Sims High School

rdf:langString Sims High School

rdf:langString Sims High School served African American students in Union County, South Carolina. It was founded in 1927. Rev. A. A. Sims (1872 - 1965) served as principal from its establishment until 1951. It became the first state-accredited high school for African-Americans in the Upstate in 1929. Sims was succeeded as principal by from 1951 to 1969. He also coached the football team and from 1946 to 1954 recorded 93 consecutive conference wins, 8 years straight. A new Sims High School opened at in 1956 at 200 Sims Drive, Union. C. A. Powell, a white man, was the high school’s final principal from 1969 to 1970 when it was converted to a junior high school with desegregation in 1970. It closed in 2009. A new Sims Middle School subsequently opened. Oral interviews of graduates and a 2006 reunion were held for the high school. A historical marker has commemorated the school's history. According to the marker: Alumni include the first black head coach in NCAA Division I-A football, the first coach of a black college basketball team in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), and the first black Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army. Willie Jeffries played for coach Moorer and went on to coach South Carolina State University. In 2020 the school building was still in good condition and it was suggested it be re-opened as an elementary school.