James Earl Rudder High School

James Earl Rudder High School is named after James Earl Rudder, a highly decorated World War II soldier. His honors include the Distinguished Service Cross, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, and French Legion of Honor.[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fru06 Texas State Historical Association]

While lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, he led the group up 100 ft. cliffs on a beach in Normandy on D-Day. After the war, Rudder served as mayor of Brady, Texas from 1946 to 1952. In 1955 he was appointed State Land Commissioner, where he worked to "increase the permanent endowments for public schools and universities." He became the president of Texas A&M College (now known as Texas A&M University) in 1959, located in neighboring College Station. While president, he was instrumental in allowing women to attend the university.[http://www.myaggienation.com/aggie_profiles/gen-james-earl-rudder-led-texas-a-m-through-immense/article_c8ad387e-0f43-11e3-824c-0019bb2963f4.html Gen. James Earl Rudder led Texas A&M through immense change and growth]

Bryan Independent School District decided to build the new high school mainly because of overcrowding at Bryan High School. The funding came from a $104 million bond agreement.[http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/3933181.html Ground Broken on Bryan's Rudder High School] Before the campus was built, 300 James Earl Rudder High School students attended Bryan High School's campus for the first year of the campus' completion, and their core classes were taught by new Rudder teachers.[http://www.theeagle.com/archives/back-to-school-bryan-s-rudder-high-will-carve-out/article_fbbde388-95ac-51ca-a19c-db9119227e23.html Back to School: Bryan's Rudder High Will Carve Out Identity] Hon. Chet Edwards of the House of Representatives attended the school's dedication.[https://books.google.com/books?id=C64EAXEdZhMC&dq=rudder+high+school+bryan+texas+students+attend+bryan+high+school+2008&pg=PA574-IA693 Hon. Chet Edwards]

Rudder High School has a large variety of fine arts and career paths to join. Students can go to competitions for these courses in SkillsUSA, and Technology Skill Association (TSA) to demonstrate their skills and get recognition.

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• Graphic Design
• Photography
• Game Design
• Welding
• Construction
• Cosmetology
• Art
• Choir
• Band
• Dance
• Orchestra
• Theatre

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The James Earl Rudder High School mascot is the Ranger. The Rangers compete in the following sports:[http://www.theathleticsdepartment.com/schools/Bryan-Rudder/ The Athletics Department]

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• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross country
• Football
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Powerlifting
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Track and field
• Volleyball
• Wrestling

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The school has a District 18-5A football program and shares a football stadium with Bryan High School. Recent renovations to the football stadium include a $1.1 million Matrix turf[http://www.hellasconstruction.com/2015/06/Bryan-ISD-Selects-Matrix-Synthetic-Turf-and-epiQ-Tracks-by-Hellas/ Turf and Track Installation Begins at James Earl Rudder High School] with an 11,000 seat capacity.[http://astroturfusa.blogspot.com/2012/07/texas-bryan-and-rudder-high-schools-get.html Texas' Bryan and Rudder High Schools Get New AstroTurf Fields and Expect a Multitude of Benefits]

The Rudder boys' gymnastics team won a state championship title two times in three years (2013-2016).[http://rudderhs.bryanisd.org/apps/news/article/571288 James Earl Rudder High School]

• Hunter Dobbins (born 1999), professional baseball player
• Isaiah Johnson (born 1995), professional football player
• Mike Jones (born 1992), professional football player
• Jamal Shead (born 2002), professional basketball player

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• [http://rudderhs.bryanisd.org/ Official website]
• [https://twitter.com/rudderhs_bisd Rudder HS Twitter]

{{Bryan, Texas}}

{{Education in Brazos County, Texas}}

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Category:High schools in Brazos County, Texas

Category:Public high schools in Texas

Category:Bryan, Texas