professional basketball player
• Bruce Pickens, former professional American football player, NFL Draft 1991 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
• Brandon Rush, NBA guard for Golden State Warriors

References

1. "A Brief History of Westport High School". Westport High School. 1997-04-14. Archived from the original on 1997-04-14. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
2. Local History – Kansas City Public Library
3. Robertson, Joe; Rodriguez, Meredith (2010-03-11). "26 Kansas City schools will close". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
4. "Kansas City superintendent defends plan to shutter schools". CNN. 2010-03-11. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
5. Robertson, Joe (2018-06-19). "KC district aims to halt revolving door of principals". Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
6. "NEW school boundaries for 2010-2011 School Year." Kansas City, Missouri School District. Retrieved on January 20, 2011. "Southwest Early College Campus – (Assumes Westport High boundaries)"
7. "Kansas City Missouri School District 2010/2011 Southwest High School Boundary. Kansas City, Missouri School District. Retrieved on January 20, 2011.
8. Tankard, Frank (April 29, 2007). "Students offer time to improve school: Volunteers spend the day - and elbow grease - to make repairs at Westport High School". The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, MO). Retrieved 2009-10-04.
9. Blocher, Fred (2007-04-29). "Monchelle Wright (top) and Natausha Bowie were among about 100 area students sprucing up Westport High School on Saturday". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved 2009-10-04.
10. Lee Shippey, Luckiest Man Alive, Los Angeles, Westernlore Press (1959), page 34
11. "First woman baseball commentator lives in the Plaza". 11 August 2015.
12. "Westport High School Yearbook - the Herald | KC History".
13. "Westport High School Yearbook - the Herald | KC History".
14. Pace, Eric (August 2, 1993). "Ewing M. Kauffman, 76, Owner Of Kansas City Baseball Team". The New York Times.

External links

• United States portal
• Schools portal

• Westport High School at the Wayback Machine (archive index)
• Westport High School History ^{[ dead link ]} - Kansas City Library
• Class of 1957 Reunion
• Class of 1958