Welcome to Renaissance High home of the cadets?

Montgomery’s new east side high school is one more step closer to reality with its proposed identity hammered out, but what school names and mascots didn’t make the cut?

Well, we’ll catch you up on all the names that weren’t, in Sunday’s paper — some are pretty interesting.

A U.S. Air Force Thunderbird banks over the airfield Thursday as they arrive at Maxwell Air Force Base for the Wings of Victory Airshow in June 2004. (Montgomery Advertiser file photo, Julie Bennett)

But in the meantime here are some of the contenders that got cut from the list at last night’s committee meeting (and cut from my story that was a bit too long). And in case you missed what the committee settled on see that here — Go P.C. Thunderbirds go!

The committee narrowed the field to Renaissance High School, East Montgomery High School, Taylor Field High School and Horizon High School. As you saw in the paper the previously discussed Taylor Field High was ruled out because its meaning might not be obvious to those outside Montgomery.

East Montgomery High was deemed easily outdated since what is east Montgomery now might not be 10 years later and Renaissance High proved tricky to spell and had an arts school connotation. Horizon High was ruled out since while meant as a military reference, it might not be obvious.

The group also considered the redtails, cadets and cardinals as potential mascots trying to keep with the military theme but finally settled on thunderbirds. And while the idea of a thunderbird is majestic and powerful and certainly intriguing, am I the only one thinking of the car? I also keep wanting to say thundercats for some reason (don’t ask me why). That is apparently some sort of cartoon series.

Former MPS teacher Carolyn Hicks stands by her restored 1957 Ford Thunderbird. She drove the car to her first job with MPS and 30 years later in 2006 drove it to work on her last day as she retired from the system. (Montgomery Advertiser file photo, Lloyd Gallman)

Also interesting to note, the committee tossed around the idea of possibly getting a retired aircraft of some kind to place on the school’s campus.

So, what do you think of the potential name?

Remember nothing is set in stone. The name recommendation could be accepted by Superintendent Barbara Thompson or tossed out for something new and after that a name, mascot and colors must still be approved by the board.

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