History of Southwest High School

Southwest High School Establishment & Campus

Southwest Magnet High School and Law Academy, commonly known as Southwest High School, was established in 1970. At the time, many Macon residents proudly claimed it was the largest high school in the United States, both in campus size and in student enrollment.

The original campus featured four classroom buildings: McEvoy A, McEvoy B, Willingham A, and Willingham B, three of which housed their own gymnasiums. Athletic facilities included a baseball field, a quarter-mile track, a soccer field, and a football field. In the 1980s, a fifth building was added to support the school’s growing technical education programs.

Formation Through Integration

Southwest High School emerged from the integration and co-education movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was formed through the merger of Alfred R. Willingham High School for Boys, the adjacent Margaret McEvoy High School for Girls, and the all-Black Ballard-Hudson High School. Under the leadership of principals W.C. Whitley and Gloria Washington, the newly combined school rose to national prominence. Following the merger, the former Ballard-Hudson High School campus was converted into a junior high school (grades 8–9) and retained the Ballard-Hudson name.

Athletics and Traditions

The school’s large student body supported a wide range of successful athletic and academic programs. The Patriots competed at a high level in baseball, track and field, football, and basketball, while also excelling in academic competitions. Central High School’s Chargers were the school’s primary rival, and the annual “Orange Crush Week” in the fall became a celebrated tradition leading up to the big game. Today, Southwest’s primary rival is Northeast Magnet High School’s Raiders.

Division and Magnet Program

In the late 1980s, due to the challenges of managing such a large student population, the school was divided into two separate institutions: Southwest High School and Southeast High School. In subsequent years, Southwest introduced a magnet program specializing in preparatory coursework for law and criminal justice careers.

Notable Alumni and Achievements

Before the split, Southwest High School produced several notable alumni, including NBA greats Norm Nixon (#10, Los Angeles Lakers, 1977–83) and Jeff Malone (Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Washington Bullets, 1983–90). The school also earned national recognition for its marching band, “The Southwest Marching Patriots Band” or “The Big Red Machine,” as well as its concert and jazz bands, all of which thrived under the direction of Bill Hunter and Oscar Jackson. Other distinguished alumni include marketing innovator Joy Sutherland Highnote (class years 1975–78).

Principals of Southwest High School

  • Dr. Wallace Whitley (1971–1981)
  • Gloria Washington (1981–1989)
  • Gerald Stuart (1989–1991)
  • Dr. Columbus Watkins (1991–1998)
  • Dr. Gail Fowler (1998–2006)
  • Tyrone Bacon (2006–2010)
  • Dr. Benjy Spann-Morgan (2010–2011)
  • Elizabeth Blair-Ricks (2011–2012)
  • Dr. Tanzy Kilcrease (2012–2015)
  • Dexter Martin (2015–2021)
  • Bernard Young (2021–present)