What you need to know
- Madison Local Schools is hosting several events throughout the school year to celebrate the district’s 100th anniversary.
- The first event, an alumni football game, takes place Aug. 30.
- Alumni football players, band, cheerleaders, Ramettes and majorettes who wish to participate in alumni performances must register by July 31.
- Community members can stay up-to-date on events celebrating the Centennial by visiting the 100 Years of Madison Facebook page.
MADISON TOWNSHIP — It’s been nearly 100 years since the first Madison High School opened its doors.
Madison Local Schools is planning a series of events leading up to the district’s Centennial anniversary, starting with an alumni football game next month.
Before the Aug. 30 home game, Madison will have a “Memory Lane” event from 4 to 6 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Old yearbooks will be on display, as well as other Madison memorabilia.
The district is also inviting all alumni to get involved in the game itself.
Alumni who register by July 31 will receive a t-shirt with this design as well as entry into the August 30 alumni football game. Registration is $20. Credit: Madison Local Schools 
A commemorative print out shows Madison Local Schools’ 20th century facilities, each listed with the year the building was constructed. 
Credit: Madison Local Schools 
Credit: Madison Local Schools
Alumni football players and coaches will return and form a tunnel for the team as it enters the stadium.
Alumni band members, Ramettes and majorettes will have the chance to participate in the halftime show. Alumni cheerleaders will join the 2024 squad on the track.
Madison grads who register by July 31 will receive an anniversary t-shirt along with their ticket to the game. Registration is available via this link. The cost is $20. All proceeds will benefit the Madison Athletic and Music Boosters.
Food trucks will also be onsite during the game. Members of the district’s Centennial Committee are also gathering trivia about the district to share during timeouts and quarter breaks.
Kelly O’Brien, a member of the Centennial Committee, said she uncovered the history of the school’s mascot, Sam the Ram.
“The Gramley family owned a nearby farm, and they offered to lend their ram for home games,” O’Brien said. “Longtime Ram booster Sam Fox owned a local jewelry store and attended all athletic events. He donated gold footballs and basketballs to all senior lettermen and cheerleaders every year.
“Madison named our mascot ‘Sam the Ram’ in honor of Mr. Fox.”
Another anniversary: 50 years of career technical education
The original Madison High School opened in 1925, one year after Madison Township voters approved a $110,000 bond issue to build it, according to archived issues of the Mansfield Daily Journal.
Supt. Rob Peterson, a 1986 Madison graduate, said he’s excited to celebrate the district’s 100th year.
“I’m just really appreciative of the education and the extracurricular opportunities that I got here,” he said.
“I think the district played a pivotal part in shaping who I am today. Madison has meant a lot to me and done a lot for me and my family.”
Principal Melissa Wigton of Eastview Elementary said she believes it’s important to commemorate Madison’s centennial because of the vital role schools play in the community.
“As alumni, some of our fondest memories occurred within the walls of our Madison school buildings, playgrounds, courts, and fields,” she said. “It’s exciting that after 100 years, our schools are still continuing to pour in and positively impact the lives of the Madison Community.”
The district is also celebrating 50 years of career technical education this school year.
Peterson said the decision to add CTE — then referred to as vocational education — was a controversial one at the time.
“Back then, we’re talking mid-70s, everybody was all about ‘You need to go to college,'” he said.
Nevertheless, CTE became an integral part of the school’s culture.
“We have 70 percent of our kids go into a career-tech program,” Peterson said.
“We’ve have a lot of kids that go to college as well. Some of our career tech kids go on to post-secondary education. So it’s provided our kids with a lot of different opportunities.”
The district will continue honoring Madison history throughout the school year, with special recognitions at other sporting events and a reception for retired staff, Peterson said.
Community members can stay up-to-date on events celebrating the centennial by visiting the 100 Years of Madison Facebook page.
