School spotlight: Garfield High School

May 27, 2003

By Marc Matsui

Location/district: Central District/Seattle

Mascot: Bulldogs

Colors: Purple and white

League/class: KingCo/4A

Enrollment: 1,688 (grades 9-12)

Biggest rival: Franklin

Last state title: 2001 (boys swimming)

When it opened: 1920 (originally East High, renamed after President James A. Garfield in 1923)

Notable alumni: Bruce Lee, legendary martial artist and actor; Jimi Hendrix, rock 'n' roll icon; musician Quincy Jones; Joyce Walker, Harlem Globetrotter and college All-American basketball player at LSU; Yasser Seirawan, international grandmaster chess player; Ernestine Anderson, jazz musician; Minoru Yamasaki, architect who designed World Trade Center; Chuck Carroll, UW running back and 1928 college player of year; Debbie Armstrong, Olympic gold medalist skier; Jack Benaroya, real-estate mogul and philanthropist; Kenneth Alhadeff, philanthropist and former Longacres co-owner; Moriguchi family, owners and operators of Uwajimaya.

Bet you didn't know: Aside from its perennial mass of National Merit Scholars and a Washington-best 11 state titles in boys basketball, Garfield's strongest program is its award-winning jazz band headed by Clarence Acox.

Fight song outtake:

"I'm so glad that I go to Garfield High,

Singing glory hallelujah, I go to Garfield High."

Web site: www.ghs.seattleschools.org