The mission of Ohatchee High School is to provide an opportunity for students to gain the knowledge and skills to successfully pursue their intrests after graduation and become productive citizens. This will be accomplished by providing a safe enviroment, rich in tradition, and appropiate curriculum taught by qualified and dedicated educators.
Ohatchee High School was first established in 1914 with four teachers and 125 students; the first principal was Mr. E.E. Edmondson. At that time the school's a central academy for several feeder students: Poe's Middleton, Richie's, Shady Gl Wilson's Academy.
Ohatchee's other administrative leaders were Frank Little (1925-1920), Dr. Reuben Self (1920-1925), Charles N. Boozer (1950-1959), Robert Lorren (1959-1961), Bill Cassidy (1961-1964), Bill Farrell (1964-1969), Grover Whaley (1969-1977), James McKelvy (1977-1981), Jerry Ellard (1981-1993), Kenneth New (1993-2003), Mrs. Robin Kines (2004-Present).
The school year 1916-1917 produced the first graduating class consisting of one person, Dr. Hugh Gray, who later was a prominent physician for many years in Anniston. The graduating class of 1918-1919 were identical in number; At this time the large oak trees still standing in front of the old high school Building were planted. In 1919 Ohatchee was the first school in Calhoun County to start a vocational education program (agriculture and home economics). The First class to actually "have graduation exercises" was the class of 1920. The five Graduates were Lewis Gray, Dr. Paul Simpson, Eunice Gulledge, Bessie Lee, and Jennie Mae Simpson Collins. A "community fair" was sponsored by the senior Yearbook, The Ohatchean. The title later became The Ohatchean Indian; then in 1948 it became known as The Warrior. With the exception of a couple years in the 1960's when it was called The Tribe, the title has remained The Warrior: Modernization and improvements came to school in varying stages. In 1927 the school enjoyed its first drinking fountains. Construction of the old high school building was started by the W.P.A. workers in 1936. Classes were held in the building before its completion in 1939. With this new facility came the school's first electricity. In 1946 students were also delighted by the addition of the school's first lunchroom. The lunchroom was in the school's first gymnasium, which stood on the site now occupied by the Gerald Acker Fieldhouse. The first lunchroom manager was Mrs. Addie Hanvey. Ohatchee's first band was organized in 1948 and continued until 1954 with membership averaging between twenty and twenty-five students. The present football field was first used during the 1948-1949 school year; Ohatchee had the first lighted field in Calhoun County.
The Ohatchee Alumni Association was established in 1949. The school was one of the first to have such an organization. The association decided to hold a meeting every five years. C.T. Thomason, a graduate and Anniston attorney, was the first president. When the group met again in 1954, they decided to hold meetings annually. The association drafted and adopted its first constitution and by-laws. The 1973 meeting produced the information of an annual scholarship to be given to a graduating senior. The first recipient Christopher Smith, was in the class on 1974. The association continues to hold its meetings and banquets annually in November.
In 1950 the building now housing the Fifth and Sixth grade and other classes was a welcome addition. Before completion, the first half of the year, students attended classes in local churches, an old house owned by the school, and the legion hall. This new building contained a lunchroom, one separate from the original housed in the gym. The basketball gym, built in 1965 has also been a vital part of the school campus. It was named the Gerald Acker Field House in honor of Ohatchee graduate and Anniston business man, S. Gerald Acker, who served for a number of years on the Calhoun County Board of Education. In December 1968 our neighboring school, Grayton, was closed and in January 1969 the principal, four teachers, and student body made Ohatchee their home. The high school students were immediately integrated into regular classes. Classes for all of Grayton's elementary students were held with their teachers in Ohatchee's original gym, which had earlier been moved to the area in front of the present new high school building. The gym was sectioned off to make classrooms for the students. The next year all of the students were integrated into regular classrooms. With the addition of the Grayton students. Ohatchee needed more classrooms. A new building for the upper elementary classes was completed and attached to the existing elementary building. In November 1970 the football field was named Roy C. Owens Field and dedicated to Dr. Roy C. Owens in honor of his many years of service to the school as the doctor for the athletic department.
In the late 1970's an interest in reorganizing Ohatchee's band was evident. The school had been without a band for over twenty-years. Under the leadership of Vern Townsend, Ohatchee reorganized the band in 1977 until his retirement in 1996. Ohatchee enlarged its educational services to the community in 1979 by adding a kindergarten unit. At that time the school could only accommodate twenty students, who were chosen by lottery. The newest high school building at Ohatchee was built in 1980, housing the administrative offices, cafeteria, library, band room, agribusiness, and home economics departments and several classrooms. With the addition of this building, the school boasted of having the only elevator in town. Through it's history the school has utilized various types of buildings to accommodate classes; old houses, churches, trailers, portable buildings, and even the town's skating rink (used as an inclement weather building). After several years of fund raising by the elementary school students, an inclement weather building was added to the campus in 1992.
The Tribe Pride has always been a tradition at Ohatchee. Numerous clubs, organizations, and individual students have competed and excelled in a variety of areas at the local, district, state and national levels. Through the years many outstanding citizens have passed through the portals of Ohatchee High School. Pride in it's accomplishments and the endurance of it's values continue and prevail…
