A most successful team in the history of the National Forensic League is Bellaire High School of Houston. Winner of 11 National Championships and 7 National Sweepstakes the Bellaire record at Nationals is among the all time greats. The litany: Debate 1968, 1979; Extemp 1960, 1961, 1968; Oratory 1964; Dramatic 1959, 1964, 1967, 1972; Congress 1963; Sweepstakes 1958, 1959, 1970, 1984; PKD/Bruno E. Jacob Trophy 1967, 1975, 1985. Add to the above 6 runners-up and 8 thirds.

Bellaire's district record is stunning: 29 District Sweepstakes Plaques, 5 District Sweepstakes Trophies and 148 National Qualifiers!

Chapter records are equally impressive: Five times winner of the Leading Chapter Award - only three other chapters have achieved that pinnacle; 11 times Bellaire has been the largest chapter in South Texas; 10 times they led the district in new enrollments; 9 years a Bellaire student was the top point getter - including 6 who placed in the top 10 nationally.

Bellaire has won 6 UIL Debate Championships with four seconds as well as 3 TFA State Debate wins.

The reason for such success past and present was the expertise of an exceptional coaching staff over the years: the indomitable Mollie Martin, 3 diamonds; Hall of Fame Coach Bill Henderson, 2 diamonds; Hall of Fame Coach Cecil Pickett, Hall of Fame Coach David Johnson, 4 diamonds, and diamond key coach Diane Johnson.

Current coach David Johnson came to Bellaire in 1971. A former NDT Finalist who has coached students to over 1,000 rounds at Nationals, he strongly believes that a speech program should have a large number student participants in a wide variety of events. David insists that student debaters do original research.

Mr. Johnson strongly believes in serving the forensic community. He is a former NFL District Chair and is currently a member of the NFL Executive Council. Bellaire hosts one of the nation's largest high school tournaments every fall.

What more can be said? Bravo, Bellaire!