Soddy Daisy High School

School History

The construction of the first Soddy-Daisy High School was completed in June of 1937, in time for the September opening of school on Trojan Hill. Two community high schools, Daisy High and Soddy High were combined in the “new” facility on Dayton Pike just south of Soddy Lake to accommodate the growing population of the area. The first graduating class contained around 54 members and the student body enrollment was 360.

The first principal was Professor J. B. Brown, the former Tennessee State Commissioner of Education. The faculty consisted of 14 dedicated men and women with such notable names as Ernest Eldridge, I. K. Snyder, Miss Ruth Swingle and Miss Rose Nipper. The school offered coursework in Latin, French, Music, Home Economics, Ancient History, Vocational Agriculture, Manual Arts, and Social Science in addition to traditional core subjects. Brown Middle School is named after Mr. Brown.

Under the capable leadership of Professor Brown, the inaugural Soddy-Daisy High School student body quickly overcame the obstacles associated with the combining of two rival schools. The interests of the two rival towns were woven into one big community. This first student body was charged with the naming of the school colors, navy blue, and vegas gold, as well as choosing a school mascot. The final vote came down to a choice between the “Rams” and the “Trojans”, the latter of which was nominated by the first valedictorian of the school, Miss Madge Clements (Lockhart) who was a Latin student with a keen interest in ancient history.

The school continued to house grades 9-12 until 1960 when Soddy-Daisy Junior High opened it doors only one-half mile away. In November of that school year, the freshman class left the confines of SDHS to become the first graduating class at SDJH, only to return to the high school for their sophomore year the next fall. SDHS then housed grades 10-12 for the next 23 years. After 46 years at the Dayton Pike campus, SDHS was moved to a new facility on Sequoyah Road where it stands today. Part of the older facility is still in use- the SDHS wrestlers have their home in the “round gym”, and both men’s and women’s soccer teams play in the former football stadium in Trojan Heights.

In the fall of 1983, a new chapter began for SDHS students. In the wake of the “middle school” movement, the freshman class returned to the high school that year, soon swelling the enrollment to over 1300. At its peak enrollment around the turn of the 21 st Century, SDHS was home to more than 1700 students. A new football stadium was added in the fall of 1984. The Crutchfield Annex would follow, later to house the freshman academy. In 2004 a new and larger capacity gymnasium was added along with a state of the art band room. Soon students would see the addition of new baseball and softball stadiums.

What is Soddy-Daisy High School known for? Start with academics! The Academic Honors program is second to none. Then look at the award-winning marching band. After that the championship Forensics team (competitive speaking and acting program), the first place JROTC program, the CORE leadership program which hosted the state convention in our school, and how about the robotics team which competes each year in a state-wide competition. The cheer squad is a four-time national champion. Then consider that the following teams have won TSSAA State Championships one or more times: wrestling (6), softball (7), men’s basketball, women’s golf (2), men’s bowling, and multiple students have earned individual state championship honors. The Trojan Tradition means Trojan Pride!

To date, there are over 15,000 Soddy-Daisy High School graduates, many of whom serve in different capacities around the world. From airline pilots to tax attaches, Olympic sports writers to decorated soldiers and war veterans, and founder of a student foreign exchange company to builders of world-class titanium bicycles! Visit the SDHS Hall of Fame page for more stories and details.
J.B.Brown image
1937-1942 (4) J.B. Brown


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1942-1947 (5) Willard Millsaps



I.K. Snyder Photo
1947-1968 (21) I.K. Snyder


Maxie Green Photo
1968-1978 (10) Maxie Green


Bill Hinds Photo
1978-1980 (2) Bill Hinds


Don Upton Photo
1980-1988 (8) Don Upton


Tom Travers Photo
1988-1990 (2) Tom Travers


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1990-2007 (17) Robert Smith


John Maynard Photo
2007-2013 (6) John Maynard


Danny Gilbert Photo
2013-2016 (3) Danny Gilbert


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2016-Present (3) Steve Henry
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