2026 is a special year for Heritage High. The school is celebrating its 50th birthday. Homecoming is on Oct. 23 and 24, and students, staff, and alumni are preparing for an extra meaningful celebration.
“Heritage High School has made an impact on so many lives, and we’re proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its opening this year,” Principal Tim Beatty said.
Over the past half-century, Heritage has become an irreplaceable part of the Lynchburg community. Take a walk down memory lane with us as we relive the history of the iconic institution.
Photo caption: Heritage kicks off the school year with a cake to celebrate both the school’s 50th birthday and Principal Tim Beatty’s birthday in August.
The Early Days
Heritage High opened in August of 1976. Before that, E. C. Glass was the city’s only high school. Construction of the $11.2 million building was underway, so classes were held in the old Sandusky Junior High School building for the first year.
Whit Clark was an assistant principal when Heritage first opened. He remembers the thrill and uncertainty of those early days.
“It was an exciting time. I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” Clark said. “That first year, we had lots of pep rallies to draw students in and promote school spirit. We wanted them to join clubs, play a sport…do something to get involved in the school. Heritage brought people together from all different parts of Lynchburg and the counties. We grew into a group. It was like a family.”
Photo caption: Jim Swisher, the first Heritage principal, studies a map displaying the neighborhoods newly rezoned for Heritage High School. Photo from the 1977 yearbook.
Despite the temporary location, Heritage High started its new adventure strong. Students and staff began to form a sense of shared identity as the year unfolded.
“We were very conscious of setting precedents. Each event throughout the year was a ‘first,’ and we strived for each to set a standard of excellence. As the year progressed, we became increasingly proud of our choices. We responded quickly to the new but familiar sound of ‘Pioneer,’” reads the school’s first yearbook.
The Pioneers were eager to live up to Heritage High School’s name. A special Lynchburg City School Board committee chaired by James Candler chose it, casting a vision for future success while building on existing traditions.
“This name shall call to mind both the pride in achievements in the past and shall hold forth a challenge for greater progress in the future,” announced the committee.
Photo caption: Students showed their school pride by participating in extracurricular activities, like the school’s marching band—otherwise known as the Big Orange Marching Machine. Photo from the 1977 yearbook.
The quest to form a unique identity for Heritage was largely led by students. According to Clark, students selected the school colors and chose uniform designs for the sports teams.
“The students would come up to me in the halls and ask for my opinions. They asked me about the school colors, and I said, ‘What about burnt orange, blue, and white?’” Clark said. “No schools around here had that color scheme. We wanted to stand out, to be different.”
The student body voted on a mascot in October. Students submitted 31 proposals, including an astronaut and an orange duck. The iconic mascot we know and love today, an old-timey pioneer with a coonskin cap, emerged victorious.
Photo caption: (First photo) Teachers view the unfinished building in May of 1977. (Second photo) Assistant principals Ralph Spencer (left) and Whit Clark (right) unload equipment for the new building. Photos from the 1977 yearbook.
50 Years, Two Buildings
Summer arrived after a successful school year, and the pressure was on. Heritage’s permanent building was still under construction. Staff, students, and family members gave their all to ensure it could open in time for the school year. Clark remembers coordinating volunteers to unload tractor-trailers full of equipment for the new building.
“There were so many volunteers helping us get the new building ready. It got parents enthusiastic. They wanted the school to be ready for their kids. The whole community was in on it. It was amazing to see it come together,” Clark said.
On Sept. 6, 1977, the new Heritage High building off Timberlake Road opened its doors to students. Built into a hill, it featured a unique five-story design with ground-level access on multiple levels.
Photo caption: The original Heritage High School building.
“When we moved into the new high school, it was really special. There was a lot of excitement,” Clark said.
Heritage High called this building home for nearly 40 years before moving into the modern facility it inhabits today. Those who were around back then remember the original Heritage fondly.
“That building meant a lot to people in our community. Many people have fond memories of it, especially some of the older alumni,” Beatty said. “Of course, it had its quirks—namely all the stairs you had to climb to get from place to place. But it was a special building, and I’m honored to have experienced Heritage before and after the move.”
Beatty shepherded the transition to the building Heritage occupies today, which opened a decade ago on Aug. 15, 2016. The 266,000-square-foot building is a state-of-the-art facility full of natural light, modern technology, and thoughtfully designed spaces. Perhaps best of all, it’s only two stories tall.
“It was cool to witness the process. While we were in the old building, we could see the new one slowly being built. We were able to walk over to the lot when it was just mud and beams, and say, ‘this is where the main office is going to be,’” Beatty said.
Photo caption: (First photo) The old Heritage High School building. (Second photo) The new building.
Once a Pioneer, Always a Pioneer
A constant through the school’s evolution, Beatty has been at Heritage for almost thirty years. He served as a teacher, assistant principal, and associate principal before becoming the school’s head principal in 2012.
“I did my student teaching here in 1998. From the moment I set foot in the building, the faculty was very warm and receptive to me. Heritage has always had a family-like atmosphere,” Beatty said. “We work together to do what’s best for the school and the kids. It’s a unique place.”
Photo caption (from left to right): Former Heritage High principals Robert Miller, Mark Miear, and Roger Roberts, and current principal Tim Beatty.
It’s not uncommon for staff members to spend decades at Heritage. It has a way of converting people into lifelong Pioneers. Many teachers and employees attended the school themselves.
One such employee is Robin Wrabley, who’s going on 18 years as the Heritage school nurse. She graduated in 1981 with the first class to spend all four years in the original building.
“There’s a photo of me moving furniture into the first school building. To think that was 50 years ago feels like an out-of-body experience,” Wrabley said.
Photo caption: Robin Wrabley (right) and a fellow student unpack a box of equipment for the new school building. Photo from the 1978 yearbook.
Though much has changed since Wrabley’s days as a student, the school’s essence has remained the same. It continues to unite people of all walks of life with a shared sense of belonging.
“People stick around because it feels like a family. There’s a real sense of pride in this community. We support each other,” Wrabley said.
Many Heritage employees see their work as a way to give back to the community that raised them. Now the school’s scholarship coordinator, Nannette Boswell hopes to emulate the staff who supported her through her teenage years.
“I loved every part of my time at Heritage. When I was a senior in high school, I got really sick and spent a lot of time in the hospital. I still remember the teachers who were there for me through that,” said Boswell, who graduated in 1995. “Now that I’m a staff member here, I hope to make a positive impact on students’ lives.”
Photo caption: Heritage alumni faculty and staff. Front row (from left to right): Kelly Bryant (class of 1985), Tamara Johnson (1985), Robin Wrabley (1981), Tony Crews (1987), Nannette Boswell (1995), and Monica Tucker (1998). Back row: Nicolette Calloway (2008), Brittany Ferguson (2008), Brandon Stanberry (2002), Lastacia Davis (2006), Michael Wetzel (2018), and Taylor Wisskirchen (2020).
Pioneer Pride
Boswell is leading a group of graduates-turned-employees in organizing festivities for the year ahead, including a 5k and the burying of a time capsule. Committee members have been connecting with alumni as part of the planning process.
“I’ve enjoyed talking to alumni and hearing about their memories. It’s a cool way to study history—learning about local experiences from living, breathing sources,” Wetzel said.
Heritage has a robust alumni network beyond its employees. Graduates continue to support Pioneer athletics and the award-winning theatre program, attend homecoming events, stay connected with their classmates, and more. Students maintain a fierce sense of collective pride in the school’s accomplishments long after they turn their tassels.
“We’ve always sort of had an underdog mentality, and I think it’s served us well. When Heritage was founded, Glass was the established high school in town. We had to make a name for ourselves,” Beatty said. “We’ve come a long way, and we continue to work hard, serve our community, and be the best school we can be.”
Photo caption: Heritage brings out its “secret weapon,” an orange utility vehicle with a flag attached, to build hype at football games. See the iconic vehicle in 1991 (first photo) and now (second photo).
The Pioneers are proud of their school—and for good reason. Heritage has built a legacy of greatness over the past half-century. The school has a history of excellence in academics and the arts.
The athletics program is a formidable force, too. The track and field program boasts more than 20 state championship wins. The football program is a regional powerhouse, emerging as state runner-up in 2012, 2017, and 2022 and winning the state championship in 2018. The wrestling team won the regional championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Heritage has also produced several notable alumni. Paris Lenon, Keith Hamilton, Chris Cook, and Chris Parker went on to play in the NFL. Kevin Keatts coached college basketball for North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Leland Melvin, a NASA astronaut and engineer, served on board the space shuttle Atlantis. He regularly visits schools across the division to inspire and motivate students.
Alumni who aren’t NFL players or astronauts have become leaders in the local community and beyond. Heritage graduates are doctors, business owners, firefighters, police officers, lawyers, and more.
“There’s a lot to celebrate. Heritage has produced incredible graduates, set the standard for success, and established ourselves as a place people are proud to call home,” Beatty said.
Photo caption: Astronaut Leland Melvin visits Perrymont Elementary School.
The Future is Orange
As the Pioneers celebrate 50 years, they look forward to many more. With a legacy of achievement and a community of dedicated students, staff, alumni, and families, the future is brighter than ever.
“Heritage has come a long way since we first opened. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I know we will continue to excel for generations to come,” Beatty said.
Community members are invited to celebrate Heritage on homecoming weekend:
- Homecoming Football Game | Friday, Oct. 23: Cheer for the Pioneers as they play against Liberty High School at 7 p.m. at Lynchburg City Stadium (3180 Fort Avenue, Lynchburg, VA, 24501). The game will feature a special alumni recognition. Get tickets on GoFan.
- Museum of Heritage | Saturday, Oct. 24: Stop by between 10 a.m. and noon for a pop-up exhibit featuring memorabilia from the past 50 years, plus tours of the school building. Guests should park in the faculty lot and enter through Door 1 at Heritage High School (3101 Wards Ferry Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502).
Photo caption: Students show their Pioneer spirit in 1996 (first photo) and in 2026 (second photo).