1. . COVER STORY. COVER STORY. COVER STORY. I
South Broward High School Celebrates 100th flnniuersaru in 201 3
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Q- What do a popular local radio
disc jockey, a Broward County
public defender, a French speak-
ing pop star, and an lFL running
back all have in common?
A- They are just a few of the
esteemed graduates of South
Broward High School. And as we
celebrate South Broward's
Centennial Celebration this
January, let's take a look back at
the school throughout its I 0O-year
history.
1913- In The Beginning
Woodrow Wilson was president. Ford's Model T sold for about $550.
South Broward High had humble begirmings. Originally built on what is
now the site ofDania Beach Elementary, and upon the urging ofDania
founder and developer Andrew Christian Frost, it was formded by the
Dade County School Board and subsequently renamed South Broward in
1938. It housed the elementary classes on the ground floor, with high
school classes on the top floor. On September 18, l926,1ong before hur-
ricanes had names like Andrew and Wilma, a hurricane known only as
"The Big Blof'slammed South Florida and nearly destroyed the
school. While the second story took the bnmt of the storm, the school
was rebuilt with majestic columns adoming the front.
1949- A Ntw llorno
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finally integrated, the same year The Beatles played their last concert at
Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
1970's - Smokin'in the Boy's Room
Led Zeppelin, Van Halen and Pink Floyd were all over the radio. All In
The Family, Baretta and Charlie's Angels were on TV. Jimmy Carter
was President, Patty Hearst was kidnapped and Elvis died.
Cecil Evans, class of '77, remembers a 'smoking section' in the parking
lot where shrdents could take a break between classes. "I didn't smoke
cigarettes," Evans said, "but on occasion did take a 'doobie' break with
friends up on the roof or in the clock tower. Things were a lot looser
then. We had kids not showing up until third period when they took
attendancc. Their hair was still wet from a moming of surfing."
Evans lived a block from school and walked home for lunch so he didn't
have to eat in the cafetcria. "I remember it smclling like a mix of old
pizza and sauerlraut. The lunch lady was a sauerkraut herselfand looked
like a reject from an Eastem Bloc Olyrnpic Team."
1980's- Happy Days
Ronald Reagan ran the country for most of the 1980's while Madonna's
"Like a Virgin'blared from boom boxes. Another less well known pop
star was emerging in her own right. South Broward's Yianna Katsoulos
was heading to Smith College on full scholarship after graduating
Valedictorian at SBHS, Class of '78.
Katsoulos, who never took French before coming to South Broward,
shrdied abroad in herjunior year in Paris. As for becoming a performer
she says she "was bitten by the 'coshrme bug' and couldn't quite forget
the glory ofbeing on
stage." More about her
later.
When the classes of 1948
through 1953 met for their
reunion in August of 1981,
they reminisced about
hanging out at the beach
and grabbing a burger at
Scotts, a teen destination
located at Federal
Highway and Arthur
Street.
Scott's was the 1950's
equivalent of the popular
television show Happy
Day's drive in hangout
"Amold's". "Yeah, if you
wanted to know where
anybody was, you headed
to Scott's." said Kurt Ely,
('lass o1"52.
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Participants aged 8 to 77 competed in such sports as bocce, cycling, soc-
cer, tennis and volleyball. The event drew almost 800 participants.
But it was womcn's basketball that dominated the spotlight for South
Broward High's athletic programs. From 1999-2002, led by basketball
head coach Abby Ward, the Lady Bulldogs won four consecutive state
championships. Ward, who announced her resignation at a team celebra-
tory dinner, had an impressive29S-54 record in 12 years coaching at
South Broward.
And while the Lady Bulldogs were enjoying their state trophies, some
other athletes weren't so happy. ln December of 2003, school officials
discovered that spofis trophies from the 40's, 50's and 60's had gone
missing.
"Trophies are like getting a diploma. They are a sign of achievement,"
said Al Caroccio, who ran track, played football and graduated in I 959.
"We worked hard. We left our blood and sweat. Now they are gone."
"The older we get, the worse our memories get," said Mike Tamburro,
who graduated in 1959. "That's why it's so important to us to find the
trophies."
No word yet on ifthe trophies were ever recovered.
2013- What Now?
If there is one thing missing from South Broward High School, it cer-
tainly isn't challenges for its students. Not just the typical day to day
challenges offinding a place to park your car, where to eat lunch, or
who to text message once you get out of school. How about academic
challenges?
SBHS is one of the most ethnically diverse high schools in the state with
a shrdent body of about 2700 students, of which 47Yo are Caucasian,
20%Black. and25o/o Hispanic. So it seems only fitting that a school
with such a unique and diverse ethnic population would offer a unique
curriculum.
I asked Susan Ostheim, Art teacher and candidate for Teacher ofthe
Year, who is chairing the Centennial Celebration Committee for South
Broward High, ilthere is anlhing unique about SBHS.
"We have a one-of-a-kind Marine Magnet program. These kids do it all.
They not only eam college credit, they also leam marine biology, mar-
itime law, and work with colleges to catch, tag, and release sharks. They
build underwater robots, travel to the Keys to kayak, sail, and snorkel,
and travel to remote oceans to study marine life." said Ostheim. "This
program is amaz;ng and kids travel from the far reaches ofthe county to
come here to experience this program."
Ostheim has been teaching over 20 years at all levels. "I've been at
SBHS 12 years. The school is like a comfortable pair of shoes. They
might not look great, they are generally misunderstood, but they just feel
good. You know them, they never let you down. Things might change

2. was rebuilt with majestic columns adoming the liont.
1949- A New Home
Harry S Truman was in the White House. The first Volkswagen Beetle
was introduced in the United States. South Broward High was suffering
growing pains. When a larger school was needed to accommodate the
increasing student population, SBHS relocated to its present location at
the comer of Federal Highway and Harding Street in 1949.
1961- Bulldog turned llFL Running Back
Iconic president John F. Kennedy called I 600 Pennsylvania Avenue his
home. A new Chery Impala cost about $3000. And one ofthe most
famous graduates of SBHS was a Bulldog named Ivan Charles "Tucker"
Frederickson, Class of '6 I . Tucker finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy
balloting in 1964 as an All-American fullback at Aubum University.,
Frederickson was the first overall draft pick in the NFL in 1965, and
became a New York Giant. He
played six seasons until he was
sidelined with a knee injury.
Frederickson was inducted into
the Collegc football Hall of
Fame in 1994. Aubum Coach
Shug Jordan called Fredrickson,
"the best all around player I've
ever seen." Bulldog teammates
reminisced about Fredrickson at
South Broward's Class of 1963
reunion. John Young, a Bulldog
linebacker on the junior varsity
squad, recalled scrimmaging
against Frederickson. "He was
fast and powerful. It was l'ike
playing against a professional
football player." How true.
South Broward was an all-white
school until 1966 when it was
College star and NFL running
back, Tucker Fredrickson, gradu-
atedftom South Broward in 1961.
stage." More about her
later.
When the classes of 1948
through 1953 met for their
rermion in August of 1981,
they reminisced about
hanging out at the beach
and grabbing a burger at
Scotts, a teen destination
located at Federal
Highway and Arthur
Street.
Scott's was the 1950's
equivalent of the popular
television show Happy
Day's drive in hangout
"Amold's". "Yeah, if you
wanted to know where
anybody was, you headed
to Scott's." said Kurt Ely,
Class of '52.
And while the beach may not have been the best place for teens to get
crazy, Lonnie Padgett, Class of'50 recalls: "We used to build bonfires
on the beach all the time. Now if you strike two matches together down
there, they want to haul you offto jail."
The only students happier than Katsoulos and the class reunion members
were the female students who, in October of 1985 applauded the School
Board's decision to allow students to continue wearing shorts.
2000-Y2K-Father2Son
The new millennium. A new century. The biggest fear was that at mid-
night January 1st 2000, every computer on the planet would shut down.
Air traffic control nightmares would ensue. Crime, rioting and vandalism
would be rampant. Tums out none ofthat did happen. Life went on and,
in at least one case, the proverbial torch was passed on to the next gener-
ation.
Legendary South Broward Bulldog baseball coach Len Koch, who
already won 300 games by 1992, watched as son Darin, who began as a
batboy for his father at the tender age of six, stepped into the head coach
position of the mighty Bulldogs.
"Watching Darin out there coaching really makes me proud", Len was
quoted as saying in a May 2000 Sun Sentinel interview. "He knows this
gamc as well as anyone."
Recalling his father's coaching tactics, Darin said "My dad would
reward the players by surprising them with Whoppers fiom Burger
King." In honor ofhis coaching prowcss (and great choice ofnutritional
snacks) the school's stadium now bears Koch's name.
Len Koch speaks ofthe motivating force behind both father and son, his
"real assistant coach," wife Lois. "Lois has been the driving force behind
this family for so long." She was thc one who kept dinner warm while
Len, Darin and brother Randy did what they loved most.
South Broward High wa-s also the host of the Broward County Special
Olyrnpics in March of 2002. Almost 600 volunteers tumed out to
orchestrate the event, which celebrated its 30th year in Florida.
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a student body ofabout 2700 students, ofwhich 47% are Caucasian,
20%oBlack, and 25% Hispanic. So it seems only fitting that a school
with such a unique and diverse ethnic population would offer a unique
curriculum-
I asked Susan Ostheim, Art teacher and candidate for Teacher ofthe
Year, who is chairing the Centennial Celebration Committee for South
Broward High, if there is anything unique about SBHS.
"We have a one-of-a-kind Marine Magnet progam. These kids do it all.
They not only eam college credit. they also leam marine biology, mar-
itime law, and work with colleges to catch, tag, and release sharks. Thcy
build underwater robots, kavel to the Keys to kayak, sail, and snorkel,
and travel to remote oceans to study marine life." said Ostheim. "This
program is amazing and kids travel from the far reaches of the county to
come here to experience this program."
Ostheim has been teaching over 20 years at all levels. "I've been at
SBHS 12 years. The school is like a comfortable pair ofshoes. They
might not look great, they are generally misunderstood, but they just feel
good. You know them, they never let you down. Things might change
all around you, all the time, but SBHS and the mighty Bulldogs will
always be there, bc in the memories of many, and be a part of so many
lives. What hurts me so is that South Broward often gets a real bad rep-
utation. One thing goes wrong, and that one incident lasts for a long
tirne. There are so many amazingly good things going on at our school,
so many great teachers, so much caring for our own community, and all
this, generally, goes unnoticed.Wc are in great need ofa really good PR
person!" said Ostheim.
Maybe South Broward doesn't have a public relations person yet, but it
did produce "Help Me Howard" attomey and Broward County Public
Defender Howard Finkelstein. And while Howie declined a request for
comment, Coast F.M. radio personality Julie Guy, who will MC the
Centennial Celebration, was more than happy to share her fond memo-
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