These are the people behind Modesto high schools’ names. Know them, and famous alumni?

Uniquely is a Modesto Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Central Valley so special.

Modesto City Schools’ seven comprehensive high schools and Elliot Alternative have a long history in this city. Some schools date back to the 1800s, each named after local leaders in Stanislaus County’s history.

For its January newsletter, The McHenry Museum & Historical Society researched and provided information on how the high schools got their names. Here are some of the education leaders schools were named after.

Whom were these schools named after, and who are some famous graduates?

Modesto High School

Modesto High has its name simply because it was the first high school in the city. Its first campus was built in 1883, and its current location on H Street was built in 1918. It is among one of the oldest high schools in California.

Notable graduates include filmmaker James Algar, perhaps best known for directing “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” segment of the 1940 film “Fantasia”; Erin Cafaro, a two-time (2008 and 2012) Olympic gold medalist in rowing; and U.S. Rep. Josh Harder, representing California’s 9th Congressional District.

Downey High School

Built in 1951, Downey High School was named after Thomas Downey. Downey was born in 1859. At age 30, Downey left Iowa to become a principal at the Fourteenth Street School, the first temporary school in Modesto. When Modesto High School opened, he was its first principal.

He later was promoted to superintendent of the city school district.

By far, Downey’s most famous grad is “Star Wars” creator George Lucas. In Lucas’ film breakout movie, “American Graffiti,” the fictional Dewey High School is a nod to its real life counterpart, Downey High.

Another notable graduate is former NFL player Dan Archer. He played for the University of Oregon before getting recruited to the Oakland Raiders in 1967 and Cincinnati Bengals in 1969.

Ann Veneman also graduated from Downey. In 2001, she became the secretary of agriculture during President George W. Bush’s first term. Four years later, she was appointed by the U.N.’s General Secretary to become the executive director for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.

Davis High School

Opened in 1961, Davis High was named after Grace M. Davis. Born in 1888 in Nevada, she left for California to attend Stanford University. By age 39, she came to Modesto to serve as Modesto High’s vice principal and dean of girls. At the school, she also taught history.

Davis was promoted to coordinator of counseling and supervisor of classroom curriculum in 1935 before retiring 19 years later.

Notable Davis grads include Raymond Lankford, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres; James Marsters, who played Spike in the TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and its spinoff, “Angel”; and Ashley Walker, who plays for the WBNA’s Seattle Storm.

Beyer High School

Opened in 1971, Beyer High School was named after Fred Charles Beyer. In 1939, Beyer taught English and German at Modesto Junior College. He later worked for the Stanislaus County Office of Education to supervise curriculum in 1944. Seven years later, he was promoted to serve as the superintendent of SCOE.

In November 1968, Beyer was killed in a plane crash.

Safe to say, Beyer’s best-known grads are film and TV actors Jeremy Renner and Timothy Olyphant. Oscar-nominated Renner’s roles include “The Hurt Locker” and TV’s “Mayor of Kingstown,” and he played the Marvel superhero Hawkeye in the “Avengers” movies and in a limited series on Disney+. Olyphant gained fame for his lawman roles in the shows “Deadwood” and “Justified.”

Elliott Alternative Education Center

Opened in 1988, Elliott Alternative Education Center was named after Robert Elliott. As a Kansas native, he began his time in Modesto schools as principal of Washington Elementary and Roosevelt Junior High.

By 1942, Elliott became the vice principal of Modesto High School, where he stayed 11 years before being appointed district assistant superintendent.

Johansen High School

Opened in 1992, Johansen High School was named after businessman and education advocate Peter Johansen. He attended and graduated from Turlock High School and Modesto Junior College. He eventually founded the Stanislaus Partners in Education and the Parent Institute for Quality Education in Stanislaus County before becoming mayor of Modesto for four years.

Enochs High School

Opened in 2006, Enochs High School was named after James Enochs.

Enochs was born in 1935 and began working as a teacher at Patterson High School in 1957. Six years later, he moved to Davis High School. After leaving teaching and working in administration, Enochs was promoted to district superintendent in 1986. He remained in this position for over two decades.

Gregori High School

The newest district high school, opened in 2010, was named after Joseph Gregori. Born in 1947, Gregori was a teacher at Downey High School before becoming vice principal of La Loma Junior High.

He eventually returned to Downey High School to serve as principal in 1987. Seven years later, he worked as principal of Beyer High School until his death in 1998.