Two moments of difficulty stand out in Central High School’s history–the Spirit of Six tragedy and a case of arson.
Central High School, originally established in 1923, has had a proud history, but its past hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Two of its biggest rough spots were the death of six cheerleaders and a fire burning one of the campus buildings down.
The first to occur was the “Spirit of Six” tragedy in 1968, where six varsity cheerleaders were killed in a plane crash. On Sunday, March 17, 1968, Shirley Landstrom, 18, Jan Glaze, 17, Laurene Kay McNutt, 18, Diana McCluskey, 17, Gail Fhlor, 16, Terry Blanton, 16, along with pilot Ivan Landstorm, his wife, Mary (Shirley’s parents), and English teacher and cheer advisor Dorothy Lloyd were on board of the plane headed back home from the State A boys’ basketball tournament. It was just after 11 AM when the twin-engine Beechcraft plane crashed while trying to land at what was then Rapid City Municipal Airport. Every single person on the plane lost their life that day. The community came together to grieve the loss of the young souls and raise money in support of the families. Over $5,000 was received along with cards, letters, and telegrams – expressions of sympathy for the death of six.
Two years later, on December 5TH, 1970, Central High experienced turmoil as fire alarms sounded just after lunch, leading to a school-wide evacuation. Despite the prompt arrival of firefighters, their efforts were hindered by a malfunction with the equipment. The principal of Central High, Dr. William Mitchell, said flames were spotted in the restroom area in the Washington building. With strong wind gusts of 30-40 MPH, the fire quickly spread to the front of the building and its roof. The aftermath left 24 classrooms unusable, forcing the school to adapt by combining classes, extending school days, and utilizing temporary spaces such as Rapid City Public Library and a nearby Catholic church. The cause of the fire was determined to be sophomores, Carl W. McClure, 15, and Joel T. Lunsford, 16, who were found guilty of starting the fire in the attic that day. The trial revealed a tense story as both boys tried to shift blame, but eventually, both boys were sentenced to serve time at the State Training School until the age of 21.
Each chapter of Central’s history has left an indelible mark, teaching and shaping the lives of countless individuals who have passed through the doors. The past of our school has taught us the importance of tradition and honoring our own. Every tragedy taught us a lesson, but it’s important we come together as a community to recognize our history and learn from it. Once a Cobbler, Always a Cobbler.
The Pine Needle 