Lloyd V. Berkner High School
Lloyd V. Berkner High School is a high school in Richardson, Texas with a 2005 enrollment of 2,202 and a student/teacher ratio of 16.7. It was honored by the Texas Successful School Awards System in 2000 and 2001 and is part of the Richardson Independent School District.
The school opened in 1969 and is named for the U.S. physicist Lloyd Berkner.
Berkner's sports mascot is the Rams and the team shares Wildcat-Ram Stadium (capacity 11,000) with Lake Highlands High School. In 2005, the Berkner football team had the best season in school history, finishing 12-1 after a loss to A&M Consolidated High School in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A division.
The school's marching band has received 29 consecutive first Division ratings in University Interscholastic League marching contests. The school's student newspaper is the Berkner Rampage.
Berkner began one of the first Crimestoppers programs in the district after three of its students were victims of violent crime. On Nov. 6, 1992, Berkner student Sean Cooper, 17, was shot and killed near the school by gang members after they fired into a crowd after a football game. Seven gang members were convicted of crimes related to his murder and the theft of his car. On Nov. 25, 1992, student Fred Banzhaf and recent graduate Justin Marquart, both 18, were killed during the robbery of the Herman's World of Sporting Goods store in Richardson where they worked.
In early 2005, there was another shooting incident, in which a senior was shot through the stomach after yet another gang fight. The bullet hole remains on the door from where the bullet ricocheted.
The most recent shooting occured after the Berkner vs. Pearce football game in late 2005. A brawl started outside of a Whataburger near Berkner, which then moved to a Target location near Pearce. There were around 50 teenagers involved. The results were 5 students injured and one fatally wounded. A police officer heading to the scene ran into a light pole and suffered a broken nose, as well.
Notable alumni
- Jensen Ackles, actor
- Rogers Cadenhead, author
- Jeremy Coon, film producer
- Michael Connell, PGA golfer
- John Goodman, NFL defensive end
- Jolie Holliday, singer
- Toddrick McIntosh, NFL defensive lineman
- Kevin Murphy, NFL linebacker
- Sammy Tamporello, MLS midfielder
- Mary Urquhart, scientist
- Kenny Tran, hot-rod racer
- Everson Walls, NFL defensive back
References
- Parsons, Jay (October 8, 2005) "17-year-old dies after Richardson brawl" The Dallas Morning News [1]