Union in Union County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Sims High School

Photographed By Tom Bosse, September 10, 2020

1. Sims High School Marker (front)

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

(Front)
Sims High School, located here from 1956 to 1970, replaced a 1927 school on Union Boulevard, which in 1929 had become the first state-accredited high school for African-American students in the upstate. It was named for Rev. A.A. Sims, founder and first principal 1927-1951. James F. Moorer, principal 1951-1969, also coached the football team to 93 consecutive conference wins 1946-1954. C.A. Powell, who was white, was the school’s last principal, 1969-1970. (Continued on other side) (Reverse) (Continued on other side) A new school was built here in 1956. Notable alumni include the first black head coach in NCAA Division I-A football, the first coach of a black college basketball team in the National Invitational Tournament, and the first black Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. Sims High School closed in 1970 with the desegregation of Union County schools. This building housed Sims Junior High School 1970-2009. Sims Middle School opened on Whitmire Hwy in 2009.

Erected 2011 by Sims High School

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Reunion Committee. (Marker Number 44-17.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.

Location. 34° 42.028′ N, 81° 36.6′ W. Marker is in Union, South Carolina, in Union County. Marker is at the intersection of Sims Drive (Highway S-44-28) and Rifle Range Road, on the left when traveling east on Sims Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Sims Drive, Union SC 29379, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Union Memorial Gardens Veterans Monument (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Sims High School (approx. 0.6 miles away); Episcopal Church Of The Nativity (approx. 0.9 miles away); Jefferson Davis Dined in This House (approx. 1.2 miles away); Union County Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away); Thomas N. Dawkins House (approx. 1.3 miles away); Union County Confederate Monument (approx. 1.3 miles away); Union Community Hospital (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Union.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Sims High School Marker (back) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tom Bosse, September 10, 2020

2. Sims High School Marker (back)

Sims High School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tom Bosse, September 10, 2020

3. Sims High School Marker

Sims High School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tom Bosse, September 10, 2020

4. Sims High School

Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 222 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 9, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.