Hoover High School: 80 plus years of rich history
Construction of the original Hoover High School campus was completed in 1930. At the center was a distinctive five-story-tall tower, as shown in this photo taken in 1930
Built in 1930, Herbert Hoover Senior High School is the fourth oldest school in San Diego. Because of its age, it has a rich history.
The original campus opened at the start of the Great Depression, a time of high unemployment rates and inflation. The school was named in honor of the 31st president of the United States, Herbert Hoover, who was in office at the time. Hoover never visited the campus, but did write a letter of appreciation. The letter was read aloud at the school’s dedication ceremonies. Hoover High’s colors, cardinal and white, were chosen to mirror those of President Hoover’s alma mater, Stanford University.
Hoover High was the first school in the county to have a lighted football field and the first school in all of Southern California to have “talking movie equipment,” a projector accompanied with audio, which was advanced technology then.
Hoover’s first graduating class, the class of 1932, began a tradition called the “Tower Day Ceremony.” In June of each year, graduating seniors went to the top of the school’s five-story-tall tower and wrote their names in a large, red-leather volume. It was the equivalent of today’s yearbook signing.
This tradition ended after 44 years in 1976 when the tower was torn down as part a $5 million renovation project to comply with seismic safety standards. A Hoover High teacher and a group of students formed a committee to raise money to save the tower, but the effort failed because the cost was too high. Before the wrecking ball struck, students, alumni and school officials were invited to climb the tower one final time.
Over the years, Hoover High has produced numerous notable graduates, including the likes of Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams. But many people don’t know that another Hoover High alumnus is the reason Monroe Clarke Middle School was given its name. Monroe “Bookie” Clark, named so due to his love for books, attended Wilson Middle School and graduated from Hoover High in 1943. He then went on to the University of Southern California (the reason Clark Middle School’s mascot is a Trojan, and the colors are maroon and gold) and returned to City Heights where he became a successful businessman. For years, he tutored students, drove them to athletic events, and encouraged friends and other adults to volunteer as tutors.
In 1998, when officials had to select a name for the new middle school in City Heights, residents and Hoover High teachers and students petitioned for it to be named after Clark. In researching this article, I found hundreds of letters written by Clark’s supporters. One letter writer described him best: “Bookie believes that Hoover’s mission is to save east San Diego from its negative aspects of gangs, murders, and drugs. Hoover and education of its students can save our youth and our neighborhood. It seems we at Hoover are fortunate to be Bookie’s “family.” He is always there, supporting us.”
Hoover High School celebrated its 80th anniversary in October 2010. The rich history of the campus and the contributions of its alumni to society continue to touch countless lives today.
Jon Luna is a first-generation Filipino-American who was raised in City Heights. A San Diego State University graduate, he still lives there and works regularly as a substitute teacher at Hoover High School and other City Heights public schools. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in history from the University of San Diego.