Riverside Military Academy

Riverside Preparatory Academy is a private, college preparatory, boarding and day school for boys in grades 6 through 12 in Gainesville, Georgia, United States.

History

The school was founded as Riverside Military Academy in 1907 by local professors and businessmen Haywood Jefferson Pearce and Azor Warner Van Hoose, Jr with the mission of preparing ethical young men for success in college and life.

Riverside officially opened its doors during the Fall 1908, but would not gain prominence until 1913 when a young Professor from Stone Mountain, Georgia, Edgar Dunlap "Sandy" Beaver (later General) became the Director of Riverside Military Academies' Academics and Military Department. Riverside had a Winter campus in Hollywood, Florida, which briefly was used as a Naval Air Gunners School during WWII, from 1931 until 1984, when it was sold. The Gainesville campus underwent renovations from 1997 until 2004, adding a new barracks building, academics building, gymnasium, and a library and performing arts center.

In 2022, the school rebranded as Riverside Preparatory Academy to emphasize its academic successful, while still holding on to a modified military mission.

Awards

Riverside Preparatory Academy won "Best Band" by virtual appearance in the Atlanta Veteran's Day Parade in 2020.

Riverside Preparatory Academy won its 10th consecutive Atlanta Veterans Day, "Presidents' Trophy" in 2019.

The Riverside Preparatory Academy Track & Field team was crowned 2018 GHSA state champions.

Notable alumni

• Félix Arturo González Canto, governor of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo (1987)
• James Earl Carter Sr., father of U.S. President Jimmy Carter (Attended 1911)
• Tyler Carter, former clean vocalist of the metalcore bands Woe, Is Me and Issues
• Khalid Duke, college football defensive end for the Kansas State Wildcats
• CeeLo Green (Thomas DeCarlo Callaway), singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor
• Bobby Greenwood, professional golfer (Attended 1957)
• Admiral David L. McDonald, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations during the Vietnam War (1924)
• Victor Miguel Pacheco Mendez, President of AraJet
• Victor Oscar Pacheco Mendez, CEO of Grupo VOPM; founder of Panacrédito
• Arturo "Chico" O'Farrill, composer, arranger, and conductor (1938)
• Offset (Kiari Kendrell Cephus), American rapper part of rapper group, Migos (Attended 2008)
• Patrick O'Neal, actor
• George P. Oslin, inventor of the singing telegram (1913)
• Luis M. Proenza, university president (1962)
• Tommy Prothro, football coach (1938)
• Johnny Riddle, baseball player (1926)
• Red Sanders, football coach (1923)
• Everett Strupper, leading scorer in the Georgia Tech 222, Cumberland 0 football game of 1916; member of the College Football Hall of Fame (1914)
• Douglass Watson, soap opera actor (1938)

References

1. List of United States military schools and academies
2. Massanutten Military Academy
3. Patrick O'Neal (actor)
4. Sophomore
5. Sandy Beaver
6. Military high school
7. Mens sana in corpore sano
8. Elijah Holyfield
9. James Earl Carter Sr.
10. National Honor Society
11. List of boarding schools in the United States
12. Red Sanders
13. Khalid Duke
14. Victor Miguel Pacheco Mendez
15. David Duke
16. R. B. Gautier Jr.
17. Guy Gardner (astronaut)
18. List of schools in Georgia (U.S. state)
19. Gainesville, Georgia
20. Nizar Zakka