Leadership through Communication

DCHS Forensic Team                                             Contact us at dchsforensics@hotmail.com

DCHS Forensic Team History

Below, you can find a timeline of the team and a list of national qualifiers and alternates who attended nationals from 1931-present.

Timeline of the Team

1936- First NFL Charter granted to Dickson High School

1939- DHS becomes the largest NFL chapter in Tennessee and wins its first NFL Cumulative District Tournament Trophy, Dickson also wins the Leading Chapter Award

1940- Mrs. Dockie Shipp Weems was awarded the NFL Distinguished Service Key

1941- DHS wins the NFL National Tournament Sweepstakes (the only school to ever win in Tennessee, the first school from the South,the first team to win the award without a debate team, and the fourth school ever), wins its second NFL Cumulative District Tournament Trophy

late 1940s-early 1950s: "Miss Dockie" retires and Mrs. Harlan Bruce takes her position as forensic coach at Dickson High School

1957- DHS wins the NFL Leading Chapter Award

1962- NFL District Committee renews DHS Charter

1971- NFL Charter expires

1970s- Ms. Joy Durham takes on the responsibility of being the forensic coach at the new Dickson County High School, Forensic Team gradually disappeared by the late 1970s

1986- DCHS Forensic Team restarted initially with Mr. Randy Sullivan as coach who later gives his coaching duties to his wife, Mrs. Glenda Sullivan

1990- Mr. Randy Sullivan takes over coaching duties again while Mrs. Glenda Sullivan takes a year off to complete her master's degree in theatre

1991- DCHS re-chartered by NFL under the guidance of a returning Mrs. Glenda Sullivan

1992- Mrs. Glenda Sullivan wins the THSSDL District II Educator of the Year Award

1993- DCHS wins the first of fifteen consecutive THSSDL District II Titles

1994- Mrs. Dockie Shipp Weems inducted posthumously into the THSSDL Hall of Fame

1995- Mrs. Glenda Sullivan receives the Ruby Krider Award and her second THSSDL District II Educator of the Year Award, DCHS wins its first Lamar Alexander Congress Cup at the NFL District Congress

1997- DCHS wins the Cumulative District Tournament Trophy for the third time

1998- Mrs. Glenda Sullivan becomes an NFL Diamond Coach

1999- DCHS wins its second Lamar Alexander Congress Cup at the NFL District Congress

2001- DCHS awarded its second NFL Leading Chapter Award, DCHS wins its third Lamar Alexander Congress Cup at the NFL District Congress

2002- Spencer Lewis becomes the first NFL National Champion from DCHS when he wins the Lincoln Financial Group Video Contest

2003- Mrs. Glenda Sullivan was awarded the NFL Distinguished Service Key, earns status as an NFL Double Diamond Coach, and named as the new member of the THSSDL Hall of Fame, DCHS wins its fourth Lamar Alexander Congress Cup at the NFL District Congress

2004- DCHS wins its first sweepstakes plaque at the NFL District Tournament and its fifth Lamar Alexander Congress Cup at the NFL District Congress, DCHS sends 6 students to the National Tournament (the first time since 1939), Blake Jones wins the second National Championship for DCHS, Laura Baker was the National Runner-Up in the Lincoln Financial Group Video Contest

2005- DCHS wins its sixth Lamar Alexander Congress Cup at the NFL District Congress, Patrick Bishop wins the third National Championship for DCHS, Cassie Mills was the National Runner-Up in the Lincoln Financial Group Video Contest, Blake Jones and Spencer Lewis rejoin the team as assistant coaches

2006- Dickson wins its seventh Lamar Alexander Congress Cup at the NFL District Congress, Mr. Randy Sullivan received the THSSDL Ruby Krider Educator of the Year Award

2007- Dickson wins the NFL District Tournament Traveling Trophy for the first time since 1997, DCHS wins its eighth Lamar Alexander Congress Cup at the NFL District Congress, and the Public Forum Debate team of Phillip Masengill and Steven Winterfeldt becomes the first debate team to ever qualify to nationals in the team's history.  At Nationals, Phillip Masengill is recognized as a winner of the Wayne Brown Show Me Excellence Award for qualifying to nationals four times.  Masengill and Steven bring home main events trophies, placing 13th in the Nation in PFD Debate.  Phillip Masengill graduates from high school with the highest NFL points on record to date in Tennessee.  Mrs. Glenda Sullivan is awarded an NFL Distinguished Service Award Plaque.

National Qualifiers and Alternates Competing at Nationals (1931-present)The following list shows all the competitors who qualified for the National Tournament or those who competed as alternates.

2007- Phillip Masengill, Senate (qualified,  but attended in PFD debate) (State Champion),  Phillip Masengill & Steven Winterfeldt, Public Forum Debate (Phillip and Steven won National Trophy for 13th in Nation in PFD Debate)

Phillip Masengill, Senate (qualified but chose to go in IX), Patrick Bishop, United States Extemporaneous Speaking (State Champion), Phillip Masengill, International Extemporaneous Speaking (alternate), 2006- Tim Williams, Dramatic Interpretation (alternate)

2005- Cassie Mills, Expository Speaking (qualified by placing 2nd in the Lincoln Financial Group Video Contest)

2005- Cassie Mills, House of Representatives (State Champion)

2005- Patrick Bishop, House of Representatives (State Champion, won National Championship in Expository Speaking), Phillip Masengill, Senate, Laura Baker, Original Oratory (attended as alternate), Loren Brown, Original Oratory (didn’t attend)

2004- Laura Baker, Expository Speaking (qualified by placing 2nd in the Lincoln Financial Group Video Contest), Joel Higgins, House of Representatives (State Champion), Joel Higgins, Dramatic Interpretation,  Nathan Warf, United States Extemporaneous Speaking (State Champion), Phillip Masengill, International Extemporaneous Speaking (State Champion), Loren Brown, House of Representatives (alternate)

2004- Blake Jones, International Extemporaneous Speaking (won National Championship in Expository Speaking)

2003- Blake Jones, SenateBlake Jones, International Extemporaneous Speaking

2002- Blake Jones, Senate, Spencer Lewis, Expository Speaking (placed 6th in Expository, won a National Championship in the Lincoln Financial Group Video Contest)

2001- John Stewart, House of Representatives

2000- Michael Baggett, Senate, Vallerye Anderson, House of Representatives

1999- Michael Baggett, Senate (State Champion), Shawn Lewis, Humorous Interpretation

1998- Trey Richardson, Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking (alternate)

1997- Preetha Mani, Original Oratory (State Champion)

1997- Antonio Smith, Dramatic Interpretation

1996- Ginger Finney & Preetha Mani, Duo Interpretation (State Champion)

1996- Jennifer Bradley, Senate (alternate)

1996- Preetha Mani, Original Oratory

1995- Jennifer Bradley, Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking (alternate)

1995- Maitreya Dunham, Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking (State Champion)

1993- Meredith Long, Original Oratory (State Champion)

1991- Robert Kimbro, Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking, Anson Mount IV, Dramatic Interpretation (alternate)

1963- Mark Field, Humorous Interpretation (State Champion)

1959- Jack Beasley, Original Oratory,  Jack Beasley, Dramatic Interpretation (State Champion), Margaret Johnson, Oratorical Declamation (State Champion)

1952- Henry Miller, Humorous Declamation (State Champion)

1947- Tommy Seay, Humorous Declamation (placed 3rd in the nation)

1947- Tommy Seay, Dramatic Declamation (State Champion)

1947- Sandy Organ, Humorous Declamation (State Champion)

1946- Tommy Seay, Humorous Declamation (State Champion)

1941- Lucile Crosby, Humorous Declamation

1941- Reba Clement, Humorous Declamation (placed 6th in the nation)

1941- Billy Stewart, Dramatic Declamation

1941- Clark Mack, Extemporaneous Speaking

1941- Jack Duncan, Original Oratory

1940- Billy Crosby, Humorous Declamation

1940- Billy Stewart, Dramatic Declamation

1940- Violetta Weems, Humorous Declamation (placed 6th in the nation)

1940- Violetta Weems, Dramatic Declamation (placed 7th in the nation)

1940- Billy Crosby, Original Oratory

1939- James Cowan, Senate

1939- Jack Nicks, Senate

1939- Wallace Crow, Humorous Declamation

1939- Billy Crosby, Humorous Declamation (State Champion)

1939- Violetta Weems, Humorous Declamation

1939- Violetta Weems, Dramatic Declamation

1939- Wallace Crow, Dramatic Declamation

1939- Jim Burns, Dramatic Declamation

1939- James Cowan, Dramatic Declamation

1939- Jim Burns, Oratorical Declamation

1939- Billy Crosby, Original Oratory

1938- Jim Burns, Humorous Declamation (placed 7th in the nation)

1938- Wallace Crow, Humorous Declamation

1938- Violetta Weems, Humorous Declamation (State Champion)

1938- Violetta Weems, Dramatic Declamation

1938- James Cowan, Dramatic Declamation

1938- Billy Crosley, House of Representatives

1938- Marshall Stuart, Oratorical Declamation

1938- Jim Burns, Oratorical Declamation (State Champion)

1938- Billy Crosby, Original Oratory

1937- Wallace Crow, Humorous Declamation

1937- Jim Burns, Humorous Declamation

1937- Violetta Weems, Dramatic Declamation

1937- Jimmy Weems, Oratorical Declamation

1937- Frank Clement, Oratorical Declamation

1937- Frank Clement, Extemporaneous Speaking

1937- Jimmy Weems, Original Oratory

1936- Wallace Crow, Humorous Declamation

1936- Billy Weems, Humorous Declamation

1936- Ruth Johnson, Dramatic Declamation

1936- Frank Clement, Oratorical Declamation

1936- Frank Clement, Extemporaneous Speaking (State Champion)

1936- Jimmy Weems, Oratorical Declamation (State Champion)

1936- Jimmy Weems, Original Oratory

1933- Catherine Weems, Humorous Declamation

1933- Catherine Weems, Dramatic Declamation (placed 5th in the nation)

1932- Catherine Weems, Humorous Declamation (placed 6th in the nation)

1932- Catherine Weems, Dramatic Declamation

1931- Elizabeth Weems, Humorous Declamation