Walther Christian Academy

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Walther Christian Academy
File:Walther Christian Academy, More Than College Prep Logo.jpg
Address
900 Chicago Avenue [1]
Melrose Park, Illinois 60160
United States
Information
Type Private, Coeducational
Denomination Lutheran
Established 1954 [2]
Principal Jim Craven [3]
Grades 912
Color(s) Green & White
Slogan More Than College Prep
Fight song Bronco Fight Song
Athletics conference Suburban Christian Conference
Mascot Bronco
Team name Broncos
Accreditation North Central Association of Colleges and Schools[4]
Yearbook Remuda
Website

Walther Christian Academy (Formerly Known as Walther Lutheran High School) a private high school in Melrose Park, Illinois, United States.

History

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Walther was founded and built in its present location thanks to the foresight of a number of leaders of Lutheran congregations in the western suburbs. St. Paul Melrose park had purchased the land from Superior Street to Iowa Street a bargain price. Since St. Paul was planning on building a new church and school, they wanted to sell this land to get funds for their building project. The church leaders in the area thought this would be an excellent location for a third Lutheran high school in the Chicago area and the wheels were set in motion. There were several laymen from the surrounding congregations who played a key role in development of Walther. Most prominent was Bill Bussert of St. Paul, who built a log cabin on the property which could be used for church purposes, and to show the community that they were serious about building a high school there. Other prominent laymen were:

  • Art Mesenbrin and Otto Wentland (St. Paul Melrose Park)
  • Ed Schmidtke (St. John, Forest Park)
  • Wayne Schroeder and Harold Garbers (Grace, River Forest)
  • Frank Baker (Immanuel, Elmhurst)
  • Dick Laux (St. Paul, Addison)
  • Ted Reimann (Christ, Oak Park)

There were many others (including the supporting pastors) but these men all played a very prominent role in raising funds and gaining support for the new school. The Lutheran High School Association wanted to name the new school Luther West to match the Chicago schools (Luther South and Luther North) but Fred Meyer and especially Ed Schmidtke were adamantly opposed to that name. They brainstormed with other leaders and came up with Walther Lutheran High School after C.F.W. Walther, the first president of the LCMS, and because the congregation you groups in those days were called Walther Leagues. The nickname “Broncos” came because Walther was the school “out west.”

There were 34 sophomores and 72 freshmen that first year at Walther.

References

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External links