Principal's Message
Markenia Jackson-----------Assistant Principal
Jimmy Zachery --------------- Athletic Director
A History of Opelousas High School and its Principals
The long history of the school parallels the city’s long and illustrative past, serving in prestigious capacity of the third oldest city in the state. It is most befitting to chronologize the origins of Opelousas High and its principals. Relive the legacy of a proud past and a promising future.
|
1894 |
St. Landry High School opened for grades 1-10 with an academy type curriculum. |
|
1894 |
Dr. V.K. Irion was the first principal, a medical doctor. |
|
1894-1896 |
Mr. Charles Shaffer was the second principal but first principal to have a degree from an educational institution. |
|
1895 |
First graduate was Isabel Lawrence Dupre, sister of Edith Garland Dupre (ULL’s Dupre Library). |
|
1896-1900 |
Mr. T.H. Harris was principal; later became State Superintendent of Education in Louisiana. |
|
1900-1901 |
Mr. Edwin F. Gayle became principal. |
|
1901-1916 |
Mr. W.B. Prescott became principal; became Superintendent of St. Landry Parish; St. Landry High School was named Opelousas High School. |
|
1916-1919 |
Mr. W.C. Perrault – principal of the four year high school 8-11 grades; Superintendent of St. Martin Parish; became first Assistant Attorney General of the state of Louisiana. |
|
1919-1935 |
Mr. Paul D. Pavy became principal. |
|
1935-1940 |
Mr. J.H. Lafleur became principal. |
|
1940-1952 |
Mr. Paul D. Pavy becomes principal again. |
|
1954 |
OHS becomes accredited by SACS. |
|
1952-1968 |
Mr. Payne Mahfouz becomes principal. |
|
1952 |
OHS moves to Market St. |
|
1957-1958 |
State’s 1st English Composition class started by Miss Maree White. |
|
1964-1965 |
OHS moves to present site on Judson Walsh Drive |
|
1968-1969 |
Mr. Richard Talbot becomes acting principal |
|
|
*The pictures on the wall are pictures of principals who served in the present OHS building. |
|
1968-1971 |
Mr. Payne Mahfouz returns from leave. |
|
1971-1982 |
Mr. Leroy Ortego |
|
1982-1984 |
Mr. John Hurst |
|
1984-1986 |
Mr. George Richard |
|
1986-1992 |
Mr. Raymond Duplechain |
|
1992-2000 |
Mr. Raymond Cassimere |
|
2000-2018 |
Dr. Rodney Johnson |
|
2018- 2019 |
Dr. Myron Spencer |
|
|
The Fieldhouse renovation is completed and dedicated on Homecoming Night. |
|
2019- 2022 |
Mr. Ricky Julien Sr. |
|
2022- Present |
Principal Del-Timoko Clark Dunbar |