Granite High School (Utah) Explained

Granite High School was a public high school located at 3305 South 500 East in South Salt Lake, Utah.

History

Granite opened in 1906. In 2005–2006, the enrollment was 1250, but was reduced as the school transformed into an "academy" format. The academies within the school include the Young Parent program for teenage parents with children and the ESL program for new immigrants and refugees.

The decision to change from a traditional high school caused some controversy in the local community because it coincided with the removal of all the school's sports programs, many of which had been played for nearly a century. The removal of sports led to increased transfers to outlying schools among the student body at that time.

Granite High belonged to the Granite School District. The mascot was the Farmer. Popular AP U.S. History teacher, Dale Wood, often referred to the mascot as the "Fighting Agrarians."

At the end of the 2009 school year, the school was closed. The final commencement ceremonies were held on June 5, 2009.

After multiple attempts to preserve the building fell through, it was later purchased for $11.6 million by Wasatch Developments and Garbett Homes for residential development,^[1] with plans featuring a mix of 76 single-family homes and commercial property fronting 3300 South in which the property were finalized in late 2016. In April 2017, the district began demolishing the abandoned school in preparation for a development Complex.^[2] However, former alumni can also purchase former pieces of their old school, such as bricks or windows.^[1]

Notable people

Alumni

• Ed Catmull, Class of 1963, President of Pixar^[3]
• Frank Christensen, Class of 1928, football player, Detroit Lions^[4]
• James E. Faust, Class of 1937, former Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints^[5]
• Eldon Fortie, Canadian football player, Edmonton Eskimos^[6]
• Leigh Harline, Class of 1925, Academy Award winner for the song When You Wish upon a Star^[7]
• Gordon Jolley, Class of 1967, football player, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks^[8]
• Neal A. Maxwell, Class of 1944, former apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints^[9]
• Frank Moss, Class of 1929, US Senator^[10]
• Rick Parros, Class of 1976, football player, Denver Broncos^{[11] [12]}
• Jack Reddish, Class of 1944, Olympic alpine ski racer and film producer^[13]
• Golden Richards, Class of 1969, football player, Dallas Cowboys^{[14] [15]}
• Cecil O. Samuelson, Class of 1959, physician, LDS General Authority, and president of Brigham Young University.^[16]
• Glen Smith, Class of 1948, All-American basketball player at the University of Utah.^[17]
• David Kent Winder, US federal judge
• LeRoy S. Wirthlin, physician^[18]

Faculty

• Adam S. Bennion, principal^[19]
• LaVell Edwards, football coach^[18]
• Joseph F. Merrill, founder of the seminary^[20]
• Wilson W. Sorensen, industrial arts teacher^[21]
• Thomas J. Yates, first seminary teacher^{[22] [23]}

See also

• List of high schools in Utah

External links

• Official Granite School District website
• Other information on Granite High School
• Dreamathon

Notes and References

1. News: Alumni of demolished Granite High School can take home a piece of history. The Salt Lake Tribune. 2017-08-13. en-US.
2. News: District approves $2.5 million demolition of Granite High School. June 24, 2017. Salt Lake Tribune. April 12, 2017.
3. Book: Price. David A.. The Pixar Touch. 2009. Vintage Books. 9780307278296. 12.
4. News: Obituary: Frank Langton Christensen. https://web.archive.org/web/20141016112445/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/884049/Obituary-Frank-Langton-Christensen.html?pg=all. dead. October 16, 2014. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. September 8, 2001.
5. News: President James E. Faust dies at age 87. https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170157/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/695199591/President-James-E-Faust-dies-at-age-87.html?pg=all. dead. October 21, 2013. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. August 10, 2007.
6. News: Robinson. Doug. End of era at Granite. https://web.archive.org/web/20141016111321/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/635209356/End-of-era-at-Granite.html?pg=all. dead. October 16, 2014. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. May 22, 2006.
7. News: Horiuchi. Vince. Family Guy being sued for wishing upon a star. October 9, 2014. Salt Lake Tribune. October 8, 2007.
8. News: Wharton. Tom. With return to preps, dream has again become a reality. October 9, 2014. Salt Lake Tribune. August 16, 2014.
9. News: Moore. Carrie A.. Elder Neal A. Maxwell dies at 78. https://web.archive.org/web/20141016112138/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595079013/Elder-Neal-A-Maxwell-dies-at-78.html?pg=all. dead. October 16, 2014. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. July 22, 2004.
10. News: Askar. Jamshid Ghazi. Top 12 Utah senators of the last 100 years. https://web.archive.org/web/20141016112039/http://www.deseretnews.com/top/72/7/Frank-Moss.html. dead. October 16, 2014. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. January 3, 2011.
11. News: Benson. Lee. Another 'orphan' for the Aggies. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. November 1, 1976.
12. News: Harrison. Shawn. Former Aggie great doing better, will be in town for Homecoming. October 9, 2014. The Herald Journal. October 20, 2010.
13. News: Reddish Cops 3-way; Tri-State Ski Laurels. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. March 8, 1943.
14. News: Horn. Barry. Going Deep--Into a Hell. October 9, 2014. Dallas Morning News. Los Angeles Times. January 25, 1993. 2.
15. News: Where are they now?: Ex-Siper Bowler Golden Richards. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. February 5, 1983.
16. News: Drake. Katie. South Salt Lake voters determine fate of Granite High. October 9, 2014. Salt Lake Tribune. August 3, 2011.
17. News: Glen Smith has 2 loves; One is his family. Standard-Examiner. March 9, 1952. 12. Newspapers.com. May 23, 2020.
18. News: Stewart. Kirsten. Graduation is Granite High's final goodbye. October 9, 2014. Salt Lake Tribune. June 5, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20141014062057/http://www.sltrib.com/education/ci_12532878. October 14, 2014. dead.
19. News: Bennison to seek place in Senate. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. May 31, 1944.
20. News: Toone. Trent. A mother, President Packer and an LDS convert: A look at the lives, sacrifices of seminary teachers. https://web.archive.org/web/20140605152118/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865604512/A-century-of-Mormon-seminary-teachers.html?pg=all. dead. June 5, 2014. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. June 5, 2014.
21. News: Haney. Jeffrey P.. College honors its 'carpenter' at banquet. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104181805/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/611852/College-honors-its-carpenter-at-banquet.html?pg=all. dead. November 4, 2012. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. February 7, 1998.
22. News: Walker. Joseph. LDS seminaries: 100 years of studying, learning and loving the Lord. https://web.archive.org/web/20131026070620/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700217854/LDS-seminaries-100-years-of-studying-learning-and-loving-the-Lord.html?pg=all. dead. October 26, 2013. October 9, 2014. Deseret News. January 22, 2012.
23. News: Griffiths. Casey Paul. The First Seminary Teacher. October 9, 2014. The Religious Educator. 9. 3. Brigham Young University. 2008.