Ah, August 1975 … The students of W.P. Davidson High School were heading back to school in the newly air-conditioned buildings (a feature added in the early ’70s), with “Jive Talkin’” by the Bee Gees or “Get Down Tonight” by KC and the Sunshine Band keeping time on the radio. Keeping students pumped up during games, however, was the job of the nine varsity cheerleaders pictured above.
Their uniforms are a stark contrast from today’s more functional fit. Gone are the button-up collared blouses, knee-length skirts and hard, rubber-soled saddle shoes. Also gone are some of the decade’s popular hangouts, such as Skatehaven, Cue Club No. 2, Dipper Dan’s Ice Cream, TG&Y and Tony’s Pizza.
But what’s far from faded is the Warrior spirit and familial vein that runs deep in the heart of Davidson’s graduates, best summed by Edwina Strange Rolison, whose husband and four children graduated from her alma mater. She comments in the Facebook group, Mobile Nostalgia for Old Folks and Young, “Hopefully my grandchildren will also graduate from Davidson.”
“‘One, two, three, four, five — Davidson High don’t take no jive … Immediately after these nine girls were selected, they began practice. The University of Tennessee provided a cheerleading workshop where the girls learned new cheers and chants … Using their limber bodies and rhythmic cheers, the cheerleaders aroused that ‘good ‘ole Warrior spirit’ in nearly every student.”
From the pages of the 1976 “Toshoa,” W.P. Davidson High School’s yearbook
1975 Davidson High School Football Season
Davidson Football Head Coach: John Sklopan (3rd season)
Sept. 5 @ Fairhope, L, 6-13
Sept. 11 vs. Blount, W, 20-7
Sept. 18 vs. Shaw, W, 20-13
Sept. 25 @ Bay Minette, L, 0-26
Oct. 3 vs. McGill-Toolen, W, 7-6
Oct. 10 vs. B.C. Rain, L, 8-32
Oct. 17 vs. Murphy, L, 0-24
Oct. 24 vs. M. G. M., L, 14-15
Oct. 31 at Vigor, W, 27-12
Nov. 6 vs. Theodore, W, 21-12
Class 4A Regional 1 Standings (Area Record)
Murphy, 7-0
Davidson, 5-2
McGill-Toolen, 5-2
Shaw, 4-3
Mary Montgomery, 4-6
Theodore, 4-6
Vigor, 1-5
Blount, 0-7
By the Numbers
10: The day in May 1975 the Junior-Senior prom was held at Ft. Whiting — the theme was “Together”
1963: Year Davidson High School graduated its first class
1,500: Number of students Davidson High School can accommodate
36: Acres on which Davidson High School’s campus sits
Are you pictured in this photo? Do you have great memories from Davidson? Let us know! Email [email protected].
