How did McClintock High School get its name?
McClintock High School is named after James H. McClintock (1864-1934). He was born in Sacramento, California. Captain McClintock commanded Troop B for Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, long before Roosevelt became president of the United States. The famed Rough Riders were a major force during the Spanish-American War as a mounted fighting unit. As the legend goes, the Rough Riders became known as the "Chargers" for the way they went into battle. We can all imagine Teddy Roosevelt saying, "Let's go Chargers!" A Rough Rider was not allowed to leave his duty, even to tend to the wounded and the motto "Once a Charger, Always a Charger" came into being. Please note that McClintock's mascot is not a lightening bolt as they have in San Diego!
After McClintock's time with the Rough Riders, he settled in the valley and was elected a colonel in what would become the National Guard. McClintock was a major player in the development of our area and was appointed postmaster of Phoenix. He continued a career in writing and wrote for his brother's newspaper, The Salt River Herald. He wrote for newspapers, magazines and literary works. McClintock was a member of the expedition to survey the site of the future Roosevelt Dam. McClintock was also a member of the first graduating class of the Territorial Normal School, now Arizona State University. Colonel McClintock later served as Arizona's official state historian, thus, being honored not only in the naming of a high school, but also in the selection of the name of the yearbook, the Historian.