Establishment of Salt Lake High
On July 19, 1890, Salt Lake City Mayor George W. Scott organized the first Board of Education. In that same year, Salt Lake High School was held in the old Fourteenth Ward building (which later became the Fremont School Building). E.M. Collins was principal and 21 students attended the first year in 1891. Salt Lake High School was officially organized with William R. Malone as principal and 91 students enrolled.
First football season at Salt Lake High
In 1893, football was introduced into Salt Lake High School. They won the state title in football that year, losing only one game in their first year of competition. Since that time, West has won so many more state and regional championships that we have lost count! West has won more state titles than any other high school in Utah. West High’s first football coach, J. Fred O’Dell, would proudly wear his red and black sweater to games and practices. Because of Coach O’Dell, we wave and wear these cherished colors.
Salt Lake High School rapidly grew out of its first home. To accommodate the increasing number of students, Salt Lake High moved to the Clayton Building on South Temple, then to the Utah National Armory on Pierpont Street in 1898. A.O. Clark was principal at this time. By 1900, enrollment had grown to approximately 675 students with George A. Eaton as principal.
Rapid Growth of Salt Lake High
Salt Lake High School rapidly grew out of its first home. To accommodate the increasing number of students, Salt Lake High moved to the Clayton Building on South Temple, then to the Utah National Armory on Pierpont Street in 1898. A.O. Clark was principal at this time. By 1900, enrollment had grown to approximately 675 students with George A. Eaton as principal.
This view looking east on Pierpont Street shows the National Guard Armory on the left. These buildings were built by the Oregon Short Line Railroad in 1897-98 and were home to Salt Lake High School prior to its relocation to the current site of West High in 1902.
Creation of the School Seal
In 1906, Hugh B. Lewis designed the school seal. The inscription on the seal, “ Non Nobis Solum- Not For Ourselves Alone”, represented the beginning of a new era; the school spirit and traditions have continued to grow since that time.
The West High seal was placed in mosaic tiles in the main foyer as a gift from the first graduating class of the new West High, the class of 1923.
Fire at Pierpont and Move to old University of Utah site
The day before school opened in 1900 the Pierpont Street building was destroyed by a fire that began in the building next door. Governor Wells and the Utah State Land Board offered the use of the old University of Utah building on the block now occupied by West High School. The city later bought the property; first the Union Building, then the George Eaton Gymnasium and finally in 1912, the Technical Arts Building was constructed.
By 1912, there was a need for a second high school. Salt Lake High became Salt Lake High-West, and Salt Lake High-East. students attended Bryant Junior High until their building was completed in 1914.
West Upsets Provo to Claim First Basketball Championship in 34 Years
After a 34-year drought, West High Boys’ Basketball not only managed to claim the state title but defeated Provo High, who entered the championship game with a 40-game win streak. The West High team made history, defeating the Bulldogs, who held the longest win streak in the nation at the time.
West Claims First Softball State Championship
West defeated Bingham to claim its first state title at the Valley Regional Softball Complex in Taylorsville on Thursday, May 25, 2017.
Bingham won the first game but had to play again due to double elimination rules, West won the second game allowing West to come back in a 12-6 win to win the state title.
Black History Month: the Honorable Shauna Graves-Robertson
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, the WHAA has compiled biographies of notable West High alumni, including the Honorable Shauna Graves-Robertson (Class of 1976), the first African-American judge in Utah. Judge Graves-Robertson is the presiding Salt Lake County Justice Court judge, a role she has held since 1999.