Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
Lincoln Support Material
Friends bid fond farewell to Carver Elementary 3y Scot Walker Eagle staff writer Barbara Bisor- Walker was a nember of the first class of first - nraders to attend George Wash - ngton Carver Elementary School when it opened in 1949. Sunday, it a farewell reception for the soon- to -be- closed school, she ran nto a vision from the past: Jac - luelyn Christophe, a former :lassmate whom she hadn't seen n 40 years. "I remembered her name, and I ,aid, 'You can't be Jacquelyn Sue 3lue,' " Bisor- Walker said. "And she said to me, 'I hated that name. when I was a kid and I've been -unning from it ever since.' " Christophe and Bisor - Walker iiad fond memories of their days it Carver, which opened in 1949 is a school for black students in grades one through seven. They 'ecalled playing jacks, using a nickel and a rubber band to make a pretend watch, and even sang a song they both remembered. About 75 current and former teachers, parents and students bid farewell to the school Sunday at a reception that was both a sa- lute to the past and an embrace of the future. The Bryan school district is closing the school at 1410 W. Martin Luther King Jr. St. at the end of the school year. The nearby Kemp Elementary School, which from 1971 -1989 was a part of Carver, will undergo a facelift and will become the community school for area students in kin- dergarten through fifth grades. "I'm thankful to the teachers and staff who have helped make this last year such a successful year," said Greg Travilhon, Car- ver's last principal. "This com- munity is excited about getting a community school, and I'm look- ing forward to next year." Travillion, who is completing one year at Carver, will take over as principal at Kemp after the change. Only sixth- graders have at- tended Carver since desegrega- tion in 1971. Almost everyone seemed to agree that the com- munity school concept would benefit students. "Parents will be able to partici- pate in the PTO and in commit- tees," Travillion said. "That's what it takes to make a school success- ful. We will have more of that be- cause the students will be in their neighborhood instead of busing them out to other schools." He said having the students at- tend one school for several grades also will cut down on transition and will let teachers concentrate more on educating students. "If [the faculty at Kemp] do what this staff did here, I'll be in good shape. No worries at all," Travil- lion said. Kemp will be given a $1.9 mil- lion overhaul to prepare it for its new role as a community school. Travillion also plans to seek a cor- Eagle photo by Peter Roche George Washington Carver Elementary school principal Greg Travillion (left) poses with Paul Kunz, who was principal of the Carver -Kemp campus from 1977 -1988. porate sponsor to help fund the school. Paul Kunz, Carver's principal from 1977 -88, said he thinks the new school will benefit students. But he also said he thinks stu- dents who have passed through Carver have received a quality ed- tication. He cited his own children as proof: All four attended Carver, and all four have either graduated from college or are enrolled. He said he has many fond memories of his tenure at Carver, but the thing that stands out most in his mind is his appoint- ment as principal and his first year, when Carver and Kemp — which are separated by about half a mile — were considered one campus. It was hard trying to know what was going on at both places, and trying to put out fires as they happened," he said. "it seemed like whenever one came up, I was over at the other place. "I lost 25 pounds that first year, running back and forth between the two." ��- Lack of black history in textbooks troubles many local educators t4 r tag plc" by Da,e VcOe *^ and anne Schmedemarin displays some of the history textbooks that not provide adequate coverage of black history. By Roland Martin Eagle stalfwri>,er Black histcr% has its pLice in public �,cliools, but several lo(Zil edticat(?rs are \5'C)Irdf'rlllf; wliv it has to he tacked on the cnd, r;lthcr than woven into the multi - colored cloth that mikes up Aincriccui socicty Evci. year, history ,tudcuts Ili public schools discover Mack history - oil Martin I,tithc.r Feint;', birihday, in a c of E31a <k llistciry :Month events. auc! in thc last ('11; ptcr sit Ills• text - bor i \Ails h orii° prr>fetisri; in frx�rs A.`�...%l Uinvcr,it'v (ollc�c Wf E(-lucation ihc comic hook ( hapter_ f "Itrlcia Larkc. a ill ills cicE�artmrnt of cut l icttluin and insUUCtion Elt l'vxas Act %I 1Jnivc °rsiti , said zilly Eiistori cost• cc'i'lliiik black.." or other cultures have ususilly beefs rcici;,tted to chapter 13 — the tea- chc Iry to squctzr ill belore the s1kidclits, k:1ve lot the titnnmc°r. She said tcswlacrs must lake the iriitlative to weave black III, - torn limo the ctarriculuni. taoiii the Ann°rican Kevoluuoii to the sear in the Persian Gulf. "Studies hays• bcerl douc to indicate that black-, have not beery "'weir Bill trealfnerit fu his- tors hooky and school c urricir lungs." Larke said. "(School syslellls) are now in the process of 111okitig changes. but challi;c is slow." L.Irkc said parents have tried to address the lack of black his- tory I public schools by teach - ing it in churches and cannnui- ity i;roups. She raid that shoul(hr t be n('Ct'S4a1_ . "It ii c,tild he riuirc bencliciA 11 tlio,e itisucs would be addressed in the school setting and noit shown as it separatist approach hkc i�c have IIo% ,- she said. Larkc said mist pcoplc recog- niic the• w111(•vcment." sit blacks or other cultures durhii� special dais ()r incluths, celcbr.ttill" black lii."t(,ry iii Vc°briuu} slid I h,paiiic ululre oil May a jUinc•o do ,Ltavoi. Shc said she toesn't have it problem with that- but added that the histon Please see History, 4A le quiz to test your knowledge of black history Over the next four weeks the Eagle will 11 questions on different segrienits of black ' The quiz is designed to hells y ou bcc :ollw :award of how inuch you know of the contri- butions of black Antericanrs. ;itici haw rirucir you don't know, i- _This test is for students, parcilts, or � anyone willing; to send in a response. Please send your answers and conul -itts to Cite E :agle. The results, along; with a new set of questions, will be publislicd a week front today. Good luck. Send your answers and coninierrts tw Black History Quiz Bryan College Station Eagle P.O. Box 3000 Bryan, 77801 POLITICS i . Flow many Blacks currently serve in the. U.S. Sei;ate? 2_ Who watt the Ilist black lnan elcctcd to tine 11S. House of Rcpresentatives? 3. Who was file first black U.S. senator slice Reconstruction'(' BUSINESS, NULITARY , MEDICINE 4. Who was Ainerlca`s first black woman inilhonaire? 5. Who perfornied the world's first open - heart sur'g;ery'.' 6. Who were the first blacks to will F'ramer's Croix de Guerre medial? ENTERTAINMENT 7. He composed the Anneric:an Negro Anthcin. "Lift Every Voice .rind Sir gf " 8, If(- composed thc• musicill stoic, "'I`hc St. Louis Blues." 9. tit 1956, It(- was the first bLick niajoi perfornrier to head a network series. 'I'll( show lasted 15 rtlnutcs. SPORTS 10. Who was the first black head coach It professional football? 1 1. Who was the first black tread coach it post -World War 11 professional football? 12. Natne the three professional footba'. players who have rushed for more thai 2,000 yards its one season. Most of these questions were taken from volumes i of Ebony magazine's "Pictorial History of Black Ame ica,' History From 1A of various groups shouldn't be se- parated from the whole. "There's no integrated approach on why black history cannot be studied in September," she said. Two local high- school teachers agreed. "I think all cultures need to be emphasized in American history," said Luanne Schmedemann, social studies department head at Bryan High School. "We get in- volved in our own little worlds and we forget that there are other people out there." Schmedemann said the U.S. history classes taught at Bryan High cover the freedman after the Civil War through Reconstruc- tion, the beginning of the civil rights movement, and the prob- lems associated with blacks in the major historical time periods. She said Texas history classes cover Hispanics and their contributions to Texas. Schmedemann said because history classes are survey classes, it is tough to get all of the major leaders and events in the curricu- lum. "We do try to at least mention those that have had an impact on our history," Schmedemann said. Bobby Slovak, a government in- structor at A &M Consolidated High School; said in the past 20 years, because of the civil rights movement and the black power movement in the '70s, there has been some emphasis on blacks in history classes. He said he tries to integrate the contributions of var- ious cultures throughout his classes, not just on cultural holi- days. "I try to show that the contribu- tions of African- Americans are significant to other cultures," Slo- vak said. He said history classes typically emphasize U.S. presidents and major wars, but he takes a differ - ent approach. " I try to teach history as a his- tory of people and culture," he said. "Then you talk about people being the source of power instead of people of supreme authority be- ing history." Slovak agreed with Schmede- mann that time constraints force teachers to make tough choices about who and what will be in- cluded in each class. That means shedding some preconceptions, he said. Teachers have to confront the gaps in the history courses they took years ago. "We have to be willing to give up our sacred cows and learn new things that we probably didn't learn ourselves," Slovak said. Schmedemann said Bryan has instituted a new class that ad- dresses many of the shortcomings of other history classes. The class, "American culture studies," begins with a look at Africa and covers slavery, the civil rights movement and more recent developments. She said one of the coaches at Bryan High, W.J. Sen- nette, designed the class, which she said is offered as an elective. The one - semester class was first offered last fall. Slovak said A &M Consolidated has no classes that focus on any one ethnic group. Larke said such classes should not be "for ethnics only." Stu- dents, she said, should see such classes as, "Something that I need in order to enrich my education, regardless of my ethnicity or ra- cial background." She said the emphasis on eth- nic role models can assist stu- dents in their educational ca- reers. "When children at very young ages can identify with role models and people of color as contribut- ing members of society," Larke said, "it gives them an added push and they can say, 'I can do that.— A i it sc for R .C. r don't know wiry "his - story" is so dif- ferent from the truth or why 1.felt the - way I did after reading the article " Community of Learners' Envisioned." It may not be important to others, but to me, it is of monumental importance. Kemp high School was built in 1931 can what is now called the Neal campus. R, C. Neal was the principal, The building was turned into Neal Junior High School after building a new Kemp High School. Neal Junior High School had three principals. U. S. Morgan, Wendell Davis and C. 1". Scurvy. " His - story" states that there. have been other schools on the Neal site dat- ing back 87 years, Mille Kristyn k said that the first was Bryan Colored High School, built in 1910., However, "with a little research, he would have found that Bryan Colored High School was built on the east side of Bryan at the 500 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Street, bordered by North Houston, 20th and Preston streets. In 1971, after. integration, Kemp High School became an elementary `campus along with Garver Elementary School. Years latex, a press conference was called by the school. board and Superintendent Sarah Ashburn: Mrs. R.C. Neal was invited to announce the new "school under construction as the R.C. Neal Elementary School. According to the article in the Feb. 10 Eagle, the school hasn't officially been named by the school board b1x Superintendent Ashburn said it proba bly will be on the agenda for the March � r, meeting. Since the 'board policy reguireW'�. elementary' schools to be named for a deceased Texas hero, it seems appropri- ate'to name. the new school after an out- standing Bryan educator. R.C. Neal was a. principal it Kemp High. School for 28 years. This school deserves that ,honor. DORIS SCURRY °A 7— ? 7 Bryan cn %9�f� o� ��PiX� Sty IF I /-� - - My-offliM all ivX -------- --- - -- -- e P�t); WIM-1 ri /9G3 or C«/J7 C'� � yk 1, Yj NO -_, Police force pioneer Willie Idlebird recalls days as Bryan's first black officer �v6 P BlackH istoryMonth By ASHLEY PETERSON Eagle staff writer I-says the Bryan Police Department has come a long way since the day he became its first black officer. "They've got some good officers, like some of the ones I used to work with," said Idlebird, who is a 7 8-year -old retired carpen- ter and construction worker. Idlebird joined the department in 1951, when a friend encouraged him to sign up. "I thought I would like to try it, especially because of the way the people of my race were being treated, ",said Idlebird. Idlebird said there had been some prob- lems out at the airfield base in Bryan. "They thought some of the soldiers were being mistreated, so we were sent down to patrol that area," Idlebird said. "We made sure no one was getting hurt." Idlebird said there was sometimes a lack of fairness with the force, though. "Some officers would put everyone who did any little thing in jail, especially black people," he said. "I tried to make sure that everyone - black and white - was treated fair- ly. Idlebird said he gained some friends at the police department, but some officers had a hard time dealing with him. "It was kind of hard for them to accept a black police officer, but it was the same in the community," said Idlebird. He said he even had trouble with people of his own race. "They would get mad at me for arresting them, saying I was just like the white offi- cers," Idlebird said. "But I took my oath seri- ously, and upheld the law." He said through his work he saw plenty of racism. "My race thought that white people have to have the last word on everything, but I think every man should be thought of as a brother," he said. "We are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God." M� w � Special to The Eagle Willie Idlebird, the first black officer on the Bryan Police Department, served from 1951 to 1958. Idlebird said he came close to giving up because of the hardship that he faced from his own race, but he knew he was needed by the police department. "There was a lot of drinking going on at that time and lots of fights. We got plenty of calls for disturbing the police," he said. "I was scared sometimes, when we had to get involved in breaking up the fights. Because you only have one hand to defend yourself with, the other was holding your weapon. "And, it was easy for your weapon to get taken away." Idlebird recalls one incident when he and another officer got jumped by two men. "We got jumped by two black men, but when the scuffle was over we all laughed about it," Idlebird said. "I didn't like to see that happen, though, because that kind of stuff can bring on other stuff." Idlebird left the force after seven -and -a- half years to raise his family and began work in the carpentry business. He has seven children, four girls and three boys. Lincoln School Black Education in College Station Many black citizens settled in Brazos county as a result of slavery. In 1864 there were 2,013 slaves in Brazos County, during this time period formal education did not exist. Formal education for blacks began in Brazos county in 1871, as a result of the passage of the Public School Act of 1871. Education for black citizens, who resided in the 55 square mile area which now constitutes the A&M Consolidated School District of College, in the late 1800's and at the beginning of the 1900's was provided by a network of small area schools. In 1910 there were 39 buildings in which black schools were located throughout Brazos County. Twenty -two of the buildings were rented, and seventeen were owned by the public. Many were small, 1 -4 room buildings and were often located in or near black churches. The scholastic enumeration papers submitted to the State Education Agency by the A &M Consolidated School District noted that black students were attending schools at Shirock, Union Hill, Wellborn, College Independent, and Dowling and Providence.' One hundred twenty seven students attended classes at the various black schools in the A &M Consolidated School District in 1923? In 1928 black schools located in the A &M Consolidated School District included Peach Creek, Sulphur Springs, Wellborn, Shirock, Dowling and Providence, Union Hill, Washington Chapel, and College Hills. a For the next 15 years the number of students attending classes grew steadily and by 1938, 246 students were attending classes. All of these schools were elementary schools. The A &M Consolidated School District, which did not have a black high school, had an agreement with the Bryan Independent School District to allow students to attend Kemp High School in Bryan. The tuition fees for students who attended Kemp High School were paid for by the A &M Consolidated School District. The district also provided a bus for transportation to Bryan for the students.' In the 1930's the number of black students that attended high school in the district steadily increased, and as well as the cost of tuition and transportation for the students to Kemp High School. As a result of these continuing rising costs and in an effort to provide a more comprehensive education to the black scholastic population of the district, discussions pertaining to constructing a black high school for the school district began. On January 8, 1941, the A &M Consolidated Board of Trustees initiated discussions about the need for a black high school in the District. Arguments for the construction of a high school included: the significant savings over time in tuition and transportation costs, and encouraging more area students to attend high school. The board decided to build facilities for a black high school in College Station. A bond election was held on March 29, 1941, to acquire capital for building this school among other projects.' The site was selected for the school, and five acres were purchased from the Matthew and Fanny R. Davis estate for the sum of $100 per acre. The site which was located at the 1 southwestern city limits of College Station, is now bordered by Eleanor and Holleman streets. Plans for the school progressed rapidly and the school opened its doors for the 1941 -42 academic year. Initially, the school consisted of, a building containing six classrooms, a principal's office, and a homemaking cottage.' A curriculum for the black high school, which was initially known as A &M Consolidated Negro School, was adopted. Courses approved by the school board included: English, History, Negro History, Practical Arithmetic, Elementary Science, Vocational Agriculture, Industrial Shop, Home Economics, Defense Training Work, and Training for adult maids. E. M. Cunningham was selected as the principal for the school. Mr. Cunningham also served as the Vocational Agriculture teacher; other faculty members were They Myrtle Owens, Edna Harris Tarrow, Willie A. Tarrow, A. J. Thompson, and Ruth Cunningham. Elementary schools located within College Station, as well as those from outlying areas were moved to the new school. Grades 1 -11 were established in 1941, and grade 12 was added the next year. The first graduates for the new school received their diplomas in 1942. They were: Lola V. Robison, O. B. Townsend, Ethel Mae Eaton, Clarence Burrell, Dan McGill, and Dora Jewel Townsend. The school continued to flourish and expand. In 1945 it was noted in a serial published in The Battalion that the black school for College Station had a budget of $15,000 annually. It employed 10 teachers and 296 children attended school that year." A small plot of additional land located one block from the original school site was purchased from Edward V. and Birdie Beatrice Hrdlicka on October 13, 1945, for $600. This land was designated to be used as a football and athletic field for A &M Consolidated Negro School. On June 13,1946 the name of the school was changed from A &M Consolidated Negro School to Lincoln School. Willie A. Tarrow was named as the school's new principal. In 1947 the Vocational Agriculture and Industrial Shop class under the guidance of the Vocational Agriculture teacher expanded the shop building by building an additional room. 14 The material for this project was acquired by dismantling buildings at the old Minter Springs school site. Attendance at the school grew rapidly, and citizens of the city were concerned about the school's cramped facilities. Specifications for a new High School Building on the Lincoln campus were drawn and submitted by R. G. Schneider, Architect and Engineer, on December 1, 1948." This building endeavor was a portion of an overall expansion of A &M Consolidated facilities in 1948. In February 1949, C. L. Andrews was awarded the building contract for the four classroom building, which was to be located west of the elementary school building. Lincoln School served as the social hub of College Station's black community, and at least for a short period of time as a spiritual meeting place. The College Station Church of Christ requested and received permission from the school board to use rooms on the campus as a meeting place on Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, and Wednesday or Thursday nights. In return the 2 congregation agreed to reimburse the school district for the utilities costs and any additional janitorial services required." The Lincoln campus growth continued in an effort to better serve the community. The construction of tennis courts for the Lincoln campus were a topic of discussion by school board members during the spring of 1950. This proposal was approved by the A &M Consolidated School Board in May 1950. Expansion of the school continued throughout the 1950's. The A &M school board discussed future construction for Lincoln campus throughout the fall of 1950. On June 14, 1951, bids for an industrial arts shop and science building were taken and the building was completed in April 1952. A number of milestone and events occurred involving Lincoln School in 1953. In January bids for the construction of a Gymnasium were opened. The specifications for the gymnasium included the requirement of piers for future expansion of the building and room for construction of a stage and dressing rooms. Public School Week in 1953 was observed at the school with festivities that included a radio program and an open house. Progress on the establishment of a library for the school continued throughout 1952 and 1953. On September 4, 1953, Lincoln School was accredited by the State Department of Education. As the focal point of the community grew the personality of the school developed. The school colors were purple and gold and the mascot chosen for the school was the panther. The school mottos was, "Forward forever, backward never," and their school song was "O' Lincoln _ High. " O' Lincoln High O' Lincoln High we love you true. We love the purple and gold too. To you we will always be true. O' Lincoln High how we love .you. The purple and gold mean much to me. Let's try to keep our colors true, We pledge a better school to be, O' Lincoln how we love you. As the school grew the area that could be used as an athletic field was found to be inadequate. In 1956 discussions concerning a possible trade of 80,000 square feet of property owned by the school district with a 120,000 square feet parcel owned by the Hrdlicka heirs. The land trade was completed on February 11, 1957. A &M Consolidated paid the Hrdlicka estate $10.00 for the additional square footage . This trade allowed the athletic fields to be located adjacent to the school and to be more readily accessible to students. Expansion of the school continued with the addition of a homemaking cottage. Bids for the construction of the 3 homemaking cottage were announced on July 17, 1956.' Discussions on plans for integration of the A &M Consolidated School District began on June 15, 1956.' This was the first of a series on ongoing meetings and seminars on the subject. It was decided to adopt a "wait and see attitude."" In the early 1960's the A &M Consolidated Independent School District received notice that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was requesting immediate integration of College Station schools. The plan for integration adopted by the school district was a stair step method. Under this plan, the black elementary grades would be fused with white elementary grades one grade at a time. Every year a new grade would leave Lincoln and become integrated. Attendance at Lincoln became voluntary. Two of Lincoln's teachers were reassigned to A &M Consolidated High School and several white teachers were relocated to Lincoln. Teachers for special education and speech taught at both schools. By 1965, grades one and two had been phased into the A &M Consolidated school system. On January 20, 1966, a fire at Lincoln School was reported to the Texas A &M University Fire Department. At the time the fire started an adult education class was being held in one of the buildings. The fire department was notified at 7:45 p.m., however the first truck did not leave the fire station for 15 minutes. A second and third truck was dispatched 10 minutes later. 17 These delays were unexplained in all existing documents. The trucks were also hampered in reaching the fire by large crowds that gathered to watch the fire. The fire, whipped by high winds was well established by the time the firefighters reached the scene. Once the firefighters arrived the blaze was contained in about an hour and no deaths were reported. The ten classroom high school building, principal's office, teachers' lounge, and library were destroyed. Buildings that were not damaged included the gym, two classrooms, auditorium /assembly hall, homemaking cottage, cafeteria building, science laboratory, and industrial arts shop. The damage to the Lincoln School complex was estimated at $65,000 and displaced 100 students . The majority of records and documents pertaining to the school were destroyed in the fire. The cause of the fire was never determined. Although it was speculated that the fire may have been set to force integration to occur more quickly, a search of the local newspaper revealed a number of mysterious fires were set by an unknown arsonist during that time period. High school students were transferred to A &M Consolidated High School. The 38 students in grades three, four, and five returned to class at Lincoln the Monday following the fire. Grades six, seven and eight also attended Lincoln School, but reverted to a departmentalized program with a seven period day. These lower grades remained a Lincoln due to space limitations at the other schools in the Consolidated system. Teachers from the school were reassigned. At the end of the 1965 -66 school year, Lincoln's doors were shut, and the remaining students were integrated into the other A &M Consolidated schools. The school Board decided that it was not feasible to rebuild the burned facilities. 4 In 1967, the City of College Station discussed what could be done with city property that was adjacent to Lincoln. An informal agreement was made by the city and school district to temporarily use the school property as a city park. The buildings remained unused, except for the occasional gatherings of small church groups. In 1968, the school board agreed to lease the land and facilities at Lincoln to the city for a period of 10 years. The City Council directed the Parks and Recreation Committee develop detailed plans for the property and buildings. In 1969 the College Station Parks and Recreation offices were located at Lincoln. The facilities were used for continuing education classes and served as a neighborhood recreation center. City property adjacent to the school was used for an all purpose sports field. The homemaking cottage served as the Parks and Recreation Department Office, and the industrial arts shop was converted into a shop for the department. The property was renovated and restored in 1972. In 1978, the city bought the land from the school district and the facilities were entirely refurbished. On June 6, 1980, the Lincoln Center was officially dedicated and began to serve as a tribute to the school that once stood on the site. Lincoln Center serves as a home for many community activities, the local Boys and Girls Club, a senior outreach program, immunization program and an emergency management site. The memories and influence of Lincoln School remain. The Lincoln school trophies are displayed at the Center. The Lincoln Former Students Association was formed in 1982. The association, which is comprised of students who attended Lincoln School, holds biennial reunions. The association activities includes providing scholarships for black students and preservation of the history, heritage, and memories of Lincoln School. 41 References 1. Buford, Michael Dwain, UP From Cotton Bryan, Texas, 1988. 2. A&M Consolidated School District, Scholastic Enumeration and School Board Minutes, 1923. 3. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, 1923. 4. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, 1929. 5. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, 1938. 6. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, January 8, 1941. 7. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, March 31, 1941. 8. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, May 8, 1941. 9. "Lincoln Center in College Station: Essential Elements of Programming for Minorities," page 16, Texas Recreation and Park Society 10. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, June 24, 1941. 11. Hughes, W. L., "Your City, Eighth of a Series ", The Battalion August 12, 1945. 12. Deed from Edward V. Hrdlicka and Birdie Beatrice Hrdlicka filed in the State of Texas County of Brazos, 1945. 13. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes June 13, 1946. 14. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, October 7, 1947. 15. General Contract Specification for Facilities for the A &M Consolidated School District, submitted to the A &M Consolidated School Board, December 1, 1948. 16. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, February 9, 1949. 17. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, March 5, 1951. 18. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, May 20, 1951. C 19. A&M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, June 14, 1951, and April 17, 1952. 20. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, January 5, 1953. 21. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, September 1954. 22. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, July 8, 1956. 23. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, February 11, 1957. 24. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, July 17, 1956. 25. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, June 15, 1956. 26. A &M Consolidated School District, School Board Minutes, January 14, 1957. 27. Texas A &M University Fire Department, Dispatch Logs, January 20, 1966. 28. "Damage Totals $65,000," "Lincoln School Blaze Displaces 100 - -Plans Studied Today," Bryan Daily Eagle, Friday, January 21, 1966. 29. Balliew, Deborah Lynn, The Ciw of College Station 1939/1999 page 43, Intaglio Press, College Station, Texas, 1987. 30. Various articles from the Bryan Daily Eagle, January 19, 1966, through February 1, 1966. 31. "Consolidated Board Shuffles Pupils," Bryan Daily Eagle, Monday, January 24, 1966. 32. City of College Station, Council Minutes, April 19, 1967, and April 24, 1967. 33. City of College Station, Council Minutes, February 26, 1968. 34. City of College Station, Council Minutes, January 15, 1969, February 24, 1969, and March 24, 1969. Other References Randle, Irene Ethelind, A Comparative Stew of Common Schools for Negmes in Brazos County, thesis, Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College, Prairie View, Texas August 1944. 7 Balliew, Deborah Lynn, The City of College Station 1939/1999 Intaglio Press, College Station, Texas, 1987. Parks, Ann, H -ctor of the OtV of College Station, 19_ 9 -1997, M.A. thesis, Texas A &M University, College Station, Texas, May 1984. Hughes, W.L., A ject in Rural School Consolidation and Its Contribution to th S olution of r l -School P of B County I College, Billy T. Steen Oct. 28, 1930 — Feb. 28, 1999 Services for Billy T. Steen, 68, of Col- lege Station are set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Washington Chapel Baptist Church. The Rev. E.E. Garvin will officiate. Burial will be in College Station Cemetery. Visitation is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fri- day at Jones - Washington Mortuary in Bryan. Mr. Steen died Sunday at his home. He was born in Brazos County, served in the U.S. Air Force for 12 years, and was a member of the Washington Chapel Bap- tist Church. Survivors include a son, Edwin Glen Steen of Alta Dena, Calif.; five daughters, Billy Sue Steen of Bryan, Cecile Renee Steen of Charleston, S.C., LaNelda A. Johnson of Cocoa, Fla., and Sabrina A. Felder and Adrienne Steen, both of Lin - dale, Texas; a sister, Ruby Carter of Bryan; his mother, Altha Steen of College Station; 14 grandchildren; a great - grandchild; and 10 step - grandchildren. - _ S _ G r ISCOOOLS On 13 February 1978, a petition calling for an election to separate the City of Bryan and the Bryan Independent School District was presented to the School Board by former Bryan Mayor Jerome "Jack" Zubik. On 1 April the question was settled by the voters of Bryan in the election; they voted to separate — by a close margin of 82 votes. Several considerations faced the school district upon separation, such as the collection of taxes and the question of which entity would manage multiple -use facilities. It was decided that the deficit in operating expenditures for the Civic Auditorium remain at 60% city and 40% by the schools, the same as the present agreement. It was also decided that the city and schools continue the same cooperative working relationship on all multiple -use facil- ities as was presently being practiced: swimming pools, Travis Park, school gyms, and Neal Campus usage. Finally, it was decided that the city would continue to assess and collect taxes for the 1977 -78 school year until the school district could make a transition to collect its own taxes. In September 1978, the school district purchased the old First State Bank building at 25th and Main Streets in downtown Bryan to house its new tax office and other administrative offices. The building was remodeled, and began operation in January 1979. 1983 Dr. Wesley K. Summers announced his retirement, effective August 1984. 1984 Dr. Guy G. Gorden, Director of Instructional Services, was named superintendent. Fifteen campuses in the Bryan Independent School District today house approximately 10,500 students: one 5A high school, grades 10 -12; one junior high, grades 8 -9; four unitary campuses for grades 5, 6, and T, and nine elementary schools for grades kindergarten through 4. Bryan School District boundaries extend over about 435 Square miles. Some 1,065 professional, paraprofesional, and auxiliary staff members are employed by the district. Campuses include Bryan High School, Stephen F. Austin, Anson Jones, Carver -Kemp, Lamar, Bonham, Bowie, Crockett, Fannin, Henderson, Johnson, Milam, Ross, Travis, and Neal Campus. Administrative offices are located at 2200 Villa Maria Road and 100 West 25th Street. Three additional school sites have been purchased by the district for the construction of schools for future growth. Ethnic analysis of the student population 6 October 1983: American Indian, Alaskan 0.1% Asian 0.6% Black 22.5% Hispanic 20.0% White 56.8% The Bryan Schools are dedicated to serving all of the citizens of the community, with curriculum ranging from classes for pre - school handicapped children to those for senior citizens. Interested citizens, working hand in hand with school person- nel, help create a variety of quality academic and vocational programs. Parents are involved in parent - school support organizations, and business people in the community cooper- ate with the schools by offering students on -job training in their businesses in cooperation with instructors of vocational courses. The Bryan ISD budget for the 1983 -84 school year was some $25.8 million, with only $9.6 million remaining as balance of 121 indebtedness on bonds purchased from 1952 to date. Tax rate for the 1983 -84 school year was 0.69 cents per $100, based on 100% of assessed value. Members of the 1984 Bryan ISD Board of Trustees: Dr. James Stegall, President; Tom Borski, Vice President; Travis Nelson, Secretary; Travis B. Bryan, Jr., Wendy Costa, W. W. Humphries, and Dr. Herbert Wade. COLLEGE STATION SCHOOL DISTRICT HISTORY INTRODUCTION Brazos County's other public school system is the College Station Independent School District (which was known as the A &M Consolidated ISD until its name change in 1980). It is located in the southern portion of Brazos County and covers 97 square miles including the A &M University campus and the City of College Station. In July and August 1945 The Battalion, Texas A &M's student newspaper, published a series of articles by W. D. Bunting and W. L. Hughes describing the history of the College Station Consolidated School District. Their articles are quoted within this section. The original school district was chartered by the State Legis- lature in 1909, but apparently no tax - supported school was operated until 1920. Union Hill, Wellborn, Rock Prairie and Shiloh Common School Districts joined with the A &M College Independent School District in 1928 to form the A &M Consoli- dated Independent School District. (Prior to this merge, there was a school called Battle School that was located in the proximity of where K -Mart now stands, at Highway 6 and FM 2818. Since the school was never mentioned in the writeup on the CS School District, we assume it had been absorbed by one of the other rural schools, perhaps Wellborn or Rock Prairie, before 1928.) The present school district has had no legal connection with Texas A &M University since 1939 when the public school sys- tem obtained its own building and moved from the college campus. The school moved to the original site of 15 acres purchased from the Holicks in 1939 for $5500. One hundred and sixteen private citizens purchased the land and donated it to the school district. HISTORY OF A. & M. CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL: PART I "Many years ago the Texas Legislature created an indepen- dent school district of the A &M College campus —a district which consisted of some 3500 acres of land and buildings valued at approximately $3,500,000. However, since the prop- erty belonged to the State of Texas, it was not taxable; and a school district with no taxable property, except for a small amount of personal property, will not support a school. Another factor which made it possible for the campus people to have anything like a modern school was the small number of chil- dren, there being only 30 or 40 of them on the campus. Conse- quently, the campus people sent their children to Bryan to school. "In 1917, the Smith - Hughes Act was passed by Congress appropriating funds for the teaching of agriculture in public schools. A &M College was designated as a teacher - training institution, and under authority of the act certain funds were made available for preparing teachers of agriculture in the public schools. This created the problem of a training school 122 SCHOOLS for giving prospective teachers some practice teaching in agri- culture. But the college had no public school and one was needed, and must be provided. "In 1920, Dr. W. B. Bizzell, President of the College, with Professor Martin L. Hayes, head of the Department of Voca- tional Teaching, conceived the idea of establishing a school on the campus for the purpose of meeting this need and at the same time of meeting the needs of the campus people for a public school. Many problems had to be solved before this could be realized, more particularly that of adequate finance and the further problem of bringing together enough children to create a satisfactory school unit. Finally, through the efforts of Professor Hayes, the State Board of Education was per- suaded to grant rural aid sufficient to justify the establishment of the school. The College also furnished material assistance, and Dr. Bizzell made available $25,000 for the construction of a school building. (In this connection it may be of interest to record that the $25,000 had been appropriated by the Legisla- ture for the construction of a new home for the President of A. & M. College, but this did not solve the problem of the requisite number of children for a satisfactory school unit.) "In order to solve the problem of bringing together the required number of children, Professor Hayes conceived the idea of making the school a rural consolidated school by taking in sufficient territory adjoining the college property to afford sufficient pupils to insure an ideal organization, that is, a teacher for each grade. This fact alone created the very serious problem of transportation — that of getting the rural children to and from school. When the rural districts were assured trans- portation for their children, Professor Hayes and County Superintendent Eck Smith succeeded in getting common school districts 2, 6, and 13 —all adjoining the campus —to agree to co- operate in launching the new school. "The problem of securing a building in the summer of 1920, of securing teachers and transportation of about 160 children, was no small one. But with about $13,000 rural aid and some $5,000 furnished by the college, with the state and county apportionment, and the local taxes from the co- operating dis- tricts, the financial side of the undertaking seemed bright enough. Accordingly, the school board proceeded with the construction of a building and with the purchase of two Olds- mobile buses for transportation —and, for the record, that board was made up of Professor Hayes, Dean E. J. Kyle, and Professor E. J. Fermier, all appointed by the President of the College. A teaching staff consisting of the very best teachers available was invited to take over. This staff included all neces- sary teachers from principal to primary teacher, including a teacherof home economics and one for agriculture. The prob lem of organizing a complete school program, including trans portation, was dumped into the lap of the writer. It was his job to BATTLESCHOOL —(Present Highway 6) South of College Station. The children shown were all born prior to 1900. Top Row, Left to Right.. Ernest (Bits) Battle, Huge Kincannon. Second Row: Reuben Holland (Teacher), Joe Georzyski (Gorzycki), Hugh Dowling, Pinkney Graham, Hubert Jones, Robert (Robbie) Dowling, Jesse Wade, Edna Dowling. Third Row: ANen Vanncy, Frank Visoski, Lewis Jones, Joe Bukowski, Girl ( ?), Harley Deason, Mina Graham, Annie Putz. Victoria Putz. Mary Blazek, Eula Bukowski. Fourth Row.' Willard Dowling, Bill Dowling, Eddie Blazek, Willie Blazek. Harry Georzycki (Gorzycki). Johnny Visoski, Annie Visoski, Lucille Graham, Addie Jones, Lizzie Bukowski, Rosie Bukowski. (Photo courtesy of Lillie Dowling Sunkel) SCHOOLS anize the school — a task which was undertaken on 28 ,,eptember 1920, when some 160 pupils presented themselves for registration. The school was opened in Guion Hall and continued to hold its daily session there until the new building was ready for occupancy. The new building was soon com- pleted but when the school moved from Guion Hall we found ourselves utterly devoid of any equipment. The principal begged and borrowed from various departments of the College and in a few weeks A &M Ccnsolidated School was on its way. It was the plan of the original board and the superintendent to make the school a model of its kind —that is, no teacher should have more than one grade and no grade more than 25 pupils. The teachers were to be the best obtainable. It was to be a case in which the job sought the teacher -not the teacher the job, A teacher's home, or teacherage, was provided, and living condi- tions were made as pleasant as possible." A &M Consolidated School Buildings and Grounds "The A &M Consolidated School was housed in buildings on the campus from its origin until 1940. In November 1938, a committee from theschool board was authorized to investigate the possibility of the College allowing a new school site of fifteen acres and making other provisions for the school. The committee was informed that there was not much chance of the school receiving help from the College. First Buildings Erected "On 10 February 1939, the school board received a petition from leading citizens of College Station asking that an election be held to vote bonds for financing the building of adequate - )ol facilities. The board ordered the election for 25 February which approved by a large majority, the issuance of $15,000 in bonds for this purpose. A contract with the architects Ernest Langford and Jack Finney, was signed 18 March 1939 at which time two school sites were offered, one of fifteen acres in College Hills Estates and the other the Holick property site. The site, consisting of approximately fifteen acres was bought and paid for by public subscription from some 116 interested patrons at a total cost of $5500.58 and the property was given to the school board as a site for the proposed school buildings. "On 8 September 1939 the board let a contract for the school buildings to William Smith, contractor from Waco, on a bid of $69,825. The original contract called for four elementary units having fourteen classrooms, office space and the like; a high school building of six classrooms with auxiliary rooms and a building to house the Industrial Arts and Music departments. It was found later that classroom space of the high school was not adequate and a contract to add two additional classrooms was signed 27 October 1939 at a cost of $3,567. The buildings were formally accepted on 8 March 1940 and school furniture and equipment were moved from the old campus site. Plant is Expanded "On 8 January 1941, the board received a petition asking for an investigation of the possibility of building a combination gymnasium- auditorium - cafeteria along with an athletic field and a suitable Negro high school building. After the board had made a thorough study of this request, an election was called for 29 March 1941 forvoting the issuance of $40,000 in bonds to finance the project. The election carried by a large majority. A t{ 'ng committee was appointed by the board and it was orized to purchase adjoining property and make plans for e proposed buildings. H. D. Mayfield, Jr., was employed as architect and approximately two more acres of land adjoining the school property were bought from James Holick. 123 "A contract to build the bus garage and football bleachers was given to Ole Martinsen of Bryan in July at a cost of $4,345. A contract to build the gymnasium- auditorium was given to N. E. Smith of Bryan on 26 August 1941 at a cost of $25,000. The bus garage and stadium were completed in October 1941 and the gymnasium was completed in February 1942." HISTORY OF A &M CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL: PART II "It must be kept in mind that for many years after its organiza- tion, the school was not consolidated legally. The districts pooled their finances and children but it was only by a'gentle- man's agreement.' Rural people were reluctant to cut loose entirely from their old school districts. "During the first year of the school, 304 pupils were enrolled with an average daily attendance of 74 %. Actual enrollment was in excess of the census tabulation. During its second year the school enrolled 342 pupils with an average daily attendance of 80 %. "The greatest problem to be solved was retardation. More than 57% of the children from the rural schools were retarded due to the character of the schools they had attended. After a year or two, however, this situation was eased, and at the end of the second year the school was put on the accredited list with 13 112 units of affiliation. Health Program Emphasized "Primary duty of any school is to make good animals of its pupils. This should be the duty of the homes in any community but is often neglected, particularly in the rural homes. A health survey was made by the Red Cross nurse for Brazos County. Of the 240 children studied, 90 %werefound defective. This did not include such diseases as malaria. During the first year of the school it became necessary to provide a bed in the principal's office for malaria patients, and it was used almost daily. The school carried on a vigorous health campaign and by the end of the second year malaria was almost stamped out. The children were taught the relation between the mosquito and the disease and this knowledge was carried home with the result that greater use was made of mosquito nets. "Progress was made in overcoming such defects as bad tonsils, poor teeth, and malnutrition. Each teacher made it a part of her regular work to instruct her pupils in the importance of clean teeth, clean bodies, and proper diet. By the end of the second year the results were very noticeable. Attendance improved and much better progress in school was made. Extra - Curricular Activities "The school was large enough to set up a program of athlet- ics. Many matched games with other schools were played and good school spirit was created. A dramatic club was organized and much interest was aroused in amateur performances. These home talent plays were given in different parts of the county, creating a very favorable impression and showing what a rural school could do. Incidentally, these performances brought in sufficient money to aid in starting a good library. Although the school was the youngest in the county, by the end of two years it had more library books than all the rest of the rural schools of the county combined. "A parent - teacher club was organized and served to bring the parents into closer touch with the organization and work of the school. The mothers aided in securing library books and in securing for the school many needed improvements. 124 "During the first years of its able existence the school made remarkable progress. It showed signs of becoming the type of school that will meet the needs of the community. The high school course of study was shaped to conform to both college entrance requirements and to vocational life work. "During the first years, the high school department was called the "Hayes High School ". There was no graduating class the first year, but at the end of the second year, May 1922, a class of six was granted diplomas. A Practical Curriculum "All students of the high school were required to take Eng- lish, American History, and Civics, with other subjects elective. In the lower grades, civics was taught incidentally with such work as health and the various school activities. Agricultural arithmetic, agricultural composition, as well as agricultural science and practice, were taught. Traditional courses in mathematics were offered and a larger number of students elected to take them. One of the very finest assets of the school was in home economics department. Girls were taught the essentials of homemaking in all its various aspects. Home projects in home economics and agriculture sought to make instruction in these subjects as near a life situation as possible, and such courses in English and mathematics were correlated with them in every possible way." HISTORY OF A &M CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL: PART III "The last school census gives the A &M Consolidated School district 496 white and 296 colored scholastics. This is double the number of white twenty -five years ago, and more than double the number of colored children. "It became necessary a good many years ago to erect a new building for the colored children and furnish transportation. The budget for the colored school alone now runs about $15,000 a year. In the beginning, the colored school consisted of a one -room school situated just east of the campus on what is now Highway 6. No transportation was needed. The budget for such a school was only a few hundred dollars annually. The colored school is now housed in a $12,000 building and is doing an excellent job of furnishing a practical education for the colored children. it is a 12 -grade school with ten teachers. Vocational agriculture and home economics are featured. "Just how the 'training - school' idea was lost is not easy to explain. Professor Hayes died in the early twenties and Dr. Bizzell went to Oklahoma in 1925- Thus the school lost two good friends. Financial troubles began to accumulate. The two buses soon proved inadequate and additional buses had to be purchased. A full -time mechanic had to be employed which added to the budget. The cost of bus transportation over poor roads ran high. The building soon proved inadequate for the increasing school population, and some of the children were 'farmed out' in college buildings. Finally the entire high school department was moved to old Pfeiffer Hall and remained there until about 1940. "The Texas Legislature cut off the appropriations which were made in the beginning since, the school had lost, or was losing, the 'training - school' idea. The school was soon on the rocks financially. Rural aid laws helped very little. Local taxes amounted to only a small part of the school's needs. The state was furnishing less than $20 per capita. The school's budget was steadily increasing from year to year. About 1928 a legal consolidation was effected and a board of seven trustees was SCHOOLS elected, but financial troubles were not abated. Many schemes were brought forward for financing the school. The campus people went as far as to try to raise money by private subscrip- tion but this scheme raised only a few hundred dollars. By this time the'training school' idea had about disappeared and the school was simply another consolidated public school on its own resources. The taxable valuations of the consolidated dis- trict were only about one million dollars, but the budget kept on increasing. "Twenty -five years bring about many changes. College Sta- tion has grown into a city with its own municipal government. People have built their own homes and the taxable valuations have increased to 2.5 million dollars. Local school taxes now amount to some $25,000 annually. The school was moved into new buildings adjacent to the campus about five years ago. A gymnasium and athletic field have been provided. The new school plant cost about $100,000 and almost $8,000 annually is required for debt service alone. The budget for the white school for 1944 -45 was approximately $7,400. Twenty -one teachers are required. The curriculum now includes such work as indus- trial arts, home economics, commercial work, including typing, shorthand, and business training. The traditional courses in English, Mathematics, History, and Science are offered. "While the school has been through many ups and downs, the future seems bright and promising. It has met the educa- tional needs of many rural boys and girls who otherwise would have had scant educational opportunities. It has filled a great need for the campus children. The financial resources are gradually increasing, but the budget still keeps a few steps ahead of the available revenues. The high school department with an enrollment of about 150 students is still rather small to offer a rich and varied educational program. However, as the population of College Station increases, these shortcomings will gradually be overcome. The school now operates seven buses. The roads have been improved, taxable valuations are increasing, the state's share in financing the school is still about two- thirds of the available funds. The board of trustees is made up of fine, patriotic citizens who are endeavoring to see that the school meets the needs of coming generations. The future has indeed been bright for the College Station schools. In 1949 it absorbed the Peach Creek and Minter Springs Common School Districts just as in 1928 it had become a Consolidated School District by merging with the Union Hill, Wellborn, Rock Prairie, and Shiloh Common School Districts. The phenomenal population growth of Brazos County in general and College Station in particular since World War II challenged the imaginations and talents of the district's em- ployees and elected officials; but they were equal to the task. The following growth chart provides a dramatic yet succinct picture of their accomplishments. Growth of District 1942 White gymnasium built (Holick Street), athletic field (Holick Street) and Negro (Lincoln) High School. 1948 Built new high school at 1300 Jersey Street. 1951 Built first grade wing and cafeteria (corner of Timber and Jersey Streets), Lincoln School shop and science laboratory. 1953 New high school built (200 Anderson) - now the jun- ior high school campus and Lincoln School gymna- sium. SCHOOLS 1960 High School addition, Lincoln addition and College Hills Elementary School (Williams Street). 1967 Built South Knoll Elementary School. 1972 Built new high school (West Bypass, FM 2818). 1978 Added vocational wing to high school, kindergarten building and multi - purpose building to South Knoll and College Hills Elementary Schools. Built Oakwood Middle School. 1980 Exchanged property at 1300 Jersey to the City of Col- lege Station for 21.82 acres of land on Welch and FM 2818. 1983 Built Southwood Valley Elementary School (corner of Brothers and Deacon Streets), added science and music wings, gymnasium, cafetorium, and classrooms at high school, remodeled Timber Street buildings and built Adaptive Vocational Center at Timber Street. Purchased 20 acres of land for future building site (South portion of Southwood Valley). RURAL SCHOOLS 125 Despite the illustrious history of the independent school dis- tricts, until well into the Twentieth Century most Brazos County Youths were educated in rural schools, more properly known as common school districts. Common schools were funded by annual appropriations from the state school fund frequently supplemented by special tax levies from within the district. Each district had its own board of trustees responsible for hiring teachers and setting policy but there was also a County Superintendent who guided the trustees and teachers in their duties and coordinated mat- ters of common interest, such as holding teachers training institutes and conducting the annual scholastic census. Until 1908 the County Judge served as the ex- officio school superin- tendent. Afterwards there was a separate elected superinten- dent until the office was abolished in 1978. Dorothy Bunting, Lila Lane, and Juanita McCann have pro- vided this list of school superintendents and common schools. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT In 1887 the Legislature gave the county commissioners court in each county the optional privilege of establishing a separate office of County Superintendent of Schools, and in 1905 the authorization was given for creation of the office, after a favor- cy r. �r r�. - 1 I David Bunting, a Teacher in Brazos County Schools for 48 years. Taught at Tabor, 1926 -1928, Principal Kurten School, 192 -1936, Taught and coached in Bryan High School, 1936 -1941, Superintendent of A & M Consolidated Schools, 1941 -1946, S uperintendent Brazos County Schools, 1946 -1974. When he was interviewed by the Eagle, upon his retirement, Mr. Bunting "Idicated that one ofhis accomplishments he was very proud of was to form the first county- wide transportation system in the state. This later served as a model for other counties as well as valuable material on which to base the State Transportation Program /orn"ed under the 1948 Minimum Foundation School Law. (The picture was taken in the Spring of 1942, courtesy of the Public School System. 126 able election initiated by the voters. Since 1907 the office has been mandatory in all counties of over 3,000 scholastic popula- tion. In May 1945 there were 187 Texas counties with County Superintendents. (Handbook of Texas - Vol. 1., Pg. 426) COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF BRAZOS COUNTY 1908 W. Parker' 1916 Wm. L. Powers' 1920 Eck Smith (James Eckler)' 1922 D. J. McDonald' 1928 Frank M. Vance' 1930 D. J. McDonald' 1932 -1942 Mrs. W. E. (Amy) Neeley 1942 -1946 Luther Pearsson 1946 -1974 William David Bunting 1974 -1978 J. B. Streetman 'This list of superintendents is from Elmer Grady Marshall's Masters thesis, 1937, University of Texas, "History of Brazos County." The following data on rural schools were compiled from Janice Jean Schultz's thesis, "A Time for Planting, a Social History of Selected Rural Communities in Brazos County ", Mary Edna Dorsey's "Those Were The Days ", and information provided by various county residents and former teachers. The Thompson Creek Community had two schools. The first was erected about 1875 but the names of the early teachers are forgotten. From the turn of the century until the 1930s Rufus Meads, Lavita Goins Weedon, Mrs. Ed Purcell, and Lizzie Pey- ton Bade kept the school. The T. W. Parker School (named after the first County School Superintendent) was built about 1905 two miles southwest of the first Thompson Creek School. This building also served as the community center. The Alexander community built its first schoolhouse/com - munity center in 1865. William L. Glass was the first teacher. Another early instructor in the community was Thomas John- son who taught the children of Hugh Reed Henry in the Henry household. From 1897 to 1921 other teachers were: Mary Johnson A. S. McSwain Jessie Johnson Winnie Washburn Abbie Arnett Minna McMillan Sue Benbow Bessie Stallings Benbow Prof. Edward Robbins Ola Mae Henry Joe McGee Prof. Henry Green John L. Cobb Mrs. Evie Hearne Willie Boyett Ruth Fuller Emma Orr Mrs. Mary Ewing Eve McDonald Mrs. Emma Montgomery Nina Graham The first school in the Harris Community was called the Claremont School. In 1878, however, another building was constructed on Jim Lawrence's land and was renamed the William Harris School — in honor of the man who solicited contributions for its construction. It was rebuilt and enlarged in 1911 and in 1921 the district was consolidated with Tabor. Miss Robbie Mickel was the first teacher and she was followed by John M. Moore and Miss Helen Kelley. The Cottonwood Community School used the Baptist Church Building until it was destroyed by fire in 1893. It was rebuilt in 1895 and Will Kelly became the first teacher. In 1921 the white school was consolidated with Tabor. In 1939 Annie Mary Gray taught grades one through eight at the Cottonwood Baptist Church. After one full session Miss Gray's school was absorbed by the John M. Moore Consolidated School where she subsequently taught the first and second grades. SCHOOLS Blanton School was established in 1893. The land was donated by G. W. Blanton. The first teacher was Sallie Ham- mon. It too was consolidated with Tabor in 1921. Between 1893 and 1921 other teachers were: Minnie Bullock Pinky Ferguson Roy Zimmerman Joe McGee Bertha Graham Eugene Sample Henry Hudspeth Nannie Williams Myrtle Hester Levie Gilpin Stella Covington Minnie McCallum Mrs. Lula Blaylock In 1915 Central High of the Tabor Community was con- structed on five acres of land bought for $50 per acre. The next year it absorbed the other earlier community schools. The new school was a T- shaped building with four large classrooms in the front part and a large gymnasium and auditorium in the rear. The school enrolled 25 students on 20 September 1915, Charles Bobo was principal and C. C. Scott was the first teacher. Some teachers in the 1920s were Leroy Miller, Winnie Harris, Mr. Hewitt, W. David Bunting, Miss Brown, and Merle Hudson. In 1921 it consolidated with the Harris, Alexander, Blanton, and Cottonwood schools and was itself absorbed by the Kurten School in 1946. In 1950 the building was used as a permanent recreational center. The land was sold in 1972 and the building demolished. Wixon School land was donated by Reverend J. H. Mitchell. The Trustees were Mitchell, R. T. Short, J. D. Whitten, Z. P. Pearson, and Harrison Crenshaw. The school was torn down in the 1930s. Teachers were Robbie Mickel, Earnest Beard, Geor- gia White, and Edna Harris. Edge Community had three schools — two seven -grade schools — Liberty and Concord. Liberty was located on the Will Henry place, and Concord was one mile northeast of the New Church cemetery. Teachers at the two schools were Sue Benbow, Allie Montgomery, Grace Morgan Bethany, Paul Fer- guson, Eva McDonald, D. J. McDonald, Mr. Pickney, Mr. Pink Graham, Eugene Sample, P. S. Magnum, Emily Tatum, and Kathryn Wilson. Both Schools consolidated into Kurten in 1946. Edge High School was built in 1912 and had two rooms. Teachers were Mr. and Mrs. X. Smith. The school was located on the Ft. Martin place. It burned in 1940. There were one -room schools at Shiloh and Macy. They were consolidated with New King's Highway in Macy. Leonard McDonald gave two acres of land 11 August 1922 for a new school. The name was then changed to King's Highway. A one -room school in the Fickey Community was built by Frank Fickey in 1892 near the Richard Schram place. The building was 15 ft. wide by 30 ft. long, was of unfinished oak boards one inch thick by eight inches wide with one inch thick by four inches wide sidings. The entire building was set on oak blocks that measured about eight inches wide by 12 inchestall. The teachers were John M. Moore, Lee McDonald, Lillian Crenshaw, Edelweiss Koppe Jones, Clara Wallin, Beatrice Rogers, Mary Lou Prinzel, Annie Locke, and Clara Lueck. The school had housed the Zion United Church of Christ (then called the Lutheran Evangelical Church) about 1894 before they built a church. The school operated until in the 1930s and was then disbanded. In 1876 Henry Kurten donated land for his community's first two -story schoolhouse made from hewn logs. The first teacher was Horace Raymond. About 1900 the building was replaced by a new structure which in turn was superseded by a large red brick building in 1937 which cost $10,000. By 1947 enrollment was down to only 21 pupils and one teacher. The quality of the physical plant and the rash of school district consolidations in the post -World War II period, however, gave the school a new lease on life. By 1957 it was the only white common school in the county boasting five teachers and about 100 students. In 1968, however, it was finally incorporated into the Bryan Inde- pendent School District. Teachers in the Kurten school included: Mr. Mims, Mr. Tem- pleton, Mrs. Maggie Easters Kelley, Johnnie Moore Stockton, Amy Rosier Kurten, David Bunting, Dorothy Bunting, Carl Orr, Fred Gage, Mr. Hibbetts, Mrs. Herbert Smith, Mae Wilson, Ruby I M aggle Easters Kelley taught in the Kurten School for44 Years. Friends in picture are other Kurten School Staff and the county s uperintendent. Walling, Mary Worthington, Eva Potts, Syble Roth, and Elijah Rudd. As was common in the rural schools, teachers were fre- quently little older than their students. Mary Ruth Cloud, for instance, was herself a 15- year -old Kurten School pupil when the teachers pulled her out of the upper class to help teach the lower grades. She taught for six years and then married Minus B. Easters. Theireleven children included Maggie Easters (Mrs. W. T. Kelley) who taught at the Kurten School from 1917 to 1961. As was frequently the case for common school districts, there was both a white and a black school. In Kurten the black school was the John M. Moore Elementary School. Teachers included Mae Edna Jones, Edna Tarrow, Lenia Wilson, Olivia Banks, Tenola Mosley, Annie B. Fennell, and William Cotton. Principals included Fred Batts and Otha Byrd. Another black common school was the Wilcox School. In the 1920s and 1930s the teachers included Annie B. Fennell White, and Lila Lane. It was typically open six months a year and the teachers were paid about $55 per month. In 1939 this seven - grades school was one of five schools absorbed by the John M. Moore School. In the 1870s and 1880s there were rural schools in operation in Reliance, Steep Hollow and Harvey. Teachers at the Steep Hollow and Holligan Chapel schools included James Riley, James Murdock, Bertie Risinger, and Mamie and Edna Tobias. Mr. Robinson, Mr. Jackson, and Mr. Ennis taught at Bethel Academy School in Harvey in 1887. The attendance reached 155. Mrs. Clarissa Birdwell taught at the Templeman School (Dis- trict No. 1) in 1939 and 1940. She was succeeded by Ethel Cunningham, Lila Lane, and then Dauzalu Littleton. Students of Fickey School - 1896. 128 The Love School (on Dilly Shaw Tap Road) was another of the schools absorbed by Kurten. Teachers included Annette Green and Annie B. Fennell. Mrs. Fannie Diggs taught for many years in the rural schools, and at one time served as principal. Most of her teaching experience was in the Fairview School. Not all school communities fit neatly inside of county bound- aries. Such was the case of the Little Rock School near the Brazos /Robertson County line where Mt. Zion Baptist Church now stands. This school was established in about 1931 when the Queen's Chapel School (near the present location of High- way 6) and Walker Settlement School (south of the Old San Antonio Road and the Walker Estate) lost enrollment and were merged. Lila Mae Andrews taught some 39 Brazos and Robert- son County students from 1931 -1033. Her predecessors at the Queen's Chapel School had been Daisy Harris and Alene Ste- wart. The teachers at the Walker Settlement School had been Mrs. Mittie B. Bennett and Tenola Mosley. One of the many outstanding educators of Brazos County was Mrs. Cornelia Sloop, a supervisor in the rural schools. Mrs. Sloop, who also taught in the A &M Consolidated School Dis- trict, developed a method of teaching reading which has been used by many school districts across the nation. SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF BRAZOS COUNTY District No. 1. Templeman 2. 3. Millican 4. Peach Creek 5. Providence 6. Union Hill (territory near the area in Bryan called the Triangle) 7. Harvey 8. Steep Hollow 9. Reliance 10. Kurten 11. Woodville 12. Tabor 13. Queen's Chapel 14. Edge 15. Leonard 16. Rye ] 17. Stabler ] Joined as Rye - Stabler No. 17 18. Steele Store 19. Wixon ] 20. Prospect] Joined as Wixon- Prospect 21. Love School (near Kurten, joined Kurten Dist. before 1947) 22. Fickey 23. Knob Prairie 24. Cedar Grove 25. Bowman 26. Minter Spring 27. Smetana 28. Allenfarm 29. Cawthorn (near Allenfarm) 30. King's Highway 1947 -1953 Districts 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 30 were all consolidated as District No. 10 Kurten District (CSD). Districts 15, 17, and 27 consolidated into District No. 27, Smetana District. SCHOOLS BLACK EDUCATION IN BRAZOS COUNTY It was not until 1971 that Brazos County schools were fully integrated. Heretofore local educational facilities were "sep- arate but equal." They were definitely separate, but equal only in the theoretical sense of the word. In reality black schools were inferior to white buildings; the teachers were both paid less and less qualified than their white counterparts; terms also were shorter; and the students enjoyed fewer facilities than pupils at the white schools. Despite the many shortcomings, education was no less important in the black than in the white society. Indeed, in some respects it was probably more so. Blacks granted a higher status to their teachers than did whites because education was one of the few professions open to capable and ambitious blacks. The following article, which first appeared in The Eagle, dramatically demonstrates the significance of black education in Bryan in particular, and by extension, the county as a whole. An official Texas Historical Marker for black education in Bryan has formally been dedicated in Bryan and will appear in the next edition of the Guide to Official Texas Historical Markers to stimulate tourist travel in this area, to arouse interest in historical tours and to acquaint people of this locale with our unique heritage. The marker, placed on E. 20th St. between North Preston and North Houston streets, is made of cast aluminum with Swedish steel effect. It measures 27 by 42 inches and is sponsored by Alpha Tau Sigma Chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. The inscription on the historic marker reads: Black Education In Bryan "On 30 March 1885, the city of Bryan purchased seven lotsof this area as a site for a public school to provide separate but equal and impartial instruction for Black children of the com- munity, as prescribed by the Texas State Constitution of 1876. The 'Bryan Public School For Blacks in Brazos County'. "When school opened in the fall of 1885, its principal was A. H. Colwell, who later became a prominent leader of Black Republicans, and was named as a presidential elector from Texas in 1896. The original faculty included Mrs. Anne Alber- son, Misses Mamie Burrows, and Beatrice Calhoun, Mrs. Ada Schott Hall and Mrs. Lenora Green, a classmate of Dr. William E. B. Dubois. "The first school building on this site was a two -story frame structure, furnished with planks supported by kegs for seating. After the school burned in 1914, a brick edifice was con- structed. In 1930 when the Kemp Junior - Senior High School was built across town, this facility became Washington Elemen- tary School. After its destruction by fire in September, 1971, Washington Elementary was not rebuilt and the black students were integrated into the Bryan Public School System. Wash- ington Park occupies most of the original site." (1975). On 10 March 1885, during the administration of Major John W. Tabor, Mayor, the City of Bryan purchased lots three through ten, except lot five, of block 56, City of Bryan, for $200 from F. A. Rice and William R. Baker, trustees of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, for the establishment of the school. This was the first school to be established exclusively for Negroes in Bryan, and for many years it serve as a high school for all Negro chTdren in Brazos oun y.The es a is - ment of the school represented a determined effort on the part of the citizens of Bryan to provide for the education of the black youth of the community. The school site contained originally seven of the ten lots in block 56 of the 640 acres set aside and platted as the City of Bryan by William Joel Bryan, nephew of Stephen F. Austin, out SCHOOLS ; ague nine, located in northern Brazos County. In 1952 the ` Independent School District purchased from the Negro Woman's Club of Bryan the three remaining lots in block 56. The school was in operation from the Fall of 1885 to 16 September 1971, and was located between East 19th and East 20th Streets and between North Houston and North Preston. The first principal of the school was A. H. Colwell who had recently arrived in Texas from Louisiana. Colwell was a gradu- ate of New Orleans University, an Institute supported by the Freedmen's Aid Society of the United Methodist Church. He was said, at that time, to have been one of the four best edu- cated Negroes in Texas, and was soon to become a recognized Republican leader in Texas. Colwell, of Brazos County, was nominated �uy the "Regular" (as contrasted to the "Reform ") Republican State Convention meeting in Dallas, 28 -29 August 1894, as its candidate for the office of State Superintendent of Instruction, but failed to win election. At the McKinley Republi- can Convention in Austin, 26 March 1896, he was named one of thetwo Republican presidential electors from Texas. He served as a member of the Committee on Platform and Resolutions at the Republican State Convention in Fort Worth, 16 -18 August 1898, and as chairman of that committee at its convention on 6 -7 March 1900, Waco. Colwell later moved to Louisiana. The second school principal was Pal Landry; the third, E. A. Kemp; the fourth, H. C. Neal; the fifth, Edward H. Know, the ih- f. Students of an early Brazos School. h a., 129 sixth, Lon Nash; the seventh, Thomas Cole; and the last, O. W. Sadberry. The first teachers were: Mrs. Anne Alberson; Mrs. Lenora Green, a graduate of Fisk University and a classmate of Dr. William E. B. Dubois; Miss Mamie Barrows; Miss Beatrice Cal- houn; and Mrs. Ada Schott Hall. Grades taught, at first, were one through ten; and when the state school system changed to an eleven -grade system, the Bryan Public School for Colored became an eleven -grade sys- tem; and, finally, in 1940 -41 it became a twelve -grade system in conformance to state law. At first, the primary interest was upon reading, writing, and arithmetic. Latin was taught for several years in grades 7 -11. Among the first grades of the school were Tim Phillips, Tee Goosby, Eva Goosby, Bailey Bowens, Violet Bowens, Jennie Hall, Ada Ridley, Charlie Duren, Lisa Haynes, Tommie Haynes, Willie Haynes, William Ford, Perry Ford, Emma Ford, and the Johnson children. The original school building was a two -story frame structure with offices on the first floor and an auditorium on the second floor. Planks supported by kegs served as seats. The building was destroyed by fire in 1914, and pending the construction of a new school building, classes were held temporarily at Allen Chapel of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, at Lee Chapel of the Methodist Church, and at Shiloh Baptist Church. In 1915 a new one and a half story brick school was com- pleted on the site of the original structure. In 1930 Kemp Junior - Senior High School was built on the west side of town, and the Bryan Public School for Colored became Washington Elemen- tary School. The Washington Elementary School was des- troyed by fire on 16 September 1971, and was not rebuilt. No school occupies the site today, but in 1974 a new building occupying less than the one - fourth of the site was constructed to house the Special Services Department of the Bryan Public Schools, and the remainder of the block has been developed by the City of Bryan's Parks Department as Washington Park, a neighborhood playground. For many years this was the only public school for Negroes in Bryan, and for a long time it was the only high school for Negroes in Brazos County. The principal of the school acted as "superintendent" and reported directly to the school board until more recent years. As we near the Twenty -first Century, Brazos County Schools are in a better condition than they have ever been before. Instruction is uniformly excellent and the physical plants ade- quate. The only thing that can damage the future of our school systems is apathy. Early school group - Brazos County. IN THE ROARING '20s, Bryan citizens enjoyed watching films in their four cinemas: The Palace, Queen, Dixie and Will Boy McQueen. "The McQueen theater was built for the black people by Will McQueen," says Helen Simpson, who has owned a nursery school in north Bryan for many years and was the first black teacher's aide in the Bryan school district. "He wanted us to have a cinema of our own. It was located on North Main Street by the Parker Lumber Company. I remember watch- ing films with Greta Garbo, Al Jolson and Charlie Chaplin in them. We paid 15 cents to see a movie and it was worth it." Many changes have occurred in Bryan since the '20s, and Simpson loves to reminisce about those early days. Although times were tough and money often scarce, she and her family managed to get by with hard work and good friends. Simpson's family moved from Calvert to the Candy Hill section of north Bryan in 1917, she says. Her father, who worked for the railroad, died when she was 10, leaving her mother with four girls to rear. "There weren't any Social Security checks back then or railroad pensions either," Simpson recalls. "P.V. (that's what we called Mommie because her name was Parthenia Victoria Harris), washed and ironed and played the piano for one or two church- es. Those were hard times." Though her mother had to struggle to make ends meet, Simpson says, God was watching over the family. "We were down to 50 cents in the house. Mommie said 'Toots,' that was my nickname, 'you go down to the market and get 25 cents of sausage and 15 cents of rice.' I ran to the store and after I bought the sausage I went to another place to buy rice. There was sawdust on the floor of that store for sanitation reasons. I looked down and there in the sawdust was a five- dollar bill. I grabbed it up and ran home. "When P.V. saw the money she questioned me; 'You sure you found the money ?' 'I'm sure,' I said. 'You really sure ?' she questioned. 'Yes Mommie, I found it.' She didn't want me to steal and I appre- ciated that. "'I'm so happy!' P.V. shouted. "I'm glad the Lord is looking out for us.' And I was happy too." Simpson grew up in the Candy Hill section of north Bryan. "Most of the streets were dirt and there weren't many cars," she remembers. "People walked where they wanted to go. We lived in a little rent house on Candy Hill Street and to keep from getting dusty or muddy we'd walk on the edges of the yards. I remember one mean lady had barbed wire around her yard so we couldn't hold on to the fence, and then we had to walk in the deep ruts in the road. We just prayed that a car didn't come along until we got home." Conditions improved for the family when Simpson's mother went to work for Allen Academy in 1929. Her title was the "Pantry Lady" and she made salads and other foods for the boarders there. She worked hard, but her home was always open to her children's friends who enjoyed her cooking. "In the wintertime we'd buy a cord of wood from Mr. Ellis, our landlord, and Mommie and I built a shed to lock up our wood. If you didn't lock up the wood, people would take it. We got teased a lot about building the shed, but our house was always warm. Not just one room like most people had, but every room was warm. The kids would come to our house to keep warm and eat Mommie's good cooking. She made a raisin pie that would melt in your mouth. I didn't know it was a poor man's dish until I grew up. "When P.V. had saved a little money she By Helen F_ SI • • G rowing up in Old Bryan Family, friends made hard times easier for residents of Gandy Hill 8 INSITE/JuxE 1995 Helen Simpson grew up in the Candy Hill section of Bryan. bought a cow and we sure did enjoy the milk. She even sold little cartons of milk to some of her friends. The best part flout it was making ice cream in the summertime. That cow made our lives a lot better." In those early days, young people had a number of fun things to do, so they wouldn't get bored, she says. "Besides pic- ture shows, carnivals came to town. They would set up where the Coca Cola place is on East 24th Street. We'd have to walk to those places, but that didn't stop us from going. "I guess the most socializing we did was at church. There was always something going on there and plenty of scriptures to learn." After a few years with Allen Academy, Simpson's mother went to work for Texas A &M in the laundry. She didn't have a car but drove someone else's in a car pool. Simpson says her mother couldn't stand to see anything wasted. "When we lined the ironing boards with cotton in the A &M laundry, we cut the padding to fit and there were scraps left over. P.V. took those scraps home and made the nicest mattresses and pillows. They sure made sleeping good." )0- By Chris Sasser ON JUNE 19, 1865, Union Gen. Gordon Granger and his troops landed on Galveston's shore to tell the slaves of East Texas and parts of surrounding states that they were free. Today, Texans celebrate that day, " Juneteenth," with parades, picnics, music and games. Local Juneteenth observances to be held on Saturday, June 17, include the following: 10 a.m. -12:30 p.m.- Parade on Martin Luther King Street, ending at Sadie Thomas Park 12:30 -2 p.m.- Awards and trophies ceremony 3:30 -5:30 p.m.- Religious service and barbecue 7 p.m. - Speech by Hugh McElroy of Texas A &M University, at the College Station Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St., followed by a con- cert by Eugene Eugene. Also planned are a king /queen, prince /princess pageant and youth talent show on Saturday, June 10, to raise scholarship funds. Sherry Williams, news anchor for KBTX, will be the mistress of ceremony. The contests begin at 7 p.m. at Kemp Elementary School, 1601 W. Mumford Road in Bryan. Tickets are $2 if pur- chased before the show and $3 at the door. For information, call Sherry Smith at 822 -7780 or Hayward Peterson at 778 -1620. THE BOLD LOOK of KOHLER WWOR IN UONCEPT. E[HM IN DESIGN. WE BRING YOU KOIM.. The Aventura Shower and SoakTM Whirlpool allows you to shower and then relax with a hydromassage. From Kohler to you, with style. PROGRESS SUPPLY, Inc. Mailing Telephone Shipping P.O. Box 2820 409 - 776 -6277 1242 Villa Maria Road Bryan, Texas 77805 Fax: 409 - 774 -7015 Bryan, Texas 77802 Capture the beauty and excitement of the underwater world - let us teach you to dive! It's EASY and it can be FUN for the whole family! We have the most experienced instructors in the Brazos Valley, you'll get personalized instruction and learn to dive safely. For diving equipment, our friendly staff will help you choose from our great selection of quality name brands at exceptional prices. Come on, join us on a diving vacation to a tropical destination. At Sea -U Underwater we sell fun, just add water! Stop by today, we're on Harvey Road in the Post Oak Village Shopping Center. INSITE /JUNE 1995 9 UNDERWATER I *Ogr.� ea- SCUBA 900 Harvey Rd. * College Station * 693.0104 At 12, Simpson had trouble seeing the letters in books, and struggled with reading. "When I would try to read the letters in my book, they just looked like little lines and I couldn't tell one letter from another. I told P.V. about it. She stopped ironing and looked at me. 'You mean you can't see to read ?' she asked. 'That's right,' I answered. She just shook her head, because she didn't have the $5 needed to get me some glasses. Finally she decided to borrow the money from Ed Scott. He worked for a mortuary. "Mr. Scott pulled a five- dollar bill out of his pocket, gave it to her and said, 'Why didn't you say so sooner, P.V. ?' That's how I got my glasses, but not being able to read set me back in school. I didn't grad- uate from high school with my classmates. It broke my heart and I cried for two or three days. I just couldn't stop." "The most money Mommie every made was selling Avon products in the '40s," Simpson says. "I guess P.V. was in her 50s then. She even made enough money to buy a car and pay for this house I'm living in now, on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. It was 19th Street then. Everybody liked P.V. and wanted to buy Avon prod- ucts from her. "She'd start out in the morning with a little bag of samples and sell to people all over town. She would make as much as a thousand dollars a month. This was a lot of money for those times." Simpson was fond of all her sisters and pleased with their achievements. " Mommie and I worked to keep my sis- ters in school," she says. "We were espe- cially proud of Edna's education. She fin- ished Bishop College, received a B.A. from North Texas State and a master's degree in English education from Prairie View A &M University. Edna taught Advanced College English at Bryan High School until she retired in the 1980s." When she was in her early 30s, Simpson married Carl Simpson, a Baptist preacher, and moved away from Bryan. After he died, she moved back in 1963 to live with her mother. "I never had any children, but always loved them. That's why I opened up my kindergarten school, Candy Hill Nursery in 1965. My first year I had 10 students. When they finished, I made every one of them graduation gowns and hats. In the next five years, my enrollment increased to 30 students. I had black, brown and white students. My school was integrated before MEASURING SUCCESS ONE INVESTOR AT A TIME At Dean Witter, we're ready to help with a wide range of investments and a professionally- trained Account Executive who can tailor a personal investment program to your financial needs. Every one of them. Active Assets Account • Asset management Common, preferred and convertible securities Economic, fundamental and technical research Futures • CJNMA's • Insurance IRA's, IRA rollovers • Simplified Employee Pension IRA's Keoghs • Money market funds Municipal and corporate bonds Mutual funds • Options • Personal financial planning Retirement plans for small corporations Tax - advantaged investments • Tax - deferred annuities U.S. Treasury and federal agency securities • Unit trusts DEAN WITTER: David Gardner 511 University Drive East, Greg Stiles Branch Manager Suite 207 Associate Vice President College Station, TX 77840 (409) 846 -9441 © 1990 Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., Member SIPC they forced integration." In 1970, Simpson became the first black teacher's aide in the Bryan ISD. "I went to A &M and took some courses 1 early elementary training, and help& — Margaret Godfrey who was teaching at Neal elementary school. After five years working as a teacher's aide, I went back to run my nursery school at Mommie's house. I've retired, but still own the nursery with someone else running it." The only one member of her family still living, Simpson still keeps up with the children she taught. "They know I expect a lot of them," she says. "I see after my neighbors and I've got my friends in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. The same church I was married in, in 1934. I told them they're my fam- ily now and we'll look after each other." This story will be included in "Celebrate Bryan: 125 Years of Legend, Lore and Legacy," an anec- dotal history of Bryan written to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the city's founding. For information, call Betty Foster at 693 -7545. 1& Afipa Jd GALLERY & CUSTOM FRAMING 20 Years Experience PROMPT EXPERT FRAMING Prints 0 Oils * Photos Needlework # Objects Diplomas 0 Awards MEMBER P.P.F.A. 693 -6894 404 UNIVERSITY EAST SUITE G.G. COLLEGE STATION, TExAs 77840 10 INSITEIJUNr 1995 ulyaU VIIC�G JlQl1U11 lGbiG cur, v �y�. u Lifes N hr e ca I S u nny as segregated s Br y an i n boo By JENNIFER BEVERS Eagle Staff Writer "I sat down on the floor in the middle of the F ormer Bryan resident Sunny Nash knows when some people read her new book "Bigmama Didn't Shop at Woolworth's," they'll think she had a rough childhood. But that's not the way it was at all, she says. :•. "When I read the book, to me, that's my life," Nash i' says. "Those looking at it from the outside might think Y it seems a lot harder than it actually felt. I had a wonder- s ful childhood. I was surrounded by people who loved x me. I always had clothes to wear and I was never hun- i! gry' +' Nash grew up black in Candy Hill in North Bryan in i the segregated 1950s. Like other blacks at the time, that 7 " meant not being able to shop, eat or go where she want - ed. Nash describes Candy Hill as being virtually ignored by the city of Bryan. It had unpaved streets, no bath- } rooms or sewers, no public transportation and no safe place to play. Nash remembers a time during the Civil Rights movement when every black school in Bryan was burned. Not all were burned to the ground, but each was d damaged. Her elementary school, Washington 4; etnentary, was burned to the ground and never rebuilt. Nash endured all of this, pursued her dream and writes about it all in the book where she recaptures ordinary and special moments of her family, friends and Iterself in Candy Hill. She describes how they tolerated i and overcame prejudices, dealt with daily obstacles, earned a living, received an education, voted, purchased property and what they learned from one another. The powerful influence of her part- Comanche grand - mother Edna Minor Gibbs, who Nash affectionately called Bigmama, helped Nash to develop the pride and courage needed to thrive emotionally and intellectually in the face of adversity. She recounts this growing -up in a series of vignettes published as "Bigmama Didn't Shop at Woolworth's" by Texas A &M University Press. The articles were fast published in the Bryan- College Station Eagle and the Houston Chronicle newspapers. About a year ago Nash decided to combine the best of those articles and make a fast book from them. Nash spent the majority of her childhood years with her grandmother because her parents, Henry and Littie Nash, had to work. Shp says it was her grandmother who taught her how to look at life differently. "She had a lot of in_Sight," Nash says. "She knew how to read people, and that's been very helpful to me. She saved me a lot of trouble through the years." -Mash went to elementary and middle school in Bryan and graduated from Kemp High School in 1%7. She remained in the Candy Hill neighborhood throughout her youth. Even though she has fond memories of Candy Hill, Nash says one reason why some of her black : peers in the neighborhood didn't succeed is because they were told by their own families that they couldn't. They didn't have the support she had, she says. Littie Nash and Bigmama wanted to make sure Nash did succeed. : "A lot of parents in my neighborhood told their chi]- dren there are jobs out there that you should never mess I'd made and dropped my face into my hands. 'Why even bother going to school! I'll never get to be anything I want to be anyway!' 'They're out there,' my grandmother said, 'pray- ing you'll fail, so when things in the country do change, you still won't get to be what you want to be because you won't know how.' Could she be right ?... My grandmother cleared a space on the kitchen table and told me to do my homework." from 'Bigmama Didn't Shop at Woolworth's' aspire to because you wont be able to get them," Nash says. "My mother never told me that She told me things will change and I can be anything I want to be." Nash listened to her mother's words and continued to set high goals for herself and seize every opportunity available to her, even in one of America's most tumultuous periods _ segregation. She knew not every child had the support she did, but that didn't make her appreciate her neighborhood or heritage any less. "I never really wanted to leave or run away from it," she says. "I just knew that if things changed in my life- time, I wanted to be ready." To be prepared, Nash decided on a career early in life. She knew she wanted to be a writer. For years she never wrote anything but school essays, but the desire to write and see her name in print was too overpowering to not give it a try. She knew she needed to go to college to get the training she needed. "At that time, A &M wasn't even an option for me," Nash gays. "It was an all- military, all-male school, so I never thought I would go there. But by the time I gradu- ated, A&M was ready for me" Nash was out of high school before integration took place in Bryan schools. However, she watched from the sidelines and says even today she is proud of how the Bryan school district handled integration. "We went from complete segregation to turmoil to complete integration," Nash recalls. "Bryan seemed to make the transition in as dignified a way as any other town in the south. I'm really proud of the way they did it. They didn't have to bring in federal troops to come in a make a big commotion." Nash enrolled in A &M as a journalism major in 1973 and graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1977. It wasn't until after she had graduated that she learned she was one of the fast black women to gradu- ate from Texas A &M. She says it never crossed her mind to be a part of history. She chose A&M for the conve- nience. She could live with her parents in Bryan and the tuition was only $4 per semester hour. Since her graduation, Nash has worked as a writer, photographer and television producer, She now works as a freelance writer in Southern California. She has sto- ries included in the Hooks "Common Bonds: Stories by Modern Texas Women," "New Growth 2," and "State Lines." Photographs from her exhibit "Shopping for Hope," a study of inner-city churches, have been purchased by the Schomburg Center of the New York Public Library. The Smithsonian Institution has also purchased an inventory of the exhibit. She has also produced the pho- tography exhibit "End of the Road," on the art of prison tattoos, having gone into the maximum security areas of the state penitentiary in Huntsville to photograph the prisoners' unusual art. A vignette included in the book that was fast published in the Houston Chronicle, "A Mission Completed for Doll" is in the John F. Kennedy Library in Austin. These are all important parts of her career, Nash says, but she still wanted to write a book. When she began the book a year ago, she didn't have much to write since the articles had already been published. She selected the best ones and put them in appropriate order. When she began writing the vignettes years ago, she never imag- ined they would turn into a book, but now she's glad they're together in one place. "When you look at something you've created, it's amazing," Nash says. "I felt like I was in a movie. I thought, 'Wow, this has my name on it "' Writing a book was a different experience for the vet- eran news writer. She says she was used to having the facts for a story right in front of her, and she simply reported them. Sunny Nash, above, recalls growing up black in Candy Hill during the segregated 1950s. At left Bigmama (Edna Minor Gibbs) sits with Sunny Nash's mother (Uttie Gibbs nash) at age one in 1929. It was through her family's eyes that Nash saw not only the Indignities and economic hardships but also the love and warmth of everyday life in her neighborhood. Nash emphasizes that she didn't move away from Texas to get away from her past or the Candy Hill neigh- borhood. In fact, she says she is one of many people from Candy Hill who has been successful. Even though Nash has her own Beverly Hills agent now, she still thinks of Bryan and Candy Hill as home and visits her parents and 26-year-old daughter, Heather Feronberg, in the same house she grew up in about once a year. "I'll drive down the street of my neighborhood, and (neighbors) wave and say 'Hey, I liked the book,' or 'Hey, I'm going to buy your book.' I plan to go by a few places and hand deliver some copies." Nash says one of the most special parts of writing the book is hearing from the people her writing has touched. She knows everyone in her old neighborhood can identify with what she's written, but she was sur- prised when more people contacted her. When the arti- cles fast ran in newspapers, she received letters from people of different ethnicities who were touched by her stories. "So many people can relate to these stories," Nash says. "They are stories about life and finding friends. There are a lot of people who remember and grew up in that period and time." Nash will read from her book at 7 p.m. today at Friends Congregational Church. The reading and book - signing are sponsored by Friends Just Peace Institute. The book is available for purchase at Hastings Books, Music and Video stores. Special to The Eagle M onday, February 26, 199 L I/S t t 5ke oca a e ", A9 Sisters recall family's legacy of education; By SAM LAWRENCE Eagle staff Sisters Ruth Neal Battle and Ella Neal Donovan remember how their father and grandfather stressed the importance of education. Both women followed in their ancestors' foot- steps by attend- ing college and becoming school teachers. The career c10ice was Black History Month something handed down from generation to genera- tion, starting with their grandfather, Robert Peel Neal Battle, who lives in California after retir- ing with 38 years, and Donovan, who retired in Bryan with 32 years of teaching experience, still have the original diplomas their grandfather received in the 1800s. Their family story of growing up in the Brazos Valley and their father's years as a local principal,starts in Ralgigh, N.C., with Robert Peel Neal "His parents were slaves and the Quaker family adopted him and gave him the name Neal," says Ruth, explaining how his last name changed from Graves. Their grandfather was one of the fast three graduates of Fisk University. in Nashville, Tenn. He received a bachelor's degree in liberal arts, then got a master's degree. He was a school teacher in Tennessee before moving to the Brazos Valley in the 1890s. "He was accepted as a teacher at Baylor," Ruth says. "It was on the Brazos (River) in Independence, Texas. After his arrival, they acknowledged his credentials were in order. But due to the Jim Crow Laws of the state of Texas, the school didn't want to deny him, but they were forced to follow the laws of Texas." Their grandfather began teaching in Prairie View. He later moved to Navasota and opened E.M. Neal Grocery, named for his wife Ella Mae, on what later became Texas 6. "His community nickname was Rice Neal," Ruth says. "He was very exact. They said if you were buying a nickel of rice, if you were one grain over, he would take it out. He was very precise." Robert Peel and Ella Mae Neal had two children: Robert Claudius Neal, who also graduated from college and was a school administrator in • Bryan; and Arthur Gladstone Neal, who ran the family store. Robert Claudius Neal was a Howard University graduate. He completed his .administrative credits at Sam Houston State University and earned his master's degree at Texas Southern University. He worked in New York and Pennsylvania before he returned to Navasota for a visit. That's when he met Willie Lee Scales, a teacher. The two later married and were making their way back to New York when they stopped in Kansas. The family settled in Kansas City, where Ruth was born inU12ft The three moved,} ,back to Texas the yep and s$obert (,Claudius Neal became vice prin ippaal2''of the CBryan Colored School. He was appointed principal of the school) , at 20th and Houston streets, in the fall ofj 'k1928. The site'' later - housed George tWashington Elementary; and the -high% Aschool moved to the west side of Bryan and t -was named after• °former principal E:A ;' Kemp. Kemp High School burned down and was trebuilt where Kemp Elementary currently +a sits. The Bryan school board is proposing building a new school, R.C. Neal Elementary, at the burned-down site at 21st and Congress streets. A' second daughter, Ella, was born in 1929. Robert Claudius Neal continued as principal of Kemp High School until 1958. The two daughters also became teachers upon college graduation. Ruth started teaching in Snook in 1955 and later moved to Arizona and California. She retired in 1991 after 25 years in Oxnard, Calif. She currently lives with her husband in Camarillo, which is about five miles out- side of Santa Barbara. Ella started teaching in Kurten in 1957 and retired in 1992 after 12 years of teach- ing in Calvert. Along the way, she taught in Germany, Killeen and Navasota. Today, Arthur Gladstone Neal Jr., a cousin to Ella and Ruth, teaches at the Neal Special Opportunity School in Bryan. "You didn't even think about not going (to school) unless you were critically ill ": Ruth says. "(Teaching) was the family influence. We're people-oriented to begin with." History gives the sisters a strong sense of family pride. Ella says the two might con- sider writing a book of their family's life.. That's why, Ruth says, the colors of Bryan High School are maroon and white. When their father was principal at Kemp. High School, Bryan got its first high school football team, which used the Texas A&M jerseys about to be thrown away. "My father believed in supporting the neighborhood and the community," Ruth says. "Staying in school under any circum- stances was most important in my father's life." Ruth Neal Battle and Ella Neal Donovan hold original diplomas for their grandfather ' from the 1800's college bachelor and masters from Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn.'� ... ,Y _ .... __ ...... _ _ . _. _ .. _ __ . -.,., , . .... , ., „., ( �.... .. , .Meg.,,,.'_. � - - -- - .,.-,, . ... .. .. .. � A ir . ” F Ar ft{��'aR� -♦ : * , 1 M? "'� fir .. . s • 9 .ti Ap • + ���� ,�• • �� '° P #a prrarribrrit n, rbr ixf,� , } ,� � � .,� a�• '� j . - ,d�tr�#taaxt #.��e �I.r�rrtt� :�.�.axx�� � ° :. �. ;• ,�� -�; � r: Z 0. 0 l e � a ♦ �� � G �~ �rry d . zt cc to P mtxi�txx� A ex`ea #try. �t# 9 R - td l � d,,,.� • � , e �� � ��� • ,• � 'f`l y ' "- d•. Vii' � P � �,.� • '' r . � s _ �t�FT1�C�P11f �=.° . ,. •� x .'y .. d V •mo `° �: .;� tit 'e - 1 tpry�gl, Y y � ! vtig: • \ t: , "'�'. 1� i ,. 1# o� - �•�� ti ;��, °a !�'; '�1� tr. � :•.' . � ' '� ' ". . r w MG•. �� . o 4at ��. : �.�� �:M� { �tnco&i 94tgh qchooP Jttith Teuillon gOhWQhd gOh8U6h Taclewand ut(euen ghidag, Satunday P Sunday duly S, 6 P 7 1996 ( 34iQton ( 34oteP - Co&ge Station, Uexas OFFICERS IN CHARGE President............................................................................................. ............................... ..........................James Steen VicePresident ................................................................ ............................... ........................Lucille Washington Young Secretary................................................................................ ............................... ........................Mildred Wells Martin Assistant Secretary ............................................................. ............................... .........................Billie Stewart Smedley Treasurer.................................................................................... ............................... ...........................Faye Jones Daily Assistant Treasurer .............................................................. ............................... ........................Charlie M. Smith Jones PROGRAM COMMITTEE Ruby Wells Smith, Chairperson Charlie M. Smith Jones Lucille Washington Young Faye Jones Daily Annie Hollie Williams PUBLICITY COMMITTEE Audrey Steen Williamson, Chairperson Annie Hollie Williams Mildred Wells Martin Lucille Washington Young DECORATING COMMITTEE Annie Hollie Williams, Chairperson Darlene Wells Williams Laverne Merchant Cunningham Andre' Peterson Steen Eddie Marshall, Jr. SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE Charlie M. Smith Jones Evelyn Wells Paul Peterson, Chairperson Mildred Wells Martin RESERVATIONISTS Billie Stewart Smedley, Chairperson Audrey Steen Williamson FOOD COMMITTEE Lucille Washington Young, Chairperson Evelyn Wells Paul Peterson Travis Williams Eddie Marshall, Jr. Mary Williams Dell Thompson TEACHER COORDINATORS Ethel M. Steen Delley Charles M. Smith Peterson SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday................................................................................................. ............................... ...........................July 5, 1996 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a. m ...................................................................... ............................... .......................• Hour Hilton Hotel- College Station, Texas Music.................................................................................................. ............................... ........................Fantasy Band Saturday............................................................................................. ............................... ...........................July 6, 1996 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p. m ......................................................... ............................... ........................Picnic, Lincoln Center College Station, Texas 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a. m ................................................................... ............................... .................Banquet - Hilton Hotel College Station, Texas Sunday............................................................................................... ............................... ...........................July 7, 1996 3:00 p. m ............................. ............................... ......................Religious Service - Washington Chapel Baptist Church College Station, Texas MENU Sliced Roast Beef w / Brown Gravy Roast Turkey & Cornbread Dressing (cranberry sauce) Corn O'Brien - Green Beans Almondine- Country Style Mashed Potatoes & Gravy Fruit Ambrosia (Fresh) - Marinated Vegetable Salad Tossed Green Salad with two dressings (French & Ranch dressing) Dessert - Fruit Cobbler /Assorted Fruit Pie /Cake Beverage- Tea/Coffee LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING (Negro National Anthem) Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies; Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us. Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won. BANQUET PROGRAM Master Ceremony ......................................................................................................... ............................Mr. Andrew (Jake) White Song....................................................................................................... ............................... ..........................Negro National Anthem Invocation................................................................................................... ............................... .......................Reverend Leroy Clark Greetings..................................................................................... ............................... ...........................Mrs. Ester Ray Steen Thomas DINNER TheOccasion ................................................................................ ............................... ...........................Mrs. Faye Dell Jones Daily Recognition of Classes 1940(s) Mrs. Lerlene Stewart Carter 1 950( s) ........................................................................................................................................ ............................Mr. James Stewart 1 960( s) ................................................................................................................................... ............................Mr. General Peterson 1970( s) ................................................................................................................................. ............................Ms. Deborah Peterson Recognition Faculty ........................................................................................... ............................Ms. Charles M. Smith Peterson MemorialPeriod ........................................................................................................... ............................Ms. Betty Malone Franklin Introduction Speaker ............................................................................ ............................... ............................Mr.. Lorenzo Wilborn Speaker.................................................................................... ............................... ...........................Mrs. Betty Jo Inborn Hudspeth Class of 1959 1963 Graduate of Prairie View A &M College, Prairie View, Texas Principal of Andrew Elementary School, Austin Independent School District Austin, Texas Special Recognition & Presentation ................................................... ............................... ........................Lucille Washington Young Remarks....................................................................................................... ............................... ......................President James Steen Alma Mater Hostess: Miss Daisy Garrett A & M Consolidated High School College Station, Texas 'O Lincoln High' O Lincoln High we love you true. We love the purple and gold too. To you we will always be true. O Lincoln High how we love you. The purple and gold means much to me. Let's try to keep our colors true, We pledge a better school to be, O Lincoln High how we love you. Hostess: Miss LaTonya Ivette Hines O. D. Wyatt High School Fort Worth, Texas "And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. " 2 Chronicles 7:14 LINCOLN FORMER STUDENTS Washington Chapel Baptist Church - College Station, Texas Sunday - July 7, 1996 - Time - 3:00 p.m. ORDER OF WORSHIP Master Ceremony ................................................................................. ............................... ............................Rev Edward Collins Devotion ........................................................................ ............................... ...........................Bros. James McGruder, Ray A. Terrell Dell Thompson, Floyd Clark Scripture ............................................................................................................. ............................... ............................Rev John Lott Prayer .................................................................................................. ............................... ............................Rev Lonzell Payton, Jr. Sel ection ......................................................................... ............................... ........................Lincoln Former Students Alumni Choir Greetings ... ............................... ............................................................................... ...........................Sis. Marjorie (Fan) Thompson Sel ections ........................................................................ ............................... ........................Lincoln Former Students Alumni Choir Introduction Speaker ........................................................................... ............................... ............................Rev E. E. Garvin, Jr. Speaker ....................................................................................................... ............................... ............................Rev Emmitt Burrell Class of 1950 Pastor of Evangelist Temple Baptist Church Dallas, Texas Call to Discipleship Sol o ......................................................................................................................... ...........................Sis. Esterlene Wilborn Williams Offering Bros. Phillip Steen, Jr., Charlie James Langston Freddie Watson, Alvin Campbell Remarks ................................................................................................... ............................... ............................Rev E. E. Garvin, Jr. Bro. James E. Steen Announcements Benediction Choir Directress Shirley Robison Payton M Brenda K Lamar Ushers Tonyia Ford, Angel Franklin Williams Michelle Peterson, Johnny Lister Faye Walker, Otis John LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL FORMER STUDENTS ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 9625 COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS 77842 -9625 HISTORY The A &M Consolidated Negro School had its beginning in 1941, as a result of the consolidation of several one and two teacher schools at convenient locations for elementary grades while high school students were transferred to Bryan. Teachers were Mrs. Thay Adams Owens and Mrs. Edna E. Harris Tarrow in the Washington Chapel Church, Mrs. Ruth Cunningham in the St Matthews Church and Mrs. Kate Tolden and Mrs. Julia Muckleroy Campbell in the Wellborn Community. For seven years, grades one through twelve were housed in a seven -room frame building constructed on Eleanor Street, with no library nor library facilities. A shop was added by woodwork classes. Six teachers constituted the first faculty namely: Mr. Elbert Cunningham as principal, Mrs. Thay M. Adams Owens, Mrs. Edna Harris Tarrow, Mc W. A. 7arrow, Mr. A. J. Thompson and Mrs. Ruth Cunningham, with an enrollment of 242 in 1942. The first class graduated in 1942 consisting of six students: Lola V. Robison. O. B. Townsend, Ethel Mae Eaton, Clarence Burrell, Dan McGill and Dora Jewell Townsend. In 1943, Mr. W. A. Tarrow became principal. The name of the school was changed to Lincoln High School in 1946. By 1954, a jour room high school building, a H. E. Cottage, Science building, Gymnasium. All - Purpose room and additional classrooms had been added to the existing site. The faculty had increased to ten classroom teachers and one Home Economics teacher and Shop teacher and had received High School Accreditation from the State Department of Education. For approximately twenty-four years, the Lincoln High School served the educational needs of the Black children in College Station. The buildings were destroyed by fire in 1965. PRODUCTS OF THE COLLEGE STATION SCHOOL ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE U.S.. EMPLOYED AS ENGINEERS, LAB TECHNICIANS, TEACHERS, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, TAILORS, MUSICIANS. COSMETOLOGISTS, AND MANYMANAGERIAL POSITIONS FACULTY Mrs. Madelyn Howard Mrs. Dorothy Cole Mrs. Ethel Steen Delley Mr. J. R. Delley Mr. E. E. Escort Mr. Edward Elliott, Jr. Mrs. A.M. Rayford Mrs. C. R. Mosley Mrs. Emzye E. Downing Mrs. Florence Hall Mrs. Daziola Littleton Mr. Emanuel Mack Mrs. Earline Thomas Mrs. Eunice Robinson WIlliams Mr. George Washington Mr. Waldo Sergeant Mr. Hancock Mrs. Geneva Spencer Elliott Mrs. Carter Mrs. Mable Maiden Frazier Mr. Earl Henderson Mr. James Stewart Mrs. Jean Williams Townsend Mrs. Charles M. Smith Peterson Mrs. Dorothy Gibson DECEASED "FACULTY" Mr. W. A. Tarrow Mr. Lawrence E. King Mr. James Hawkings Mr. Elbert Cunningham Mrs. Julia Campbell Mrs. Lillian Epson Mrs. Ruth Cunningham Mr. I. C. Cunningham Mrs. Edna Harris Tarrow Mrs. P. L. Carter Mrs. Thay M. Adams Owens DECEASED "STUDENTS" Hiawatha Hawkins Carl Gilbert Herman Gilbert Nathaniel Collier Willie Ray Jones Shirley Washington Brooks Shelby Preston, Jr. Barbara Childs Gladys McGill Tollie Williams Fred Burrell Robert Smith Jonathan Collier Willie Mae Rooks Curley Green Jr. Lee Morris White Martha Ann Smith Joyce M. Williams Campbell Tommie Dell Miles Richard Carroll Edward Carroll Rev. Donald Ray Hamilton, Sr Vivian Nix Alvin Peterson Larry Peterson Red Peterson Aaron Nelson Edna P. Townsend Ivory Joe Taylor Dimple Wilbom Andrew Calhoun Aubrey Caldwell, Jr. Robert Joe Walker Roland Grayer Janice Sharp Jimmy Banks Davis Calvin Banks Rev. Clayburn Whitfield Nathaniel Brown Della Mae Moore Wilmer R. Robison Johnny Battle, Jr. Ethelene Johnson Jones R.W. Robinson, Jr. Isaiah Watson Emmitt Watson, Jr. Margaret Groce Phillips Melvin Smith, Jr. Loretta Washington Ford Barbara Lyons Caldwell Walter Howard Roscoe Peterson Ada Mae Smith Milton James James Elliott Wilborn Joe Payton, Jr. Ella Mae Steptoe Mary Bird Sims Lucille Mitchell Irvin Clark Myrtle Green Betty J. Peterson Henry Frank Johnson Alma R. Whitfield Lola V. Robison Clarence Jones Daniel Turner Thelma Smith Marshall Gladys Nell Lyons Stewart Willie C. Washington Moses Boone Delois Payton James Nichols Carolyn Faye Thompson Thamon Foster Ruby F. McCoy Vaniola Malone Shephard James Lee Robinson James Ford Lorenzo Ford Matt Pharms - J. D. Grays, Jr. Mary Alice Hollie Tommy Wallace Ores Hollie Howard Robinson Sambo Mitchell Booker T. Fields Oscar Cunningham, Jr. Willie Lee Taylor Iva M. Burrell Harrison Frank Taylor, Jr. Willie M. Brown Bassett Marcellus Stewart Leslie Johnson Elizabeth Taylor Helen Zepher Stanza Peterson Evelyn Bolden John Foster Ruby Lee Burrell Robert Earl Daily Willie Howard, Jr. Helen Flowers Betty Foster Willie Mae Fells Bass Blossie T. Washington Payton Johnny Lee Burton Eddie Mae Allen Daily Clarence Johnson Jessie Ray Sabbs Johnny Townsend, Sr. Lillian Clark Robinson Alvin Gilbert Dorothy Sweed Shields Mary Emma Phillips Betty Watson Dodd Franklin Washington Erma Lee McCarvey Peterson Burnest Hollie Charlie J. Carley CLASS OF THE 1940'S, 50'S AND 60'S Eli Sweed Kenneth Lynn Ross Dan Sims Monroe Renchie Dalton Collier James Washington Marguireta Townsend Bertha Howard Washington Helen Grays Lula B. Grays J. C. Peterson Ira Mitchell Henry Townsend, Sr. Elizabeth Townsend Ray Bertha Clemmmons Joseph Taylor A. J. Daily Rosie Mae Rooks Nellie Watson Langston Katie M. McWashington J. W. Walder Eugene Garvin Eleanor Henson X. C. Waldon 011ie Marie Townsend Collins Richard Townsend Ortha Peterson Billie Moore Gloria Davidson Edward Washington Jack Ross Billy Tom Steen Henrietta Jones D. H. Flowers Ella B. Waldon Eula Mae Groce Walter Groce Lee Groce Azalee Whitfield Ethel Mae Eaton Riptoe O. B. Townsend Dan McGill Floyd Palmer Lloyd Palmer Roy Palmer Raymond Henderson Inez Burrell Jones Hazel Flowers Banks Willie B. Morrow Rosie Lee Mosley Daniel Washington Ora Lee Hawkins Ida B. Flowers Iris Jean Toliver Frances Howard Bobby Stewart Sammie Palmer Hornsby Charles Chris Uradell White Clark Douglas Turner Hazel Thompson Townsend Johnny B. Washington Ada Lee Washington Ford Emma V. Alexander Henderson Billie J. Stewart Smedley Hattie Malone McGill Camile Williams Dorothy Woods Beatrice Burrell Searcy Earl C. Townsend Therma Lee Wilborn Mosley Velma Flowers Wright 011ie M. Robinson Cooper Eva M. Stewart Christopher Eunice Robinson Williams Gladys Washington Johnson Ethel M. Hill Washington Ezerlean Thompson Manuel Mable L. Ray Morrow Josephine Overall Carroll Hattie Eunice Campbell Elza Mae Watson Garner Albennie Nix Carter Pattie Burrell Washington Pearline Taylor Day Ada Pearl Roy Esther Ruth Thompson Hall Ruby J. Steen Emmitt Burrell James E. Stewart Ernest Peterson James Waldon Bessie McGruder Marcellus Day Audrey E. Ford Rodgers Esterlean Williams Arister Brooks James E. Sabbs George Jones Ervin M. Williams Howard L. Thompson Margaret Townsend Cornelius Watson Searcy James McGruder Curtis L. Coleman Willie J. Thompson Dorothy L. Green Myrtle Barnes Bennie Groce Luberta Cooper Eunice L. Thompson Audrey L. Steen Williamson Carrie Barnes Helen Eaton Henderson Doris Wilborn Nathaniel Sterling Bertha Heard Sanders Lula B. White Hollimon Christa B. Columbus Hill Deloise Hall Townsend C. A. Banks Johnnie L. Columbus Steen Ethel M. Steen Delley Johnnie Burton Jessie Ray Sabbs Phillip Steen, Jr. Esterlean Wilborn Williams Evelyn L. Boone Mary E. McCarvey Milton James Chester Brown Walter Steen, Jr. Dorothy Gibson McKever Napleon Foster Dorothy J. Townsend Edwards Foress Johnson Katie M. Sims Waldon Remus McKever Ruby J. Hawkins Brooks Leroy Thomas Travis Williams Arther Sterling Margaret Mitchell Charlie Langston Eleanor Toliver Williams Donald Peterson Edgar L. Banks Mary E. White McNeil Doretha Steen Sanders Howard Baker Tommie Allen Chambers Louis Peoples Bernice Barnes Moore Exalton Fusilier Lillie E. Johnson Haynes Raymond Sabbs Jeffrey Boone Gilbert Dorothy J. Smith Washington Ethel Ross Jeremiah Waldon Velma Eaton Murphy Ester Steen Thomas Morns Caldwell Marie Renchie Johnson Cozette Turner Godine Alma Turner Vera Sue Davis Ellis Jessie Mae Carrie Arteberry J. C. Carrie Eva Lee Wilborn Inez Watson Mary Scott Aaron Mitchell Queen Ester Robison Gilcrest Donald Ray Jones Vivian Nix Alton Williams S. A. Ford Arthur Eaton Helen Hill Sedalia McCoy Lester Banks Ernest Jones Melissa Pharms Archie Baker Erza Burrell Willie V. Baker Eugene Roy Travis Washington Bertha Mae Sims Pearline Renchie Xandra Johnson Alton Harrison Edward Gilbert Pearl Carter Clyde Collier James Rooks Ida Jimmerson Lerlene Stewart Carter Alma Searcy Smith A. G. Searcy Ora L. Smith Rita Heard Walton Eleanor Langston Copeland Thelma Collier Mamie Brown Peterson Ruth P. Burnell Johnson Ella M. Lott Walker Onie Heard Holmes Cora McGruder Banks Lorenzo Wilborn Minnie R. Calhoun McNeil Cecil Mooring J. D. Robinson Al Pearl Smith Moore Mae Francis Moss Sabbs George Renchie Bobbie N. Smith Jones James C. Thompson Augusta McBride Doris J. Armitage Williams Mary Williams Williams Hubert Watson Tyree Thomas Willie Steen Charlie James Terrell Charlie Mae Smith Jones Lucille Steen Reeves Walter Atkins Jean A. Williams Preston Mary Nell Toliver JoAnn Peterson Turner Lorenzo Preston Herman Holmes Joe Jones Gene Bolden Lorenzo Burrell Darlton Thomas Dorothy M. Rooks Gloria 'Bonnie" Clark Anna J. Smith Willie D. Renchie James L. Thomas Imogene McKellun Thomas Eddie L. Dorsey Walter McGruder, Jr. Mary Ann Davis Payton Betty L. Maxey Stepney Lorenzo Grays Adolphus Green Betty Jo Wilborn Hudspeth Ralph Kearney Mary Grayer Clark Rosie M. Smith Watson Raymond Williams Louise Brown Preston Albert Clark Paul Peterson Charles Washington John Lott, Jr. Curtis Robinson Laura M. Fusilier Wallace Doris Williams Banks Shirley Thomas Johnnie Payton Ida R. Carter Harris James 'Bell" Watson S. A. Payton Erma J. Hawkins Ruby Mc "Gruder Stewart Edward Brown Jean Rooks Williams Kathy Rooks Williams Elizabeth Ray Rosie Mae Rodgers Mary Lee Skipper Lola M. Foster Phillips Mary Dorsey Ernest Jones Margaret Blackman Doris Brooks Edna Goodwin James Steen Donald Johnson Joseph Peterson Alton Moore Lawrence Sweed Clinton Robinson Leon Townsend Donald Caldwell Sylvester Calhoun Louis Daily Betty Malone Franklin Charles Banks Charles Barnes Melvin Robison Verna Lee Carroll Marshall Taylor Jessie McCarvey Bobby Hoskins Amos Toliver Shirley Hines Doris Vincent Shirley Ford Pharms Dorothy Smith Mary Jean Harris Hattie Sharp Betty Joyce Forrest ` Betty Thomas Hanna Palmore Edmund Melvina Sweed Moore Thelma J. Peterson Chambers Betty Hill Payton Alvin Ruth Johnson Carter Delois Williams Sandra Nix Hanks Margie Bougers Barbara Searcy Moore Edna Hines Betty Washington Robison Ruthie Sims Glover Alvin Smith Campbell General Peterson Cora Robinson Caldwell R. A. Terrell Robert Allen Smith Woodrow Wilborn Claude Chew Eddie Chew, Jr. Floyd Clark Abner White, Jr. Charles Thompson Hayward 'Bonnie" Peterson Ernest East Dora Ford White JoAnn Ford Gloria Smith Claris Stewart Spikes Frank Foster Cora Wade Foreman Jessie M. Harris Turner Minnie Lyons Campbell Barbara Calhoun Cooper Andra Peterson Steen Alma J. Moore Neal Lucille Washington Young Leona Palmer Ancie Marshall Lott Doris Britton Calhoun Shirley Smith Freddie Daily Vernon Townsend Charles Stewart John Henry Young Norman Gibbs Andrew R. White Walter Brown, Jr. Holland Terrell Eddie Marshall, Jr. Robert Marshall Charles J. Mitchell James 'Butch" Grayer Eliziah Sims Doris J. Carter Carolyn Hines Dorothy Wilborn White Joyce Brown Simmons Bertha Terrell Mooring Annie Hollie Williams Donna Carter Taylor Ruby Harris Williams Doris Collier Carter Dorothy Washington Thomas Shirley Wells Myers Barbara Clark Terrell Grace Wilborn Hall Edna Davis Rosie B. Sharp Johnnie L. Peterson Roberts Nora Toliver Peterson Rudy Petty Marvin Phillips Ada Pearl Forks Robert Lee Stewart Matron Grays Curtis Young Raymond Thompson Melvin Sweed Willie J. Phillips James Washington Elnora Carter Greer Eleanor Columbus Butler Martha Hines Carolyn James Lewis Faye Jones Daily Lorine Washington Ruby Wells Smith Hattie Smith Allen Cecil Banks Clarence Britton, Jr. Robert Earl Clark Jessie R. Payton Lonzell Payton, Jr. Charles Perryman James Smith Milton Robinson Wells James R. Watson Doris Wilson, Jr. Cornis Wells Cannon Georgia Smith Stewart Alma Burrell Parrish Doris Daily Jones Effie Hollie Vera Harris Edward Collins, Jr. Lovie Harris Johnson Martha Hollie Watson Charlene Thomas Britton Willie R. Terrell Walker Edna F. White Goodman Johnnie Mae collins Doris J. Palmore Daisy M. Bolden Gladys N. Payton Arcement Ozell Young Wiley Willie J. Byrd Lawrence Burrell Robert White Melvin Hunter Burnest Hines Sherman Allen Andrew Banks Clarence Grays Ernest Stewart Lawrence Smith Henry Lewis III Edward Williams Donald R. Watson Bobby J. Grays Milton Ford, Jr. Rufus Marshall Howard Collins Henry Townsend, Jr. Dorothy Taylor Lewis Norma Louise Booker Mildred Hollie Montgomery Evelyn Ross Charles Ross Rita Thompson Daniels Shirley Robinson Payton Doris Barnes Brooks Mildred Wells Martin Florence Caldwell Hines Barbara Carroll Taylor Rosetta Wilborn Keaton Kathryn Ford Brown Lovie Hollie Naomi Mable Jackson Lillie J. Fillio Davis Ophelia Green Hines Lawrence Mingo Watson G. W. Burrell Ernest Harris Jessie Hollie Beatrice Smith Brenda Owens rT Sharon Toliver Margaret Searcy Goosby Dorothy Wilson Jacquelyn Carroll Pinkey LaVern Mitchell Idlebird Jessie M. McKenzie Richardson Paul Garvin Ronnie Watson Sam Ford, Jr. Marion Hollie Billy D. Terrell James Robinson Edward Grayer Cornell Banks Tommy R. Preston Elmer Mable, Jr. Evelyn Wells Shirley Brooks Barbara Moore Yelldell Lovell Mitchell Herman Wilson Billy R. Nichols Carolyn Wilborn Poe Ray Malone Deloise Wilborn Thomas Asaline Reed Morrison Lawrence R. Sterling Roosevelt Harris James Reed Madelyn Reed Moore Patricia Perkins Linda Perryman Hickleberry Linda Henderson Buchanan Betty Young Effie Calhoun Renchie Saundra Robinson Watson Carolyn Stewart Washington Juanita Sterling Burton Mary Smith Peterson Juanita Thompson Terrell Howard Terrell David Columbus, Jr. Henry Fillio Shirley Watson Mills Ennis Watson Lillian Burrell Terrell Barbara Jones Young Mae Nita Barns Carolyn Mitchell Linda Stewart J. T. Wells, Jr. Delores White Ervin Harris Andrew Merchant Curtis Merchant Tommie L. Browder Willie McKenzie Lillian Ford Bowers Joseph White Ethel Merchant Ford Gloria Byrtle Leroy Clark Virginia Merchant A. C. Clark III Frances Thomas Terrell Lerry Terrell LaVem Merchant Cunningham Joyce Stewart Porch Leon Nelson Doug Carter Robbie Carter Workman William Ford William Hollie Evelyn Thompson Preston Brenda Mitchell Louise Sharp Ludd Irene Washington Gibbs Edna Stewart Nutall Doris Johnson Lester Hines Preston Carroll Pearl Searcy William Roy David Daily Patricia Wilbom Perkins Reverend Alonzo Mable Kathryn Banks Browder Vernon Thompson Freddie Townsend Beal Joe D. Foster Ocie Harris Manley Rasteen Wilson Ruthell White Henderson Willie C. Brown Patricia Fusilier Washington Beulah Thompson Charles Smith Fredrick Swanson Roy Malone Willie Robinson Dorothy Sweed Shields Ferman Smith Deborah Peterson Bernadean Stewart Mary Marshall Reddie Harris Lover White Goodman Alwyn Stewart Darlene Wells Williams Vester Sharp Toliver Ida McKenzie Griffin Otis Clark Gertrude Wilson Bookman Johnnie Mae Collins Hugh Wilson Richard Marshall Norris Stewart Gladys Young Lister Iola C. Eaton Joe Dean Foster Lenora Eaton Francis Helen Peterson Mamie L. Ellis Marilyn Joe Payton Norris Fusilier, Jr. Rosie Sweed Franklin Devora Eaton Dobson Janet Hollie Gooden Helen Wilborn Wilson Lawrence Chambers Larry Thompson Robert Outley Lloyd Taylor Gerald Neal Willie Mae Mosley James Curtis Walker Searcy Boylan Dorothy Jean Jones