Mumford High School Alumni Association

Great Contributions - Mumford High School (Michigan)

Dec 22, 2007

Samuel C. Mumford High School

Mumford has contributed greatly to the world of entertainment. Among its alumni are: TV & movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer, whose credits include, "Beverly Hills Cop," "Flashdance," "Pirates of The Caribbean," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and "CSI: Miami;" producer/actor/director Bob Shaye, co-founder of New Line Cinema, and producer of the original "Nightmare On Elm Street;" screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin, whose credits include, "Deep Impact," "Sleeping with the Enemy," and the Patrick Swayze film, "Ghost." Also: Gospel singing greats The Winans, The Clark Sisters, Fred Hammond, Deitrick Haddon, jazz musician Earl Klugh, long time Detroit radio DJ and nationally renowned voice-over announcer Gerald McBride, and long time Detroit TV news anchor Carmen Harlan of WDIV-TV.

In the world of classical music, Mumford graduates include Ruth Meckler Laredo, prominent concert pianist, and Robert Israel, who has designed costumes and sets for opera productions all over the world.

Ivan Boesky, a 1955 Mumford graduate, is notorious for his prominent role in the Wall Street insider trading scandal that occurred in the United States during the mid-1980s

The principal is Linda Spight. The student population is approximately 2,000 students.

Eddie Murphy wore a Mumford t-shirt in the 1984 movie Beverly Hills Cop. The shirt read, "Mumford Phys Ed Dept." The movie was produced by Mumford alum Bruckheimer.[1] The authentic Mumford Phys Ed Dept t-shirt was powder blue, with burgundy lettering, the school's official colors. (The entire school building is powder blue. A special type of limestone blocks were imported to build the school.)

It should be noted that, during the 1950s and 60s, Mumford High School served a large Jewish student and faculty population - as was case at Central High School and later, Henry Ford High School - hence Mumford's "powder blue" motif (including the school's kosher cafeteria dinnerware). As the city's demographics began to shift, by the late 1970s, Mumford served an almost exclusive African American student and faculty population. (As of 2007 Mumford's student population is approximately 100% African American.)

Nationally known Radio Personality "Big Deal" Ron James (DeRon Ayers)attended the school and left a lasting impression on all staff members, especially Sam Taub (Athletic Director), Sharon Davis (Student Activities Director), Elizabeth Green (Principal), and Dr. Robin Odom (Principal) with his charisma and never ending pranks!