Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v10n06)
Right in my Own Backyard - Trio of Rivals - by Brandt Carter
posted: Mar. 22, 2013
Trio of Rivals
If I had a dollar for every time I've been asked, "Where did you go to high school?" I think I could buy something big - really big. Even though high school days were long ago, this question invariably pops up when meeting new people who also grew up in Indianapolis. This seems to be one of those ice breaker questions that starts conversation rolling.
So when I answer, "North Central," I'm always interested to hear where others spent their high school days as well. When I hear "Broad Ripple" or "Shortridge," my mind starts racing back to friends and relatives I knew in those schools. Oh, the memories! Each school had its own personality, and anyone who went to one of them of course thought their high school was the best.
Battle lines between every high school in Indiana always seemed to be most pronounced on the basketball courts. There was nothing like the Hoosier Hysteria of sectional and state basketball competition in March to heighten competitive loyalties. We all wanted our team to make it to Hinkle Fieldhouse. Interestingly enough, it was usually teams from out of the city that ended up in the play-offs for the state title.
We had plenty of chances to cross paths, Broad Ripple, Shortridge, and North Central competing in other sports and extra-curricular activities like debate. We'd often get to one another's variety shows and theatrical or music productions. Our school newspapers and yearbooks reported the life of each student body, making every effort to taut achievements with all-due Rocket, Blue Devil, or Panther pride.
I think what is amazing is the quality of student those three high schools turned out. Let me name a few from the three different schools:
Shortridge- Andrew Jacobs, Jr. - U.S. House of Representatives
- Booth Tarkington - Author
- Claude G. Bowers - newspaperman, U.S. ambassador
- Dan Burton - U.S. House of Representatives
- Dan Wakefield - Author
- Don Mellett - Journalist, editor, Pulitzer Prize winner
- Frank J. Anderson - 1st African-American Sheriff of Marion County, IN
- Honor Moore - Poet and non-fiction writer
- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. - Author
- Kurt Vonnegut, Sr. - Architect
- Madelyn Pugh - Writer for "I Love Lucy"
- Marguerite Young - Writer
- Mary Ritter Beard - Historian and feminist scholar
- Maurice E. Shearer - Brigadier General U.S. Marine Corps
- Noble Sissle -Musician,/composer
- Richard Lugar - U.S. Senator
- William Afflis - Professional wrestler "Dick the Bruiser"
Broad Ripple- Michael Graves, Architect
- Stephen Goldsmith, Politician
- David Letterman, Entertainer
- Marilyn Quayle, Wife of former Vice President of the United States Dan Quayle
- Mike Woodson, NBA Coach
- Stacey Toran, NFL and University of Notre Dame football
- Abraham Benrubi, Actor
- Rosevelt Colvin, NFL and Purdue football
- Cory Wade, MLB Pitcher
- Ron Smith, Web Designer
- George Hill, NBA Player
- Alan Hague, editor of Broad Ripple Gazette
North Central- Adam Alexander, Broadcaster
- David Deming, Author, scientist, and professor
- Mitch Daniels, Politician, Governor of Indiana, President of Purdue
- Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Musician
- Jared Fogle, The Subway guy
- Gloria Gresham, Costume designer
- Scott A. Jones, Co-founder of Boston Technologies and ChaCha Search, Inc., inventor of voice mail
- Ron Klain, Chief of Staff for Vice-President Joe Biden and former Vice-President Al Gore
- Todd Lickliter, Basketball coach
- Maicel Malone- Olympic Gold Medalist
- Jason Gardner, Basketball
- Eric Gordon. Basketball
- Derrick Mayes, Football
- Bart Peterson, Politician, former Mayor of Indianapolis
- Jake Query, Radio announcer
- Courtney Roby, NFL football player
- Lars Tate, Football
- David Wolf, Astronaut
- Marc Summers, Television personality
- Liz Stauber, Actress
- Aaron Deer, Composer/writer
- A'Lelia Bundles, Author and journalist
- Linda Brandt, my editor
These three high schools in and adjacent to Broad Ripple have turned out hundreds of successful people. Everyone who attended these schools has a right to be proud and enthusiastic. Although Shortridge is no longer a high school, Broad Ripple and North Central can continue this legacy. We'll be watching March Madness and checking out crazy Indiana basketball fervor.
brandt@broadripplegazette.com