Nile C. Kinnick MS History
Opened: 1967
Closed: 1980
According to the 1978 yearbook, the origins of Kinnick Middle School can be traced back to 1924, which was the year after the great Tokyo earthquake. That year the main building was constructed as a Japanese school but in 1939 was converted into a hospital for Japanese forces. From 1945 until 1952, it served as headquarters for US Naval Forces, Japan.
In the fall of 1948, the forerunner of Kinnick Middle School was opened in Negishi as part of the high school. It was moved into its new building in the fall of 1952 and at that time included grades one to twelve.
Originally named Yokohama-American High School, it was renamed on April 19, I960 in memory of Nile C. Kinnick, Jr., becoming Nile C. Kinnick Junior-Senior High School. In November 1971, the high school moved to Yokosuka, finally leaving Nile C. Kinnick Middle School with a facility of its own.
As a young man, Nile C. Kinnick, Jr. was selected captain of the All-American football team and was the holder of the Heisman Trophy for 1939. He was also voted U.S. Male Athlete of the Year over baseball's Joe DiMaggio. On June 2, 1943, while on a training flight of the island of Trinidad and only four miles from the carrier Lexington, an oil leak caused his F-4F’s engine to suddenly freeze from lack of oil, forcing him to make a fatal emergency landing into the sea. When the Lexington arrived at the scene, only a petroleum slick remained.
Dr. Lowell Jacobson was the principal of Kinnick Middle School from the early seventies until 1978. His assistants were M. Ikeda and Ms. Renz. Mr. John Suchy succeeded Dr. Jacobson.
In the mid-seventies the middle school had grades five through eight and an enrollment between 360 and 400 students. For the 1977-78 school year, the fourth grade was added to the middle school.
The school mascot was the cougar. The yearbook was The Unlimited. Student activities included clubs for typing, photography, ukelele, and student council. The middle school students participated in an intramural program that included baseball and basketball. A sport unique to the school and reflective of the Japanese culture was Sumo wrestling. There was an active band and drama program.
The middle school again became a part of the high school in 1980.
Information from websites, “Nile Kinnick” Wikipedia, and school yearbooks