Misplaced Pages

George A. Dondero High School (formerly Royal Oak High School) opened in 1927 in Royal Oak, Michigan in Greater Detroit. It was named after former Royal Oak School Board president and U.S. representative George A. Dondero. A part of the Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools, it and Clarence M. Kimball High School were consolidated to form the current Royal Oak High School.

Overview

Opened in 1927 as Royal Oak High School, it was renamed as Dondero High School in 1957 after Clarence M. Kimball High School opened.

Due to declining enrollment, the school became a middle school at the beginning of the 2007/2008 school year. Dondero was closed following the 2005-06 school year to allow for renovations, and district high school students from both Dondero and Kimball High School were consolidated. At the peak of enrollment, Dondero had more than 2,000 students, which had declined to 650 in its final year

On October 31, 2006, the Dondero gymnasium was set on fire, causing extensive damage. Arson was suspected, and two teenage suspects were later arrested.

On October 20, 2007, the building was officially re-dedicated as Royal Oak Middle School. The dedication ceremony took place at 4:20 PM in the restored auditorium housing three huge W.P.A. murals.

Notable alumni

• Jason Beverlin, American Major League Baseball player
• William Broomfield, American politician, businessman and philanthropist
• Daniel Casey, American screenwriter
• Bud Chamberlain, American baseball player and realtor
• Marie Donigan, member of the Michigan House of Representatives
• Glenn Frey, American musician and actor, a founding member of the Eagles
• Dave Gillanders - 1960 Olympic bronze medalist in swimming
• Judith Guest, American novelist and screenwriter
• Tom Hayden, American social and political activist and politician
• Maynard Morrison, football All-American
• Bill Muncey, hydroplane racing champion
• Chris Savino, American cartoonist, animator, and writer, and creator of the animated series The Loud House.
• Steve Stockman, American politician
• Jack Tompkins, American baseball and ice hockey player, airline executive and Greater Detroit area civic leader
• Jordan Vogt-Roberts, American film and television director
• Norm Zauchin, American Major League Baseball player

References

1. McDonald, Maureen; Schultz, John S. (2010). Royal Oak. Arcadia Publishing. p. 79. ISBN 9780738577753. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
2. About Us, Royal Oak Schools. Accessed February 4, 2024. "When a second high school was opened in 1957, Clarence M. Kimball High School, the original Royal Oak High School became George A. Dondero High School.... Now, the district consists of one high school (Royal Oak High School, located at the former Kimball High School), one middle school (Royal Oak Middle School, located at the former Dondero High School), six elementary schools, one community education center and district administration offices."
3. "Royal Oak’s high school combo attracts attention around state", The Oakland Press,January 29, 2007. Accessed February 4, 2024. "The new Royal Oak High School, which merged 650 students from Dondero High School and 1,100 students from Kimball High School this year, is drawing a lot of attention from educators statewide. The new high school opened at the beginning of the school year in the former Kimball building, which now boasts a Royal Oak High School sign, as well as new Ravens sports teams."
4. "Fire at the Future Royal Oak Middle School (Former Dondero High School Site) Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine." Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools. Retrieved on July 1, 2015.
5. Detnews.com | This article is no longer available online
6. the Observer & Eccentric Newspapers, Mirror Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies - www.hometownlife.com - Michigan
7. "Royal Oaks, MI New Deal Art". Archived from the original on 2007-05-01. Retrieved 2007-10-12.
8. Mural Restoration Project | Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools Archived 2007-05-10 at the Wayback Machine
9. "Class of 1947: Bill Muncey". Royal Oak, Michigan: Royal Oak High School. Retrieved May 12, 2020.

External links

• Dondero High School (Archive)
• Detroit News Article about closure

42°29′40.1″N 83°08′54.7″W / 42.494472°N 83.148528°W / 42.494472; -83.148528

This Michigan school-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e

• Educational institutions established in 1927
• Schools in Royal Oak, Michigan
• Former high schools in Michigan
• Educational institutions disestablished in 2006
• High schools in Oakland County, Michigan
• 1927 establishments in Michigan
• 2006 disestablishments in Michigan
• Michigan school stubs