Bolton High School has a powerful past filled with lasting traditions. From the Alma Mater and the senior shout to Gayle, the legendary ghost who is said to haunt the halls of Bolton, certain tenets have been deeply embedded in the traditions of the school. It was named for the President of the School Board at the time of its construction, Mr. J. W. Bolton. The original building, located downtown, opened its doors in 1915. The current home of the Bears is located on Vance Avenue, and was finished in 1926. Bolton High School was entered into the National Register of Historical Places in 1984. Although the school is steeped in traditions dating back to its 1915 inception, it embraces the present digital age. Bolton continues to be ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best high schools in the nation, not simply in the state. Bolton students consistently maintain the highest ACT scores in the parish, and Bolton has produced more National Merit Scholars than any other school. Furthermore, winning the District Literary Rally for over 30 years is another proud tradition at Bolton.

The legacy of Bolton High School will reach 100 years in 2015. To commemorate its centennial year, plans are in order for several celebrations over the course of this school year. Homecoming will be held on October 3rd; the school will be open for alumni walkthroughs from 5:00pm until the start of the football game. During the game, the practice field behind the stadium will be a gathering spot for previous classes to mingle; during pre-game ceremonies, former coaches, principals, and homecoming queens will be recognized. The main activities are scheduled for April 24th and 25th. The festivities will include a golf tournament, a reception at Alexandria Museum of Arts, as well as activities on the school grounds for alumni of various clubs and groups they participated in while attending Bolton. All alumni and their families and present-day faculty and staff can attend every event of the celebration.  Former faculty, staff, coaches and current students are also welcome. Mrs. Donna Goff, Alumni Association president, said, “Many in our community graduated from Bolton; I hope it’s a great walk down memory lane. I hope the community has a better understanding of how historical Bolton is, as well as its standing in the state of Louisiana as a school of academic achievements.”

If an alumnus would like to contribute to the planning of the celebration, he or she should contact Linette Guillory at [email protected]. The school will be posting updates for events and deadlines via the school website at www.edline.net/pages/Bolton and the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BoltonBears100.