Benjamin Russell High School

Benjamin Russell High School
Location
225 Heard Boulevard

Alexander City, Alabama
35010

32°56′16″N 85°57′03″W / 32.9378°N 85.9508°W / 32.9378; -85.9508
Information
School typePublic
Established1950
School district
Alexander City Schools
NCES District ID
0100030
SuperintendentJose Reyes Jr.
NCES School ID
010003000003
Principal
Shannon Benefield
Teaching staff
51
Grades9-12
Enrollment843 (2023-2024)
Student to teacher ratio
16.53
ColorsMaroon and Grey
MascotWildcat
Websitehttps://brhs.alexcityschools.net/

Benjamin Russell High School is in Alexander City, Alabama. It is part of Alexander City Schools. It is at 225 Heard Boulevard. In 2025, a new high school building was under construction. The school is named for an entrepreneur whose businesses include Russell Athletic.

In 2025 it had 813 students in grades 9 to 12. It had 16 sports teams and 19 clubs. Wildcats are the school's mascot.

The student body is about 40 percent white and black and 11 percent hispanic.

History

The school was first established in 1950. In 1960, a $285,000 auditorium was built as part of a $100 million school construction bond issue. Black students attended Laurel High School until it merged with Russell in 1971.

In 1971, the school received national attention after students created an informal business called "spook insurance." Homeowners would pay the students a fee of $1.00 for free cleanup services if their houses were vandalized on Halloween. The school was racially integrated following the merger of two other high schools that same year.

Athletics

Kirk Johnson is the football team's coach since 2025. Danny Horn coached the team from 2009 to 2018 before moving on to Clay County High School where he won six state championships. Steve Savareae also coached the team.

Alumni

References

  1. ↑ Ellis, Emma (June 6, 2025). "Alex City Schools superintendent gives update on new high school construction". www.wsfa.com.
  2. ↑ "Benjamin Russell – the Alabama Business Hall of Fame | the University of Alabama".
  3. ↑ "About - Benjamin Russell High School". brhs.alexcityschools.net.
  4. ↑ Kennedy, Randy (November 29, 2025). "Saraland beats Benjamin Russell, advances to 4th straight title game". al.
  5. ↑ https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/alabama/districts/alexander-city/benjamin-russell-high-school-16
  6. 1 2 Walls, Peggy (19 July 2021). Lost Towns of Central Alabama. History Press. ISBN 978-1-4396-7305-8. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "Auditorium Set For High School At Alex City". The Columbus Ledger. 1960-11-26. p. 5. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  8. ↑ Walls, Peggy Jackson (19 July 2021). Lost Towns of Central Alabama. Arcadia. ISBN 978-1-4671-4519-0.
  9. ↑ "Spook Insurance Rates High As 'Dimes' Aid". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. 1971-10-27. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  10. ↑ Gayle, Tim (January 27, 2025). "Catholic's Kirk Johnson takes coaching job at Benjamin Russell". Montgomery Independent.
  11. ↑ "AHSAA News | Central, Clay County set to face Benjamin Russell in Classic Battle at Alexander City". www.ahsaa.com.
  12. ↑ https://www.ahsfhs.org/coaches/coachestop.asp?Coach=Steve%20Savarese
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Benjamin Russell (Alexander City, AL) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  14. ↑ https://alabamanewscenter.com/2019/03/08/football-taken-willie-carl-martin-alabama-around-world/
  15. ↑ "Alexander City names stadium for 2 iconic HS football coaches". 31 August 2019.
  16. ↑ "Jim Whatley Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.