In this Locke High School file photo, the Locke High School football team runs onto the field for a daylight home game. Locke will begin playing its first night games on Thursday Aug. 28.
Since opening its doors in 1967 as a response to the Watts riots, Locke High School in Watts has produced two Major League Baseball Hall of Fame greats in Ozzie Smith and Eddie Murray.
The school also produced Olympic track and field great Valerie Brisco Hooks and countless standouts in basketball and football.
However, Locke High School football team has never played a home game at night. That will change on Thursday Aug. 28 when the Saints play host to Reseda High School at 7p.m.
“The students are excited, the teachers are excited and we believed that night games will bring the community together,” said Athletic Director Reta Sula.
Sula, who has been AD at Locke for the past three years has reached out to alumni ad community members to come out and experience the first night game in the history of the school.
Last year the Saints finished 8-4 on the season and while losing a number of its starters to graduation expects to be competitive again this year under the guidance of fourth year head coach Duane Horn.
Alain Leroy Locke Senior High School was opened in 1967 in response to the Watts’ riots. It was created to provide families in South Los Angeles a safe and secure school, one with a comprehensive program to guarantee the intellectual, moral, social, emotional and physical development of all students. Locke was established to transform students into critical thinkers, decision makers, effective leaders, academic achievers and responsible citizens in Los Angeles’ culturally diverse society.
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) made history when they voted to give operational control of Locke High School to Green Dot Public Schools in 2007. LAUSD made this decision in response to a conversion charter petition submitted by the teachers of Locke High School in support of the transition.
Locke High School reopened as six small college-prep schools the following year, now known as the Locke Family of High Schools. These schools are committed to restore Locke to the foundation that the school was originally founded upon. The Locke Family of Schools aims to provide a safe, college-prep environment that prepares every student for college, leadership, and life.
