LATON HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
This list was created from information obtained from yearbooks and personal recollections. Records were also found in the History Department of the Main Branch of the Fresno County Library in Fresno. Additional information was found online at newspaperarchive.com and the census records found on Ancestry.com
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1904/05 - From all accounts, this was the first year that any high school classes were taught in
Laton. There was no high school building so classes were held in the Laton grammar school. Most likely, the few students who chose to continue their education after graduating from the grammar school, where taught by one of the grammar school teachers. This freshman class would have graduated in 1908, which was the first class to graduate from Laton High School.
This list was created from information obtained from yearbooks and personal recollections. Records were also found in the History Department of the Main Branch of the Fresno County Library in Fresno. Additional information was found online at newspaperarchive.com and the census records found on Ancestry.com
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1904/05 - From all accounts, this was the first year that any high school classes were taught in
Laton. There was no high school building so classes were held in the Laton grammar school. Most likely, the few students who chose to continue their education after graduating from the grammar school, where taught by one of the grammar school teachers. This freshman class would have graduated in 1908, which was the first class to graduate from Laton High School.
Thomas M. Marshall
1905/06 - Thomas Maitland Marshall - News Paper articles indicate that Thomas M. Marshall was the first teacher and principal hired for the high school students who were still being taught at the grammar school location. In October of 1905, Marshall was quoted in the Fresno newspaper that the town needed to build a high school for the growing number of students.
1906/07 - Thomas Maitland Marshall – From the 1905 newspaper article, we know that construction on the new high school was most likely started during the spring or summer of 1906 and finished in the spring of 1907. Classes were probably still being held at the grammar school. Mr. Marshall was the principal and probably the only teacher again this year.
1906/07 - Thomas Maitland Marshall – From the 1905 newspaper article, we know that construction on the new high school was most likely started during the spring or summer of 1906 and finished in the spring of 1907. Classes were probably still being held at the grammar school. Mr. Marshall was the principal and probably the only teacher again this year.
Maud Knudson
1907/08 - Professor Oliver S. Hoover – Students were now in the new building and this was the first year that Laton High School had a graduating class; Alice Mae Card, Elenor Elizabeth Hardman, and Thomas Leroy Moody. (The October 1905 newspaper article indicated that the high school had “twenty-seven students with more expected the following year.” Why then, almost three years later, were there only three graduating students? The probable answer - - education was not considered important so the boys quit school to work on the farms and the girls quit to get married.)
1908/09 - Professor Oliver S. Hoover (There were four seniors who graduated this year.)
1909/10 - Professor Oliver S. Hoover (There were four seniors who graduated this year.)
1910/11 - Professor Oliver S. Hoover (There were four seniors who graduated this year.)
1911/12 - William Mower - Historical notes indicate that William Mower was the principal after Professor Hoover and before Mrs. Knudson. Since newspaper articles confirm Hoover’s last school year was 1910/11 and Knudson’s first year was 1913/14, it can be assumed that Mower filled that position from 1911/12 to 1912/13. (There were four seniors who graduated this year.)
1912/13 - William Mower (Six seniors graduated this year.)
1913/14 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson (Five seniors graduated this year.)
1914/15 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson (Eight seniors graduated this year.)
1915/16 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson – The assembly hall (auditorium)
was built this year and there were thirteen graduates.
1916/17 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson (Eleven graduated this year.)
1917/18 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson (Ten seniors graduated this year.)
1918/19 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson - A newspaper article printed in the FRESNO BEE on October 1, 1918, states, “Mrs. M.E. Knudson, who has been principal of the school for the past five terms, is principal again this year.” (There were only two graduates this year; both women.)
1908/09 - Professor Oliver S. Hoover (There were four seniors who graduated this year.)
1909/10 - Professor Oliver S. Hoover (There were four seniors who graduated this year.)
1910/11 - Professor Oliver S. Hoover (There were four seniors who graduated this year.)
1911/12 - William Mower - Historical notes indicate that William Mower was the principal after Professor Hoover and before Mrs. Knudson. Since newspaper articles confirm Hoover’s last school year was 1910/11 and Knudson’s first year was 1913/14, it can be assumed that Mower filled that position from 1911/12 to 1912/13. (There were four seniors who graduated this year.)
1912/13 - William Mower (Six seniors graduated this year.)
1913/14 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson (Five seniors graduated this year.)
1914/15 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson (Eight seniors graduated this year.)
1915/16 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson – The assembly hall (auditorium)
was built this year and there were thirteen graduates.
1916/17 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson (Eleven graduated this year.)
1917/18 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson (Ten seniors graduated this year.)
1918/19 - Mrs. Maud E. Knudson - A newspaper article printed in the FRESNO BEE on October 1, 1918, states, “Mrs. M.E. Knudson, who has been principal of the school for the past five terms, is principal again this year.” (There were only two graduates this year; both women.)
O. H. Richardson
Records indicate that Henry Savage and Charles Davis were LHS Principals somewhere between Mrs. Knudson and O.H. Richardson who started in 1924/25. Those records indicate Savage and Davis in this order, however the exact years of service, for Savage and Davis, are “guesstimates”.
1919/20 - Henry I. Savage - No records indicate when Maud Knudson left Laton High School and Henry Savage became the principal, however, the federal census taken on January 28, 1920 in “Laton Village” indicates that Henry Savage was a teacher and high school principal. It can be assumed then that he was the Laton High School Principal for the school year of 1919/20. (The 1920 U.S. Census indicates that his wife, Blanche, was also a teacher.)
1920/21 - Henry I. Savage *
1921/22 - Henry I. Savage *
1922/23 - Charles Davis *
1923/24 - Charles Davis *
1924/25 - O. H. Richardson
1925/26 - O. H. Richardson
1919/20 - Henry I. Savage - No records indicate when Maud Knudson left Laton High School and Henry Savage became the principal, however, the federal census taken on January 28, 1920 in “Laton Village” indicates that Henry Savage was a teacher and high school principal. It can be assumed then that he was the Laton High School Principal for the school year of 1919/20. (The 1920 U.S. Census indicates that his wife, Blanche, was also a teacher.)
1920/21 - Henry I. Savage *
1921/22 - Henry I. Savage *
1922/23 - Charles Davis *
1923/24 - Charles Davis *
1924/25 - O. H. Richardson
1925/26 - O. H. Richardson
1926/27 - There is a 1927 yearbook somewhere in storage at LHS and, when found, it will give us the principal’s name. Most likely, it will be Richardson or Hogan.
1927/28 - Fred P. Hogan
1928/29 - Fred P. Hogan
W. Horton Spillers
1929/30 - W. Horton Spillers
1930/31 -W. Horton Spillers
1931/32 -W. Horton Spillers
1932/33 - W. Horton Spillers - On May 23, 1933, a newspaper article, appearing in THE FRESNO REPUBLICAN, states that Spillers was hired as the principal for Central Union High School for the upcoming school year. The same article also states that Spillers “served four years as principal of the Laton High School and will be succeeded at Laton by Cecil B. Hayes of Big Creek.”
1930/31 -W. Horton Spillers
1931/32 -W. Horton Spillers
1932/33 - W. Horton Spillers - On May 23, 1933, a newspaper article, appearing in THE FRESNO REPUBLICAN, states that Spillers was hired as the principal for Central Union High School for the upcoming school year. The same article also states that Spillers “served four years as principal of the Laton High School and will be succeeded at Laton by Cecil B. Hayes of Big Creek.”
Cecil B. Hayes
1933/34 -Cecil B. Hayes
1934/35 - Cecil B. Hayes
1935/36 - Cecil B. Hayes
1936/37 - Cecil B. Hayes
1937/38 - Cecil B. Hayes
1938/39 - Cecil B. Hayes
1939/40 - Cecil B. Hayes
1940/41 - Cecil B. Hayes
1941/42 - Cecil B. Hayes
1942/43 - Cecil B. Hayes
1943/44 - Cecil B. Hayes
1944/45 - Cecil B. Hayes
1945/46 - Cecil B. Hayes
1934/35 - Cecil B. Hayes
1935/36 - Cecil B. Hayes
1936/37 - Cecil B. Hayes
1937/38 - Cecil B. Hayes
1938/39 - Cecil B. Hayes
1939/40 - Cecil B. Hayes
1940/41 - Cecil B. Hayes
1941/42 - Cecil B. Hayes
1942/43 - Cecil B. Hayes
1943/44 - Cecil B. Hayes
1944/45 - Cecil B. Hayes
1945/46 - Cecil B. Hayes
James R. Ackerman
1946/47 - Joseph L. Blanchard
1947/48 - Joseph L. Blanchard
1948/49 - Joseph L. Blanchard
1949/50 - James R. Ackerman
1950/51 - James R. Ackerman
1951/52 - James R. Ackerman
1952/53 - James R. Ackerman
1947/48 - Joseph L. Blanchard
1948/49 - Joseph L. Blanchard
1949/50 - James R. Ackerman
1950/51 - James R. Ackerman
1951/52 - James R. Ackerman
1952/53 - James R. Ackerman
Clifford Johnson
1953/54 - Clifford Johnson
Paul Kercher
1954/55 - Paul Kercher
1955/56 - Paul Kercher
1956/57 - Paul Kercher
1957/58 - Paul Kercher
1958/59 - Paul Kercher
Tom Van Groningen
1959/60 - Tom Van Groningen
1960/61 - Tom Van Groningen
1961/62 - Tom Van Groningen
1962/63 - Tom Van Groningen
1964/64 - Tom Van Groningen
Donald Arakelian
1964/65 - Don Arakelian - Arakelian began his 39 years in the Laton Unified School District as a teacher in 1955/56. Through the many years, he also served as a counselor, vice principal and
principal. During those years he also served as the principal and as a teacher at the Conejo school.
1965/66 - Don Arakelian & Duane Dodson - Arakelian began the school year as Principal, however sometime during the year, Vice Principal Duane Dodson was appointed Principal when Arakelian accepted the position as the Director of a federal project that involved the school district .
1966/67 - Don Arakelian
1967/68 - Don Arakelian
1968/69 - Don Arakelian
1969/70 - Don Arakelian
principal. During those years he also served as the principal and as a teacher at the Conejo school.
1965/66 - Don Arakelian & Duane Dodson - Arakelian began the school year as Principal, however sometime during the year, Vice Principal Duane Dodson was appointed Principal when Arakelian accepted the position as the Director of a federal project that involved the school district .
1966/67 - Don Arakelian
1967/68 - Don Arakelian
1968/69 - Don Arakelian
1969/70 - Don Arakelian
1970/71 - Paul E. Martin
1971/72 - Paul E. Martin
1972/73 - Paul E. Martin
1973/74 - Paul E. Martin
1974/75 - Paul E. Martin
1975/76 - David B. Vaughn
1976/77 - David B. Vaughn
1977/78 - David B. Vaughn
1978/79 - David B. Vaughn
1979/80 - Lawrence A. Yeghoian
1980/81- Lawrence A. Yeghoian
1981/82 - Lawrence A. Yeghoian
1982/83 - Don Arakelian
1983/84 - Don Arakelian
1984/85 - Don Arakelian
1985/86 - Don Arakelian
1986/87 - Michael Finney
1987/88 - Michael Finney
1988/89 - Barry Dew
1989/90 - Barry Dew
1990/91 - Larry Rowe
1991/92 - Larry Rowe
1992/93 - Larry Rowe
1993/94 - Larry Rowe
1994/95 - Larry Rowe
1995/96 - Larry Rowe
1996/97 - Larry Rowe
1997/98 - Larry Rowe & Stephen Powers - Lowe was the Principal for the first half of the school year and Stephen Powers finished the last half of the year.
1998/99 - Dan Spence
1999/00 - Dan Spense
2000/01 - John Franich
2001/02 - John Franich
2002/03 - Rob Hudson - Hudson was the Principal and Superintendent.
2003/04 - Terry Anderson
2004/05 - Terry Anderson
2005/06 - Terry Anderson & Larry Rowe - Anderson began the school year as Principal but left to take the position of Assistant Superintendent in Riverdale. Larry Rowe became the principal upon Anderson’s departure.
2006/07 - James Reed
2007/08 - James Reed & John Martin - Reed, an Army Reserve Officer, was deployed to Kosovo during the school year and VP John Martin took on the duties of Principal.
2008/09 - Jame Reed & John Martin - In December 2008, Reed was again deployed and John Martin finished the year as Principal.
2009/10 - John Martin started the school year then Jim Reed returned from Afghanistan in late 2009 and completed the school year as Principal.
2010/11 – James Reed
2011/12 – James Reed
1971/72 - Paul E. Martin
1972/73 - Paul E. Martin
1973/74 - Paul E. Martin
1974/75 - Paul E. Martin
1975/76 - David B. Vaughn
1976/77 - David B. Vaughn
1977/78 - David B. Vaughn
1978/79 - David B. Vaughn
1979/80 - Lawrence A. Yeghoian
1980/81- Lawrence A. Yeghoian
1981/82 - Lawrence A. Yeghoian
1982/83 - Don Arakelian
1983/84 - Don Arakelian
1984/85 - Don Arakelian
1985/86 - Don Arakelian
1986/87 - Michael Finney
1987/88 - Michael Finney
1988/89 - Barry Dew
1989/90 - Barry Dew
1990/91 - Larry Rowe
1991/92 - Larry Rowe
1992/93 - Larry Rowe
1993/94 - Larry Rowe
1994/95 - Larry Rowe
1995/96 - Larry Rowe
1996/97 - Larry Rowe
1997/98 - Larry Rowe & Stephen Powers - Lowe was the Principal for the first half of the school year and Stephen Powers finished the last half of the year.
1998/99 - Dan Spence
1999/00 - Dan Spense
2000/01 - John Franich
2001/02 - John Franich
2002/03 - Rob Hudson - Hudson was the Principal and Superintendent.
2003/04 - Terry Anderson
2004/05 - Terry Anderson
2005/06 - Terry Anderson & Larry Rowe - Anderson began the school year as Principal but left to take the position of Assistant Superintendent in Riverdale. Larry Rowe became the principal upon Anderson’s departure.
2006/07 - James Reed
2007/08 - James Reed & John Martin - Reed, an Army Reserve Officer, was deployed to Kosovo during the school year and VP John Martin took on the duties of Principal.
2008/09 - Jame Reed & John Martin - In December 2008, Reed was again deployed and John Martin finished the year as Principal.
2009/10 - John Martin started the school year then Jim Reed returned from Afghanistan in late 2009 and completed the school year as Principal.
2010/11 – James Reed
2011/12 – James Reed