History of Albany High School
 

Source: History of Livingston Parish, Louisiana, Vol. 1 by Lucille and Guy Denham, 1986.

The Village of Albany came into existence when the Illinois Central Railroad built tracks through
the site 1908 to connect Hammond to Baton Rouge. The first documented use of the name
"Albany" is regard to the community occurred on February 21, 1908, when the railroad
announced the names of stations on their new lines...It has been determined that the origin
of the name "Albany" was derived from the Little Natalbany river, which is the eastern boundary
of present day Albany...Albany was created as a crossroads community where the east-west
railroad interceded the old north-south road which dates back to 1806...After the turn of the
century, Albany became the center of large truck farming region...The principle crop was
strawberries, and many crates were shipped north by refrigerated express cars. The public
high school was established in 1924 with an enrollment between five and eight students. The
first graduating class of 1927 consisted of six graduates. The present enrollment is 515 with an
average graduating class of 100.

Warren Doyle Landry was the first principal, who became principal at age 19.

The first class motto was: Tonight we launch, where shall we anchor.

The first class colors: Green and white

The first class flowers: White rose and green fern

A new campus was built in 1986 allowing for the separation of the high school from the junior
high and elementary.

1930 Football at AHS

Back in 1930 most schools in this area began in July because of the strawberry season. Just
about every person able had to help with the berries to make a living because times were
really tough. AHS consisted of approximately 70-80 students during the '30's. Football season
began in September basically the same as it does today. Mr. Byron Hutchinson, a former
Ole Miss football player, began teaching in Albany this year. The students approached him and
asked him to start a football team. Mr. Hutchinson was glad to accept their offer and told them
they needed at least 12-14 players to field an 11-man team. The players were willing and able,
and the next chore was to acquire uniforms for them. Mr. Freddie Scott, school board member,
agreed to give a contract to the football team which allowed them to cut, stack and transport
wood to the school site which would be used for heating in the cold of winter. Mr. Perry Cowart,
a school bus driver, helped the team by hauling the wood. The money raised from selling the
wood paid the down payment on the first uniforms ever to be worn by an AHS football team.
The 1930 team played 4 games and lost them all; however, the 1931 team pulled out a winning
season.

1930 Football Roster

Head Coach: Byron Hutchinson

Asst. Coach: Rex Wilkinson

Principal: Ross Williams

Ralph Murphy, end	Louis George, end
Bunny Hess, fullback/kicker	Woodrow Hutchinson, tackle
Gene Bostwick, back	Winston George, tackle
J.C. Kinchen, end	Lesley Stewart, guard
Joe Hrachovina, guard	Alex Berry, guard
Leland Gill, back	George Hill, center/kicker
N.R. Kinchen, back	Raymond Hess, quarterback