North America/United States of America/Iowa/Cedar Rapids/Washington High School/

Washington High School

• Location & Contact Information
  • Address, Directions, & Map:
    • 2205 Forest Drive South East, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States of America
  • Telephone Numbers:
    • 319-558-2161
    • 319-398-2016 (fax)
  • Official Website: [2]
• History & Memorable Moments

September 3, 1957, was the first day of school at new Washington. Principal Fred J. Kluss began the day with an announcement over the intercom, “Here we are, and here we go!” Jefferson High School opened the same year on Cedar Rapids’ west side. Eastside students had previously attended McKinley and Franklin for grades 7-12. Washington began with grades 10-12 and did not become a four-year high school until 1987. During the 1956-57 school year, Franklin and McKinley students voted on colors for the new high school and selected royal blue and red. They also picked the “Warrior” to be Washington’s mascot.

Richard DuBois, the new high school’s first choral director, wrote the “Washington Alma Mater” during the 1957-58 school year. The next year, students voted to adopt the “Warrior Fight Song,” also written by DuBois, as Washington’s official fight song. In the 1960s, John Quinn, the school’s second vocal director, wrote the lyrics to the “Warrior Chant” and adapted the music from a California school. It soon became a tradition to sing the “Washington Alma Mater” and “Warrior Loyalty Chant” at each graduation ceremony. Both are also sung at formal assemblies throughout the school year. The Monument was chosen for the name of the school yearbook, and The Surveyor was picked as the name for the school newspaper. The Surveyor, of course, referred to George Washington’s early career as a surveyor, and The Monument was a reference to the Washington Monument in the nation’s capitol. Both names have been used from Washington’s first year.

The first principal, Fred J. Kluss, had been principal at Roosevelt before coming to Washington in 1957. Kluss served at Wash only two years before his retirement in 1959, but his fondness for the school lasted far longer. He personally planted the ivy that still grows on several of the school’s walls because he wanted a Harvard-like appearance to the school. He lived into his 90s and, even in his later years, visited the school to check on the ivy. Kluss was succeeded as principal by Don Birdsell who served for three years. R.O. Fitzsimmons became Washington’s principal in 1962 and held the position for 4 ½ years before leaving to become the first principal of the new John F. Kennedy High School. Donald G. Nau took over as Washington principal in the middle of the 1966-67 school year. Nau guided the school for 14 ½ years. Dr. Ralph Plagman has been principal at Washington High School since 1981.

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