Mumford High School

Located on Detroit's near-northwest side, Samuel C. Mumford High School is operated by the Detroit Board of Education; the school's namesake served twenty-two years on the Board and was a former president of the organization.^[1]

Following war-delayed construction, Mumford High opened in September 1949; a time when large segments of Detroit's Jewish-American population had already begun an inexorable movement toward the suburban communities of Oakland County.^[2] Mumford's architectural profile features imported powder blue limestone block and exquisite Art Deco styling similar to other Detroit high schools. During much of the 1950s and early 60s, Mumford High served a predominantly Jewish student population.

Mumford High School notable alumni

• Jerry Bruckheimer, film and television producer whose credits include the three CSI television series, the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, and Flashdance.^[3] Bruckheimer also produced Beverly Hills Cop, in which Eddie Murphy's character Axel Foley is seen wearing a "Mumford Phys Ed Dept" t-shirt.

• Leslie Feldman, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of The National Music Magazine ZOO WORLD 1971-1975. Publisher of MIAMI MAGAZINE 1975-1977, Publisher of PLAYBILL MAGAZINE, Southern Division from Florida to California 1976-2008. Founder of Select-A-Seat computerized Theatre, Concert and Attractions Tickets in Southern Florida 1980-1984. Publisher of Metro Magazines (Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, Coral Gables) 1981-2002.

• Kenneth Ferguson, world-class track and field athlete; ranked 7th globally in the 400-meter hurdles (2007).^[4] During his time at Mumford, Ferguson was a six-time Michigan High School Athletic Association champion in the hurdles and relay events^[5]

• Cornelius Grant noteworthy guitarist with Motown Records^[6]

• Judith Guest (great-niece of Edgar Guest); attended Mumford for one year (1951). Her first book, Ordinary People, published in 1976, was adapted as a 1980 film that won an Academy Award for Best Picture^[7]

• Fred Hammond, Grammy-winning Gospel recording artist, known as "The Architect of Urban Praise & Worship"

• Robert Israel, Costume and Set Designer^[8]

• Earl Klugh, Jazz Musician

• Ruth Laredo (née Meckler), Concert Pianist

• Donald E. Levin (1967), poet and novelist; Chair of English and Modern Languages Department at Detroit's Marygrove College^[9]

• Shayla Mahan. Between 2004-07, Miss Mahan won a total of ten MHSAA championships in the sprint and relay events. Shayla ran on the Mumford 400 and 800 meter relay teams that currently rank number-one in the MHSAA record book; she is also the state record holder at 100 and 200 meters.^[10][11]

• Derrick Mason, played collegiate football at Michigan State University; played professionally with the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans, where he earned All-Pro recognition; Mason is currently a member of the New York Jets

• Merton Rich, Actor/Writer who got his start at Chicago's Second City, and went on to win 3 Emmy Awards for writing and producing TV shows, "SCTV" and "Cheers" among many others.

• Bruce Joel Rubin, Screenwriter whose film credits include Deep Impact, Sleeping with the Enemy and Ghost

• Bob Shaye, Movie Producer/Actor/Director co-founder of New Line Cinema, and producer of the original Nightmare On Elm Street

• Marcus Thigpen, CFL player for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

• Allee Willis, Grammy Award winning songwriter/multi-media artist, whose hits include "September" and Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & Fire; Neutron Dance by The Pointer Sisters; the theme song to TV series Friends and Broadway musical, The Color Purple

• The Winans, The Clark Sisters, Fred Hammond and Deitrick Haddon Gospel Singing Greats

Through the Years: Mustang Sports Headliners

1959 graduate, Barry Shapiro set a city record on his way to winning the 100-yard breaststroke, at the 1959 Detroit Public School League (DPSSAL) swimming finals. In fact, Shapiro's time was superior to the existing Michigan High School Athletic Association record for the event. Barry was among the fastest breaststrokers in the state, during a period (1931–1961) when Detroit schools did not participate in MHSAA championship events; he never had the chance to swim for a state title.^[12]

Another Mumford athlete, Richard Golden made the best of his opportunity to compete at the state level. During the 1963 MHSAA finals, Richard finished third in the 50-yard freestyle; to this day, Golden is Mumford's only All-State swimmer.^[13]

In 1966, in his first year as coach, Sam Taub led Mumford to the east side championship in the Detroit Public School league before losing to Northwestern by 3 points in the city championship game. Mumford went on to win district and regional championships in the state tournament before losing to East Detroit in the state quarterfinals. All-State center Larry Moore averaged 27 points a game to lead the Mustangs.

In 1969, Coach Taub guided the Mustangs to the PSL title; Mumford defeated Northern High 72-55 to claim the trophy. The Mustangs advanced to the state semifinals before losing to Ypsilanti.^[14] Taub was also the school's golf coach and a collegiate basketball referee.

More recently, Mumford's track and field program has been nothing less than dynastic; winning a total of six Michigan High School Athletic Association championships since 1999. The Lady Mustangs won state titles in 2004 and 2005; while Mumford's men brought home the MHSAA crown in 1999, 2002, 03 and 04.^[15][16]

In 2005, Mumford won its first DPSSAL football title; the Mustangs defeated Finney High, 26-13 to claim the championship trophy.^[17]

Of further note

• Ivan Boesky, a 1955 Mumford graduate, came to Mumford after having attended the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills. Ivan Boesky was convicted for his role in the Wall Street insider trading scandal that occurred in the United States during the mid-1980s. Boesky's involvement in criminal activities is recounted in the book Den of Thieves by Pulitzer Prize-winning author James B. Stewart.

References

External links

	Metro Detroit portal
	Schools portal

• Mumford High School Official Site