St. Petersburg High School Celebrates 100 Years of History

When Don McMullen, Dave Foster, and Elizabeth MacDonald Johnson walked through the doors of St. Petersburg High School on Saturday, they weren't just visiting a building. They were stepping back into memories from 1950, when they roamed these same halls as teenagers.

The three alumni, all in their 90s, joined hundreds of former students to celebrate 100 years of the school's historic facility at 2501 5th Avenue N. Built in 1926 as Florida's first million-dollar high school, the building earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

McMullen, 94, remembered being one of the few kids who owned a car back then. His 1934 Ford made him popular, but what stuck with him most was his history teacher Virginia Davis with her bright red hair. He broke his arm in gym class and rode streetcars around a city that felt like a different world.

Foster, who went on to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps and start his own law firm in 1962, still practices law today. His high school passion was playing trumpet in the Green Devils band, traveling to perform with friends who became like family.

MacDonald Johnson had the most unusual connection to the school. During the Great Depression, her father was hired as caretaker and the family lived on the property when she was just 3 years old. She and her brother would sneak onto the roof to watch cars pass by and skate through the empty halls in summer.

Former Florida governor Charlie Crist, Class of 1974, showed up wearing his original letter jacket. He proudly shared that the building underwent a $44 million renovation in 2021, ensuring future generations can experience the same inspiring halls.

Mary Anne Futch, Class of 1970, remembered her time during school integration. "We got along beautifully," she said, marking an important moment in Florida's history.

Ed Parrotte, 89, who admitted he "never studied or took a book home," credited sports with keeping him on track. His classmate Don Bogue, 90, reminisced about secretly dyeing the school fountain red and blue, remembering teachers who gave their personal time to help struggling students.

The Ripple Effect

This celebration wasn't just about nostalgia. Sarah Michaud, Class of 1996, noted how the school's historical integrity has been preserved even as the city transformed around it. The building stands as a living connection between generations, where great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, and children all shared the same classrooms and traditions.

McMullen's daughter Cynthia, who graduated in 1972, attended alongside her two sisters. Foster's son Bill served as St. Petersburg's mayor from 2010 to 2014. These family connections show how the school became woven into the fabric of the community itself.

The $44 million investment in renovations proves the city values this legacy. Modern updates blend with 1920s architecture, creating a space where today's students walk the same marble floors as students did a century ago.

A building that survived the Great Depression, wars, integration, and countless changes now stands stronger than ever, ready for its second century of shaping young lives.