Willowridge High School is a
public high school in
Houston,
Texas,
United States and part of the
Fort Bend Independent School District
The Fort Bend Independent School District, also known as Fort Bend ISD or FBISD, is a school district system in the U.S. state of Texas based in the city of Sugar Land.
The district spans covering almost all of the city of Sugar Land, the city ...
. Willowridge serves grades 9 through 12.
The school serves many areas of northeast
Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. The county was founded in 1837 and organized the next year. It is named for a blockhouse at a bend of the Brazos River. The community developed around the fort in early days.
The ...
east and north of FM 2234, and a section of
Houston inside Fort Bend County, including the neighborhoods of Briargate, Chasewood, Willow Park II, Mayfair Park, Ridgemont, Ridgegate, and Briar Villa. The school also serves the Fort Bend County portion of
Shadow Creek Ranch, a community within the city of
Pearlandbr>
This school is well known for it
marching band known as the "Mighty Eagle Marching Band." Under band directors Mr. Ronald Thornton (head), Delcenia Hill, Maurice Ross, Robert Lee, and Robert Jackson, the band performed at the
Rose Bowl Game, Rose Bowl in 1994 and
Orange Bowl in 1996. In 2001, the band participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and in the summer of 2005, the Willowridge Band vacationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, a rarity for high school bands. The band also hosted the Bands of America contest at Rice Stadium on October 1, 2005. They have consecutively won 1st place at the MLK Battle Of The Bands and All-American Battle Of The Bands.
The school is also renowned for its
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
program. In 2001, the men's team accomplished the rare feat of having two
McDonald's All-American
McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechristened their business as a hamburger st ...
s in
Daniel Ewing
George Daniel Ewing, Jr. (born March 26, 1983) is an American professional basketball player.
College career
A guard from Duke University, Ewing played for four seasons at the college under coach Mike Krzyzewski from 2001 to 2005. Prior to Duk ...
and
T. J. Ford
Terrance Jerod Ford Sr. (born March 24, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player. Having been awarded numerous top basketball accolades in high school and college, Ford entered the 2003 NBA draft and was selected eighth overall ...
, who went on to play for
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist Jame ...
and
Texas, respectively.
History
The first phase of Willowridge started in February 1978 and was occupied in September 1979. Willowridge was the second (racially integrated) high school opened in FBISD.
In the 1980s, the school was known for its successful football program. During the 82-83 season,
NFL Hall of Famer
Thurman Thomas led the football team to the Texas Class 4A state Championship. This era also produced other NFL players such as
O. J. Brigance
Orenthial James Brigance (born September 29, 1969) is a former football linebacker who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He is the senior advisor to player development for the Baltimore Ravens.
F ...
,
Charles Arbuckle
Charles Edward Arbuckle (born September 13, 1968) is an American football coach and former professional tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He was recently the tight ends coach for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Fo ...
,
Allen Aldridge,
Selwyn Jones and Stanley Petry.
From 1999 to 2001, the men's basketball team compiled a 75–1 win–loss record (including a 62-game winning streak) earning a pair of Texas Class 5A state titles.
One of the streets on the WHS campus was named in memory of former principal Edgar Glover, Jr. Glover, who served as principal between November 1982 until his death in April 1993. Coincidentally, an elementary school named in Edgar Glover, Jr's honor opened on August 17, 1994
Opened fall 199
].
The second phase of Willowridge High School was completed in summer 1992 and dedicated on September 23, 1992
Opened fall 199
]. During the expansion, the
Ronald McNair Auditorium was dedicated in memoriam (the middle school next to Willowridge was named after
Christa McAuliffe
Sharon Christa McAuliffe ( Corrigan; September 2, 1948 – January 28, 1986) was an American teacher and astronaut from Concord, New Hampshire, who was killed on the Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' on mission STS-51-L where she was serving as a p ...
).
In 2017 the school temporarily closed due to a mold contamination.
Campus
Circa 2018 Jay Shells, a New York City graphic designer, installed a sign referring to a
Z-Ro rap song which talks about the school at the school entrance. The sign was made as a dedication to
Houston rap culture.
Feeder patterns
The following elementary schools feed into Willowridge:
* Briargate
* Ridgegate
* Ridgemont
* Blue Ridge
The following middle schools feed into Willowridge:
* McAuliffe
Notable alumni
*
Allen Aldridge - Former NFL Football Player for the
Denver Broncos. (Class of 1990)
*
Charles Arbuckle
Charles Edward Arbuckle (born September 13, 1968) is an American football coach and former professional tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He was recently the tight ends coach for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Fo ...
- Former NFL Football Player for the
Indianapolis Colts. (Class of 1986)
*
O.J. Brigance - Former NFL Football Player
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays its ...
and current director of player development; also founder of the
Brigance Brigade. Recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award from
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a private research university in Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranked among the top universitie ...
. (Class of 1987)
*
Eric England - Former NFL football player and current player for the
Toronto Argonauts in the
CFL
The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...
. (Class of 1990)
*
Daniel Ewing
George Daniel Ewing, Jr. (born March 26, 1983) is an American professional basketball player.
College career
A guard from Duke University, Ewing played for four seasons at the college under coach Mike Krzyzewski from 2001 to 2005. Prior to Duk ...
- Former NBA Basketball Player for the
Los Angeles Clippers, now player for
Maccabi Ashdod
Maccabi Ashdod B.C. ( he, מכבי אשדוד) is a professional basketball team based in the port city of Ashdod, Israel. The team currently plays in the Israeli National League.
History
The team was founded in 1961 by "Maccabi Ashdod Sports ...
of the
Israeli Premier League. (Class of 2001)
*
T. J. Ford
Terrance Jerod Ford Sr. (born March 24, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player. Having been awarded numerous top basketball accolades in high school and college, Ford entered the 2003 NBA draft and was selected eighth overall ...
- Former NBA Basketball Player for the
San Antonio Spurs. (Class of 2001)
*
Selwyn Jones - Former NFL defensive back for the
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West, which they rejoined ...
and Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos in 1998. Won championship with high school teammate Allen Aldridge. (Class of 1988).
*
Albert Johnson III - Former NFL & CFL football player for
Winnipeg Blue Bombers &
Miami Dolphins
*
Brad Terrence Jordan - Houston rapper also known as Scarface. (Attended)
*
Ivan McFarlin
Ivan McFarlin (born April 26, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player.
Basketball career
McFarlin attended Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas, where he led his team to win the state championship in his senior year, as ...
- Former NBA basketball player for the
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers, colloquially known as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eas ...
. (Class of 2000)
*
Manny Ramirez - Current offensive lineman for the
Denver Broncos. (Class of 2002)
*
Di Reed - Member of early 1990s R&B Soul Group,
Jade.
*
Ansu Sesay
Ansu Martin Sesay, Jr. (born July 29, 1976) is an American former professional basketball player.
High school and college career
Sesay attended Willowridge High School in Houston, Texas. He led his team to the school's first state title in bask ...
- Former NBA Basketball player for the
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics (commonly known as the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle. The SuperSonics competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league's Western Confe ...
, and
Golden State Warriors. (Class of 1994)
*
Thurman Thomas - Former NFL Running Back for the
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. T ...
. Elected to the
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coac ...
in 2007
and into the
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vot ...
in 2008. (Class of 1984)
*
Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington IV is an American actor and media personality. Following a series of film appearances, he came to prominence for portraying Dr. Preston Burke in the first three seasons of the series ''Grey's Anatomy'' from 2005 to 2007.
Wash ...
- Actor mostly known for his roles in
Romeo Must Die
''Romeo Must Die'' is a 2000 American action film directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak in his feature film directorial debut, and featuring fight choreography by Corey Yuen. The film stars Jet Li and Aaliyah in her feature film debut, It follows a Ch ...
,
Wild Things 2
''Wild Things 2'' is a 2004 erotic thriller film directed by Jack Perez and starring Susan Ward, Leila Arcieri, Isaiah Washington and Linden Ashby. It is a sequel to '' Wild Things'' (1998) and the second film in the ''Wild Things'' series.
T ...
,
Grey's Anatomy. (Class of 1981)
*
Jason Webster - Former NFL football player for the
New England Patriots and
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The Falcons joined th ...
. (Class of 1996)
*
Z-Ro - Member of
Houston rap group ABN.
References
External links
Willowridge High SchoolGo Mighty Eagles! Willowridge High School Alumni NetworkWHS Class of 1990 Reunion/Alumni Network
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Educational institutions established in 1979
Fort Bend Independent School District high schools
Public high schools in Houston
1979 establishments in Texas