Benjamin Bosse High School, commonly known as Bosse High School, is a public high school located at 1300 Washington Avenue in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1924, Bosse is one of Evansville’s oldest operating high schools and is part of the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC). The school’s athletic teams are known as the Bulldogs.
The school is named for Benjamin Bosse, the Evansville businessman and politician who served as mayor of Evansville from 1914 until his death in 1922. Bosse played an important role in the development of the school before his death as Evansville expanded eastward during the early twentieth century.
History
Benjamin Bosse High School was developed as Evansville’s third high school, following the growth of residential neighborhoods east of downtown. Construction began in the early 1920s, and the school opened to students in January 1924. Its first graduating class completed school in 1925.
Before Bosse opened, students from the newly created Bosse district attended the old Central High School downtown. Bosse’s location near what was then the eastern edge of Evansville led to the school sometimes being informally referred to as East High School or East Side High School.
The school initially served more than high school students. Younger children attended Bosse Elementary in part of the high school building until Washington Elementary School opened in 1937.
As Evansville and the surrounding neighborhoods grew, Bosse was expanded several times. Additions were made in 1927, 1958, 1966, and 1968, followed by a major renovation and expansion during the 1990s. The later renovation was designed to preserve the appearance and architectural character of the original building.
Architecture
Bosse High School is one of Evansville’s most recognizable historic school buildings. Chicago architect Joseph C. Llewellyn designed the original structure in the Collegiate Gothic style, with Evansville architect Charles L. Troutman supervising construction. The building was constructed in 1923–1924 at a reported cost of approximately $670,000.
Architectural features include stone detailing, multi-paned windows, tile roofs, copper cupolas, gabled sections, and a prominent symmetrical façade.
The historic school is part of the Lincolnshire Historic District and is a contributing property to the district’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Athletics
Bosse has a particularly significant place in Evansville basketball history.
In 1944, the Bosse Bulldogs became the first Evansville-area boys basketball team to win an Indiana state championship. Bosse repeated as state champion in 1945 and captured a third championship in 1962.
The Bulldogs compete in the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference (SIAC).
Boys Basketball State Championships
1944
1945
1962
Music and Extracurricular History
Bosse’s history extends beyond athletics. The school’s band earned national and international attention during the early 1970s.
The Bosse band appeared at the Orange Bowl in Miami around New Year’s 1970–71 and later performed during the opening ceremonies of the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.
Academics
Bosse serves students in grades 9 through 12 and offers traditional high school coursework along with advanced and career-focused programs.
Modern programs include Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, and career-connected learning opportunities. Bosse also participates in the Toyota 4T Academy, which combines classroom education with paid, hands-on experience in automobile manufacturing.
Notable Alumni
Over more than a century, Bosse High School has produced graduates who became prominent in athletics, entertainment, business, politics, education, science, and other fields.
Notable Bosse alumni include fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, better known as Halston; actress Michael Michele; Major League Baseball player Pete Fox; Hall of Fame basketball coach Arad McCutchan; mathematician Talitha Washington; former U.S. Representative Roger H. Zion; and Ruth Siems, creator of Stove Top Stuffing.
Other Bosse alumni include David H. Russell, Stephanie Terry, Charlie Siesky, Ruth Siems, Marcia Yockey, Gene Miller, Michael Michele, Jaquan Lyle, Mekhi Lairy, and Bettye Lou Jerrel.