History of Brigham Young High School

Principals from Start to Finish ~ 1875 to 1968

Background: Brigham Young Academy was always a high school, but over the years a post-high-school college was added. In 1903 BYA became BYU, with a College of Education. A vital part of the College of Education was BY High School, where future college students could be prepared, and where student teachers could gain experience under the watchful eye of master teachers.

As a result of this continuous history nineteen principals have served as "headmaster" of the high school on the Lower Campus block now known as Academy Square.

In 1968 this list of top high school administrators came to an abrupt end with the unfortunate closing of the historic Brigham Young High School.

Note: Additional biographical information about these principals can be found by looking them up by name on this website.

I
Warren Dusenberry
1875 ~ 1876

II
Karl G. Maeser
1876 ~ 1892

III
Benjamin Cluff
1892 ~ 1895

IV
George Brimhall
1895 ~ 1900

V
Nels Lars Nelson
1900 ~ 1904

VI
Edwin S. Hinckley
1904 ~ 1909

VII
William H. Boyle
1909 ~ 1926

VIII
Asael C. Lambert
1926 ~ 1928

IX
Edgar Jensen
1928 ~ 1935

X
Golden L. Woolf
1935 ~ 1946

XI
A. John Clarke
1946 ~ 1949

XII
Herbert Christensen
1949 ~ 1950

XIII
Wayne Sorenson
1950 ~ 1952

XIV
Rowan C. Stutz
1952 ~ 1954

XV
Morris A. Shirts
1954 ~ 1956

XVI
Don L. McConkie
1956 ~ 1957

XVII
Avard Rigby
1957 ~ 1959

XVIII
H. David Nelson
1959 ~ 1964

XIV
Lowell Thomson
1964 ~ 1968

Principal Lowell Thomson and 1968 Student Body President John Maas still in shock as they read the Provo Daily Herald banner headline announcing the closing of Brigham Young High School. (Photo by Hal Williams)

We encourage alumni and friends of Brigham Young High School to send in additional historical information. Click on beehive below for additional instructions.

Readers are encouraged to send in additional and more complete historical information. Click on the button above to learn more.