Celebrating 125 years of Seattle Preparatory High School
The Seattle Prep Panther September 30, 2016
www.seapreppanther.org
Volume 72 No. 1
Twitter: @seapreppanther Instagram: @seapreppanthers
Special Homecoming Alumni Edition
Tonight’s game against O’Dea continues a 93-year-old rivalry. The first football game, played in 1923 at Broadway Playfield, was a 7-0 Prep victory.
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What do Oregon State and the University of Oregon have in common with Seattle Prep? Katrina Freeburg Seattle Prep historians and Golden Panthers have very different memories of cheering on their classmates with the Seattle Prep fight song, and for good reason. In the early 1950s, the fight song changed. Josh Parker ’46 entertained alumni with a piano rendition of the “old” fight song at a Palm Springs gathering last Christmas. He sang the tune, reminiscent of the Oregon State fight song, so often
Director of Individual Giving
when his kids were little that even they know the words. Several years ago he was invited to play during a Rotary award presentation to the state champion girls basketball team. He called the Prep Athletic Department to confirm the music and was surprised to find out the song had changed. The “new” fight song, firmly in place by 1956, echoes the University of Oregon music. Former band member Larry McHugh ’58 doesn’t recall any conversa-
Lyrics to “old” fight song (until 1953)
Sung to the Oregon State fight song melody Panthers, Panthers, our hats are off to you Fight on Panthers, sons of white and blue We’ll cheer for every man, we’ll fight at every stand Fight on you Panther team When our teams go marching down the field They’re true Panthers, they will never yield Fight! Fight! Blue and white Onward to victory!
Seattle Prep Pep Band Old and New page 2
tion about the change. The lyricists, impetus and instigator for the change are still unknown. One theory points to a new music teacher, Thomas Rodrique, who joined the Prep faculty in 1953-54 and resurrected the pep band, in addition to leading a school band (see pg. 2). Mr. Rodrique also taught at Seattle University, and the Shoreline School District, and was a founding member of the Cascade Youth Symphony. In 2000, he
was inducted in the Washington Music Educators Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he remembered an entirely different song during his time. If you have information about this historical chain of events, please contact alum@seaprep.org
Lyrics to “new” fight song (after 1956, maybe before)
Sung to the University of Oregon fight song melody Hail to thee our fighting Panthers As we cheer your rip and roar As we tear our foes asunder Our fighting blood yells More, More, More! By our spirits we have proven That the Panthers won’t give in So Fight, Fight, Fight for Adelphia And the Blue and White will win!
Look back at the rich history of Seattle Prep cheers page 4