(Tracey Compton spent some time at the Renton Historical Museum, looking through Renton High School  yearbooks by decade. This look at Renton High shows how student life has changed. Information also was gleaned from our newspaper archives.)

1911 – Renton High School had its first freshman class. The yearbook was called “The Duwamish.” They got the name from Native Americans who told RHS staff that after a flood many years ago the great Creator gathered all the tribes in this particular district together and called them “Duwamish,” which means “A Great Beginning.”

1920 – The Renton High School basketball team featured Henry Moses, who was the last chief of the Duwamish Indians.

1923 – The graduating class of 1923 was the first to wear caps and gowns. During the ceremony, the high school building began to settle and the program was moved to the new Henry Ford School.

1924 – The school puts out its first four-page, regularly printed newspaper. Before they put together copies of mimeographed sheets two or three times a year. This year they put on the operetta “The Bos ‘n’s Bride” and the girl’s basketball team won the championship of King, Whatcom,  Skagit and Snohomish counties.1930 – There is a club called Hi Y Club for boys only that meets to discuss social and moral problems. They have two stag parties each year and a father and son banquet. The mixed boys and girls tennis team won the King County Championship this year.

1932 – The new Senior High School building is dedicated.

1941 – There exists a junior high wing to the school, until 1959 when Dimmitt Junior High opened.

1942 – Boeing and Pacific Car and Foundry ask the district to offer “National Defense Vocational Classes” and portables are constructed at the school to house the program.

1947 – 218 students graduated from Renton High School.

1948 – The Renton School District Stadium was completed in time for football. It was the site of the old Tanelli Diary Farm in north Renton.

1951 – This is the first year that the school has “A-bomb” drills conducted by the Fire Patrol, a boy’s club. Other popular clubs included Girl’s and Boy’s Club, Torch Society, Art Club, Chess Club, Junior Red Cross Council and Central Council of United Nations.

1960 – Renton wins the state AA tournament in boy’s basketball and this is the first year the school has a varsity wrestling team. With German student Margaret Ehmann, this is Renton’s fifth year as a participant in the American Field Service Exchange Student Program.

1971 – The girl’s swim team debuted in the winter season. The A Cappella Choir performs for Gov. Daniel Evans at the Olympic Hotel.

1979: Renton High School’s “doughnut fairy” loses her wand. Betty DeLappe reigned over the study hall, keeping order. Twice each week she would bring doughnuts or maple bars. But the tradition died when the Renton School Board decided it wanted to improve the quality of snacks at Renton schools.

1985 – Students observe the school’s 75th Jubilee. No one is quite sure how many people will show up for tonight’s open house. Those who do will see a multi-media show of the school’s 75-year history, with alumn Don Custer as the narrator.  Nearly 900 people have paid $15 a head to attend a dinner-dance  at Longacres.

1981 – The Public Relations Committee is established to keep the community informed on all RHS activities and events. It’s an all girls club. The girl’s volleyball team wins state defeating the Kentridge Chargers.

1986 – Gina Faulks is Renton High School’s first black homecoming queen. Some view her election as one more sign the Renton High School family is growing together in a spirit of multi-racial understanding.

1991 – What’s hot: Air Jordans (shoes), overalls, fur-hooded coats, L.A. Gear boots, “In Living Color” the TV show and starter jackets. What’s not hot: parkas, round glasses, sweats, amulets, acrylic nails, Cindy Crawford, tights and lots of earrings. This is the third year in a row that the girl’s swim team takes the All-City Championship trophy. Men’s wrestling also gets an All-City trophy. The Black Student Union changes it’s name to African American Student Union. There is also a Filipino American Student Organization with 14 members.

2002 – A new club is established in the middle of the school year called Spirit Club to revitalize RHS’s school spirit. Most wanted trends include retro Jordans (shoes), sparkle shirts, grandpa hats, airbrush shirts, dirty denim and Platinum Fubu. Popular hobbies include internet surfing, skateboarding, latin dancing, songwriting and choral singing.