Woodward High School (Toledo, Ohio)

Calvin M. Woodward High School Woodward High School
School's side entrance.
Address
701 E. Central Ave. Toledo, Ohio United States
Coordinates	41°40′49″N 83°31′44″W
Information
Type	Public, Coeducational high school
School district	Toledo City School District
Principal	Jack Renz
Teaching staff	45.0 (FTE) (2021–22)[1]
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	653 (2021–22)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	14.51 (2021–22)[1]
Color(s)	Blue & White    [2]
Athletics conference	Toledo City League[2]
Team name	Polar Bears[2]
Accreditation	North Central Association of Colleges and Schools[3]
Website	woodwardhighschool.tps.org

Calvin M. Woodward High School is a public high school located in the north side of Toledo, Ohio, that was built in 1928.[4] It was named after an early advocate for vocational education. The original Woodward Technical High School was located in the former Central High School building[5] at the corner of Adams and Michigan streets (the current site of the Lucas County Main Library)[6] before the present location was chosen. Woodward is part of the Toledo City School District.

The Woodward Polar Bears wear blue and white for athletics and either chose their nickname because they are located in the north end of Toledo,[7] or because former principal Charles LaRue named them after his alma mater at Ohio Northern University.[8] Woodward is a charter member of the Toledo City League from 1926. From 1923-1932,[9] Woodward played Libbey High School in a football game on Thanksgiving Day until Libbey and DeVilbiss High School became the annual matchup.[10] In April 1937, the High School displayed a Tesla Coil formerly owned by Nikola Tesla to the public, which they had acquired for educational purposes.[11]

In 2010, the building that Woodward's neighborhood had called home since 1928 was replaced by a newer facility located on the same property.[12]

The TPS board approved a resolution in November 2013 to have new stadiums built at Woodward and Scott High School after their previous facilities were torn down during construction and renovation.[13] They were built in time for the 2014 season.[14] Woodward's previous stadium had been dedicated in 1969 after they had gone without one since the 1930s.[15]

Mr. Jack Renz is the current principal.

Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships

• Girls Basketball - 1976 [16]

Further information: Ohio High School Athletic Association

Toledo City League Titles

• Football: 1952*, 1975*, 1991*, 2019
• Volleyball:
• Golf:
• Boys Basketball: 1927-28, 1929–30, 1939-40*, 1941-42*, 1943-44*, 1944–45, 1946–47, 1952-53*, 1959-60*, 1963–64
• Girls Basketball: 1975-76
• Wrestling:
• Baseball:
• Boys Track and Field:
• Girls Track and Field: 1970
• Softball:

* – (years marked with an asterisk (*) denote a shared title)

Notable alumni

A postcard of the old school building.

• Danny Thomas (dropped out c. 1927), actor, comedian and nightclub singer[17]
• Billy Jones (class of c. 1932), former NBL basketball player, pioneer in integrating professional American sports[18]
• Aaron Novick (class of 1937), molecular biologist[19]
• John Payak (class of 1944), former NBA player[20]
• Paul Seymour (class of 1945), former NBA player and coach[20][21]
• Bob Harrison (class of 1945), former NBA player[22][20]
• Andrew J. Fenady (class of 1946), screenwriter, novelist and film producer[23]
• Philip Baker Hall (class of 1949), actor[24]
• Jamie Farr (class of 1952), actor[25]
• Howie Komives (class of 1960), NCAA scoring champion at Bowling Green, played for New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons[26]
• Gloria Ann Taylor (class of c. 1962), R&B, soul and gospel singer, 1970 Grammy nominee[27]
• Dick Drago (class of 1963), former Major League Baseball relief pitcher[28]
• Walt Piatkowski (class of 1964), former basketball player at Bowling Green and in the American Basketball Association, father of Eric Piatkowski[29]
• Marvin Crenshaw (class of c. 1970), former All-American football player[30]
• Bryan Robinson (class of 1993), former Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman[31][32]
• Bill Laskey (class of 1975), former MLB baseball pitcher with the Giants, Expos, and Indians[33]
• Tom Marsh (class of c. 1983), former MLB baseball player with Philadelphia Phillies[32]

References

1. "Search for Public School - Woodward High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
2. OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association member directory". Retrieved 2010-04-02.
3. NCA-CASI. "NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement". Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
4. "Air View of New Woodward High Building". Toledo News-Bee. July 14, 1928. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
5. "The Toledo News-Bee - Google News Archive Search".
6. "Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search".
7. "About - Calvin M. Woodward High School". Retrieved November 16, 2012.
8. "Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved January 31, 2013.
9. Buckley, Frank (November 19, 1930). "Turkey Day Grid Clashes Bring Out Old Rivalries". Toledo Blade. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
10. Hackenberg, Dave (November 27, 2003). "Scott-Waite game kicked off great tradition of high school feasts". Toledo Blade. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
11. "Tesla Coil At Woodward". The Toledo News-Bee. Retrieved 12 November 2019 – via Google News Archive.
12. Fox Toledo News Reporter (September 18, 2010). "New Woodward High dedicated". foxtoledo.com. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
13. "A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, CHIEF BUSINESS MANAGER AND THE TREASURER OF THIS BOARD TO ENTER INTO DESIGN-BUILD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH RUDOLPH LIBBE FOR NEW STADIUMS AT SCOTT HS AND WOODWARD HS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,200,000" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-09-24.
14. Rosenkrass, Nolan (November 21, 2013). "Stadiums discussed for 2 venues; Scott, Woodward grid teams play home games on road". Toledo Blade. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
15. Schooley, Duane (October 27, 1969). "School Board Ends Aid To St. Ursula, Finds Academy Not In School District". Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
16. OHSAA. "Ohio High School Athletic Association Web site". Retrieved 2006-12-31.
17. Hiel, Betsy (2000-03-28). "Danny left his heart in Toledo". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
18. "Player Profile: Billy Jones". Pro Basketbal Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
19. "Toledoan a nuclear, biological pioneer". Toledo Blade. 2000-12-24. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
20. "OHSAA Basketball Tournament has Long History of Showcasing NBA Talent". Spectrum News 1. 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
21. "Paul Seymour". Woodward Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
22. "Robert Harrison". Retrieved 2023-10-20.
23. "Andrew J. Fenady". Woodward Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
24. "Philip Baker Hall". Woodward Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
25. "Hollywood Walk of Fame: Jamie Farr". Walk of Fame. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
26. Harris, John (2005-06-05). "Komives twice led BG to NCAA". Toledo Blade. Block Communications. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
27. Lockwood, Rod (2014-11-09). "After fading into obscurity, Toledoan Gloria Taylor's music is hot again". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
28. Junga, Steve (2006-06-25). "Baseball means everything to Drago" (PDF). Toledo Blade. Block Communications. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
29. "Walter Piatkowski Jr". Woodward Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
30. "Marvin Crenshaw". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
31. Toledo Public Schools (2006-01-06). "Pro Football Star Makes Donation to Woodward". Archived from the original on 2007-03-25. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
32. Junga, Steve (2002-01-04). "Woodward's Jones, Horton both over 1,000". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
33. "Bill Laskey". KNBR. Retrieved 2023-10-20.

External links

• Official website