Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout"Desegregation of A&M Consol." Moment in History: Project HOLD Newsletter (Jan. 2007) he s t o r y o f d e s e g r e g a t i o n in C o l l e g e S t a t i o n , T e x a s , d i d n o t b e g i n in 1 9 6 6 w i t h a fi r e a t L i n c o l n S c h o o l . I n th e m i d - 5 0 s , m e m b e r s o f o u r c o m m u n i t y co u l d n o l o n g e r i g n o r e t h e i s s u e s t h a t ha d p l a g u e d o u r c o u n t r y f o r g e n e r a t i o n s . Ne g r o m e n a n d w o m e n w h o h a d w i l l - in g l y a n d d u t i f u l l y f o u g h t f o r o u r f r e e d o m ab r o a d d u r i n g W W I I w e r e a s k i n g f o r th e s a m e f r e e d o m i n t h e i r o w n l i v e s . Ou r n a t i o n w a s w a k i n g u p a n d s l e e p y li t t l e C o l l e g e S t a t i o n w a s b e i n g p u l l e d in t o t h e f u t u r e . A h a n d f u l o f c o n c e r n e d ci t i z e n s w e r e a t l a s t fi n d i n g t h e i r v o i c e s . Se v e r a l s m a l l g r o u p s m a d e u p o f t e a c h - er s , p r o f e s s o r s , l a b o r e r s , b u s i n e s s m e n , ch u r c h l e a d e r s , N e g r o e s a n d w h i t e s be g a n w h a t w o u l d b e c o m e a s t r u g g l e th a t l a s t e d o v e r a d e c a d e . M y f a t h e r , C a l v i n C . B o y k i n , J r . , w a s on e o f a s m a l l g r o u p o f m e n w h o c a l l e d th e m s e l v e s t h e “ B r a z o s B o t t o m s P h i l o - so p h i c a l S o c i e t y . ” I t w a s a n i n f o r m a l gr o u p o f w h i t e s a n d N e g r o e s w h o m e t i n ho m e s a n d d i s c u s s e d v a r i o u s c o n t r o v e r - si a l i s s u e s : a l l o w i n g w o m e n i n t o A & M , a non-mandatory Corps of Cadets at A&M, and desegregation. Among these men were Hugh McClellan (Oceanogra-phy Department), Fred Sargent (Agri-culture Economics), Joe Ham (Physics Department), Charles Kuntz (Physics Department), Clarence Ketch (Sociology Department and A&M Christian Church Minister), William Tarrow (Principal, Lincoln High School), and my father (Agricultural Economics). I vaguely recall gatherings in our home but as a young child, I probably thought it was just another social event. I doubt that I would have understood the signi fi cance of these discussions. 1954 – US Supreme Court, Brown v. The Board of Education – Rules racial segregation violated the 14th Amend-ment. In 1954, a well known Negro attorney, Thurgood Marshall, achieved national recognition for his successful argument of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case. The Supreme Court’s de- -1 2 - cision in this landmark case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (1889) by ruling that public school segregation constituted an unconstitutional violation of rights guar-anteed by the 14th Amendment. The Court’s unanimous decision in this case surprised many, including Marshall, and lent enhanced legitimacy to this major development in constitutional law. Our family of fi ve lived in a three bed-room, one bath brick home with a carport at 1013 Winding Road, just at the edge of the City limits that ran alongside of County Road (now Holleman). My exposure to Negroes or colored folks (as we referred to them then) consisted of chance meetings at Holick’s Store on County Road. Mrs. Holick didn’t allow the colored children into the store while we were inside. They dutifully remained outside with their noses pressed against the rusty screen door. We did the same if they happened to get there fi rst. I remember feeling somewhat deprived when the colored children were allowed to fi ll glass milk bottles with a strange col- T P r o j e c t H O L D N e w s l e t t e r Vol. II. January 2007 de s e g r e g a t i o n o f t h e a & M c o n s o l i d a t e d in d e p e n d e n t s c h o o l d i s t r i c t by Anne Boykin, Project HOLD Coordinator r . F r e d e r i c k H . K a s t e n , a l o n g w i t h h i s w i f e , M a r i e , w e r e k e y p e o p l e i n t h e d e s p e r a t e s t r u g g l e f o r d e s e g r e g a t i o n o f t h e A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d S c h o o l D i s t r i c t . K a s t e n e a r n e d h i s M . S . i n Z o o l o g y ( 1 9 5 1 ) a n d P h . D . i n Z o o l o g y ( 1 9 5 4 ) f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e x a s . H e c o n t i n u e d h i s c a r e e r at R o s w e l l P a r k M e m o r i a l I n s t i t u t e i n B u f f a l o , N e w Y o r k f r o m 1 9 5 4 - 1 9 5 6 . K a s t e n c a m e t o t h e B i o l o g y De p a r t m e n t a t A & M C o l l e g e i n 1 9 5 6 . I n t h e s h o r t fi ve years the Kastens remained in College Station, they ma n a g e d t o c h a n g e t h e f u t u r e f o r m a n y N e g r o e s h e r e . D r . F r e d e r i c k K a s t e n i s c o n s i d e r e d a n e x p e r t o n a va r i e t y o f t o p i c s , s u c h a s u n e t h i c a l N a z i m e d i c i n e i n W o r l d W a r I I , a n d t h e b e g i n n i n g s o f t h e c h e m i c a l a n d dy e i n d u s t r i e s i n A p p a l a c h i a a n d A m e r i c a . K a s t e n i s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y r e c o g n i z e d s c i e n t i s t , k n o w n f o r h i s wo r k i n c e l l b i o l o g y , h i s t o c h e m i s t r y , t i s s u e c u l t u r e a n d t h e h i s t o r y o f m e d i c i n e . H e h a s r e c e i v e d n u m e r o u s aw a r d s d u r i n g h i s c a r e e r o f m o r e t h a n 5 7 y e a r s . H e s p e n t t h e m a j o r i t y o f h i s p r o f e s s i o n a l c a r e e r a s P r o f e s - so r a t t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f A n a t o m y , L o u i s i a n a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y M e d i c a l S c h o o l ( P r o f e s s o r E m e r i t u s ) i n N e w Or l e a n s w h e r e i n 1 9 9 5 h e r e t i r e d a f t e r 2 5 y e a r s . C u r r e n t l y , D r . K a s t e n i s a n A d j u n c t P r o f e s s o r o f A n a t o m y “ C i t i z e n ’ s F e l l o w s h i p ” F o u n d e r & N o t ed Scientist - Frederick H. Kasten D Kasten looks into a micro-scope that measures DNA. Biology Lab, A&M College of Texas, c. 1960. Pr o j e c t H O L D Hi s t o r i c O n l i n e L i b r a r y D a t a b a s e ht t p : / / H O L D . c s t x . g o v Sp o n s o r e d b y : Hi s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n C o m m i t t e e Mo m e n t i n H i s t o r y N e w s l e t t e r Ed i t e d b y A n n e B o y k i n ab o y k i n @ c s t x . g o v 97 9 . 7 6 4 . 3 4 9 1 Vi s i t u s a t C i t y H a l l 11 0 1 T e x a s A v e n u e . . . a n d b r i n g y o u r m e m o r i e s ! Ci t y o f C o l l e g e S t a t i o n P. O . B o x 9 9 6 0 Co l l e g e S t a t i o n , T X 7 7 8 4 2 NO W S H O W I N G ! CO A C H J E R O M E R . D E L L E Y , J R . & T H E L I N C O L N P A N T H E R S FO O T B A L L T E A M 1 9 4 9 - 1 9 6 5 A P r o j e c t H O L D E x h i b i t Co l l e g e S t a t i o n Co n f e r e n c e C e n t e r 13 0 0 G e o r g e B u s h D r . Co l l e g e S t a t i o n , T e x a s CO M I N G S O O N ! CO L L E G E S T A T I O N I N T H E 6 0 s A P r o j e c t H O L D E x h i b i t Op e n i n g i n J u l y 2 0 0 7 Co l l e g e S t a t i o n C o n f e r e n c e C e n t e r If y o u h a v e i t e m s t o s h a r e f o r t h i s e x h i b i t , pl e a s e c o n t a c t t h e P r o j e c t H O L D o f fi c e at 9 7 9 . 7 6 4 . 3 4 9 1 Tr a n s T e x a s A i r w a y s fl i g h t a t Ea s t e r w o o d A i r p o r t , 1 9 6 3 . Co a c h D e l l e y a t C o n f e r e n c e C e n t e r ex h i b i t , 2 0 0 7 . P h o t o b y B u t c h I r e l a n d , Th e E a g l e . See Kasten , p. 10.See Desegregation , p. 2. Res o u r c e s Fo r t h i s i s s u e o f “ M o m e n t i n T i m e ” A& M C o n s o l i d a t e d I S D B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s . M i n u t e s o f R e g u l a r M e e t i n g s a n d S p e c i a l M e e t i n g s , 1 9 6 0 - 1 9 6 5 . Ka s t e n , F r e d e r i c k H . , P h . D . O r a l i n t e r v i e w s c o n d u c t e d b y A n n e B o y k i n . J a n . 1 4 - 1 9 , 2 0 0 7 . Ka s t e n , F r e d e r i c k H . , P h . D . P e r s o n a l P a p e r s . 1 9 5 6 - 1 9 6 1 . f h k a s t e n @ m o u n e t . c o m . Mo r r i s , W i l l i e . “ E x p e r i m e n t i n O r g a n i z a t i o n i n C o l l e g e S t a t i o n ” . Th e T e x a s O b s e r v e r . N o v . 4 , 1 9 6 0 . St e w a r t , R o b e r t , J r . “ L i n c o l n S c h o o l B l a z e D i s p l a c e s 1 0 0 , P l a n s S t u d i e d T o d a y . ” Br y a n D a i l y E a g l e , J a n . 2 1 , 1 9 6 6 . Wa t s o n , L a r r y , P h . D . Ch a l l e n g e t o M i n i s t r y , t h e H i s t o r y o f t h e F i r s t B a p t i s t C h u r c h , C o l l e g e S t a t i o n , T e x a s , 1 9 2 3 - 1 9 9 8 . A u s t i n : N o r t e x P r e s s , 1 9 9 8 . Wi l b o r n , D e l o i s . E - m a i l c o r r e s p o n d e n c e r e c e i v e d b y A n n e B o y k i n . J a n . 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 0 7 . Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e t o p i c s o f t h i s n e w s l e t t e r s e e t h e f o l - lo w i n g fi l e s i n P r o j e c t H O L D ( h t t p : / / H O L D . c s t x . g o v ) : Ed u c a t i o n - G r a d e S c h o o l / L i n c o l n S c h o o l Ed u c a t i o n - G r a d e S c h o o l / A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d H i g h S c h o o l / I n t e g r a t i o n HI s t o r i c M a r k e r s / L o c a l / B u i l d i n g / 1 0 0 0 E l e a n o r I f y o u h a v e m o r e m a t e r i a l s t o a d d t o t h e P r o j e c t H O L D fi l e s o n t h i s o r an y o t h e r s u b j e c t o f l o c a l h i s t o r y , p l e a s e c o n t a c t A n n e B o y k i n , a b o y k i n @ cs t x . g o v o r 9 7 9 . 7 6 4 . 3 4 9 1 . Re u n i o n N e w s A& M C o n s o l i d a t e d H i g h S c h o o l Cl a s s o f 1 9 6 7 in h o n o r o f t h e i r 40 Y e a r R e u n i o n is h o s t i n g a 60 s D e c a d e R e u n i o n Ju l y 2 0 - 2 1 , 2 0 0 7 Co l l e g e S t a t i o n Co n f e r e n c e C e n t e r 13 0 0 G e o r g e B u s h D r i v e Fr i d a y N i g h t - In d i v i d u a l C l a s s e s ho s t t h e i r o w n g e t t o g e t h e r s . Sa t u r d a y A f t e r n o o n - Th e H i s t o r i c Pr e s e r v a t i o n C o m m i t t e e w i l l b e o n ha n d a t t h e C o n f e r e n c e C e n t e r t o sc a n y o u r m e m o r a b l i a , p h o t o s a n d me m o r i e s f o r P r oj e c t H O L D . H e l p u s pr e s e r v e th e 6 0 s ! Sa t u r d a y N i g h t - 60 s D e c a d e P a r t y Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t : An n e B o y k i n ab o y k i n @ c s t x . g o v Pr o j e c t H O L D M o m e n t i n T i m e , J a n . 2 0 0 7 Mo m e n t i n H i s t ory Mo m e n t i n H i s t ory in s t r u m e n t a l i n b r i n g i n g t h e s t u d e n t s to g e t h e r i n h a r m o n y . T h i s w a s f a r f r o m b e i n g t h e e n d of s e g r e g a t i o n i n C o l l e g e S t a t i o n . Ch a n g e o f a n y k i n d i s b o u n d t o b e me t w i t h s o m e o p p o s i t i o n . H o w e v e r , mo s t o f u s i n t h e C l a s s o f ’ 6 7 , r e c a l l th e t r a n s i t i o n a s un e v e n t f u l , a t l e a s t f o r th e w h i t e s t u de n t s . A q u i c k c o u n t o f my h i g h s c h o o l y e a r b o o k s f r o m 1 9 6 6 an d 1 9 6 7 r e v e a l s t h a t th e r e w e r e 7 6 st u d e n t s w h o c a m e to A & M Co n s o l i - da t e d H i g h S c h o o l a f t e r t h e fi r e a n d 78 e n r o l l e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r w h e n th e r e w e r e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6 0 0 w h i t e st u d e n t s i n t h e h i g h s c h o o l . T h e L i n - co l n H i g h S c h o o l P r i n c i p a l , M r . W i l l i a m A. T a r r o w , t r a n s f e r r e d t o C o n s o l i d a t e d to t e a c h R e l a t e d M a t h a n d w a s f o l - lo w e d b y M r . K i n g ( P h y s i c a l S c i e n c e , Bi o l o g y ) , M r s . R h o n e ( B u s i n e s s M a t h , Ty p i n g ) , a n d M r s . O w e n ( H o m e m a k i n g I, I I , I I I , F . H . A . , J u n i o r C l a s s S p o n s o r ) . Th e S e n i o r I n d e x i n b o t h o f t h e y e a r - bo o k s s h o w s t h a t m o s t o f t h e L i n c o l n st u d e n t s w e r e a t h l e t e s , c l a s s o f fi c e r s , or h o n o r s t u d e n t s w h e n t h e y t r a n s - fe r r e d t o C o n s o l i d a t e d . H a v i n g b e e n on t h e y e a r b o o k s t a f f i n 1 9 6 6 a n d ed i t o r i n 1 9 6 7 , I g o t t o k n o w m o s t a l l o f th e L i n c o l n s t u d e n t s , so m e o f w h o m I am s t i l l i n t o u c h w i t h to d a y . A s f o r t h e e l e m e n t a r y g r a d e s , a re c e n t i n t e r v i e w w i t h M r . a n d M r s . Je r o m e R . D e l l e y , J r . , b r o u g h t t o m y at t e n t i o n t h e p l i g h t o f t h e o t h e r B l a c k te a c h e r s a t L i n c o l n S c h o o l . M a n y we r e l e f t w i t h o u t j o b s w h e n t h e y c o u l d no t b e a b s o r b e d b y A & M C o n s o l i - da t e d . A f e w , l i k e M r s . D e l l e y , w e r e as s i g n e d t o t e a m t e a c h i n g p o s i t i o n s in t h e e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l . M r . D e l - le y , t h e L i n c o l n f o o t b a l l c o a c h f o r 1 4 ye a r s , w e n t t o S a n M a r c o s a n d j o i n e d th e J o b C o r p s . H e l a t e r w e n t b a c k to s c h o o l a n d e a r n e d h i s M a s t e r s de g r e e . “ T h e . . . b u r n e d f a c i l i t i e s o f L i n c o l n Sc h o o l w e r e n o t r e b u i l t . T h e C i t y o f Co l l e g e S t a t i o n l e a s e d t h e l a n d a n d t h e re m a i n i n g fi v e b u i l d i n g s i n t h e l a t e 1 9 6 0 s , an d r e s t o r e d t h e s i t e i n 1 9 7 2 . T h e c i t y bo u g h t t h e l a n d i n 1 9 7 8 a n d d e d i c a t e d th e L i n c o l n C e n t e r i n 1 9 8 0 . T h e f o r m e r sc h o o l i s n o w t h e h o m e o f m a n y c o m m u - ni t y a c t i v i t i e s i n C o l l e g e S t a t i o n . ” [ F r o m th e S t a t e M a r k e r I n s c r i p t i o n . ] ♦ Hervey, president of the board, presided. He introduced the other members: John Long-ley, who waved when his name was called; Dr. J. R. Jackson, H. G. Thompson, George Hensarling Jr., M. D. Williams, and Dr. J. S. Rogers. Hervey, dressed immaculately in a sports coat and bright tie, explained that any time a delegation presents a matter to the board; the members listen to the presentation and then retire into executive session later to consider what actions they will take. “This is the largest delegation I’ve seen since I’ve been on the board,” Hervey said, “and I appreciate the interest.” He asked for the spokesman to come forward. Kasten stood up. He explained that most of the people had come as individuals, as citizens of the community, but that the Citi-zens Fellowship had voted that the letter be presented to the board. The board members listened intently while Kasten, in his high, precise voice, read the full text of the letter to the board. “I have some questions on the matter I’d like to ask the board, “ Kasten said. “This board has a long agenda tonight,” Hervey said. “We don’t want to enter a debate on this or that.” “I only have four or fi ve, and I think they could take simple answers,” Kasten said. Asked to go ahead, Kasten read the fi rst two questions: “Do you believe our schools have equal facilities, equal courses, and equal op-portunities for the children to get a complete education? Do you believe that we can af-ford to have equal facilities at both schools? Dr. Jackson said, “I move we take these questions under consideration and give a written answer” at a later time, the answers to be the of fi cial policy of the board. Kasten then asked if he could query the board as individuals rather than as an of-fi cial group. “This board will not be interrogated,“ Hervey said. “This is a violation of our usual practice of hearing proposals and then considering them later.” Dr. Jackson said the board did not wish to evade the ques-tions of any citizen. The questions, he said, “might be simple, but they couldn’t be too simple because they seem to have taken so much time” in being prepared. “We assure you that we’re not trying to evade the issue,” Hervey repeated. “I under-stand,” Kasten replied. He was then asked to read the rest of the questions. C e r t a i n l y , t h e s e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s we r e b u t a p r o v i n g g r o u n d f o r t h e n e x t ag e n d a o f t h e C i t i z e n s F e l l o w s h i p . I n pr e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e e n s u i n g c h a l l e n g e , Ka s t e n ’ s r e s e a r c h t o o k h i m t o t h e o f - fi c e o f t h e P r e s i d e n t o f A & M C o l l e g e , Re t i r e d A r m y G e n e r a l E a r l R u d d e r . Ka s t e n s p e n t m a n y h o u r s p o r i n g o v e r th e v o l u m e s o f b o o k s o n e d u c a t i o n a n d la w . I n a r e c e n t p h o n e c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h Ka s t e n , h e d e s c r i b e d t h e s e s s i o n s a s th o u g h h e w a s s i t t i n g a t t h e e n d o f a ve r y l o n g b a n q u e t t a b l e , a n d j u s t l i k e i n th e m o v i e s , R u d d e r w a s a t t h e f a r e n d . Ru d d e r d i d n ’ t h a v e m u c h t o s a y t o K a s - te n a b o u t h i s r e s e a r c h o t h e r t h a n t o a s k , “W h y a r e y o u g e t t i n g i n v o l v e d i n t h i s ? ” St i l l , K a s t e n c o n t i n u e d h i s r e s e a r c h . P r e s i d e n t R u d d e r , a M e t h o d i s t , g a t h - er e d a g r o u p o f l o c a l p a s t o r s t o g e t h e r in h i s o f fi c e o n e d a y . H e c h a l l e n g e d th e m t o p r e p a r e f o r a n i n fl u x o f N i g e r i a n st u d e n t s . R u d d e r f e l t t h a t t h e s e i n c o m - in g s t u d e n t s w o u l d b e “ c o n v e r t s f r o m mi s s i o n w o r k ” a n d h e w a n t e d t h e m t o fe e l “ w e l c o m e t o g o t o c h u r c h . ” I n a hi s t o r y o f t h e F i r s t B a p t i s t C h u r c h o f C o l - le g e S t a t i o n , R u d d e r w a s q u o t e d a s s a y - in g , “ I w a n t y o u f e l l o w s t o g o b a c k a n d ge t y o u r c h u r c h e s r e a d y , y o u g e t t h e m re a d y f o r t h i s i n fl u x o f s t u d e n t s . B e c a u s e if t h e y c o m e o v e r h e r e a n d o u r c h u r c h e s wo n ’ t a c c e p t t h e m , t h e y ’ r e n o t g o i n g t o be r e c e i v e d , t h a t ’ s g o i n g t o e m b a r r a s s me a n d I d o n ’ t l i k e t o b e e m b a r r a s s e d . Yo u f e l l o w s h e a r m e ? ” T h e g r o u p h e a r d th e f o r m e r g e n e r a l l o u d a n d c l e a r . M a r i e K a s t e n , a s s e c r e t a r y - t r e a s u r e r of t h e F e l l o w s h i p , s o o n b e g a n i n v e s t i - ga t i n g t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f L i n c o l n S c h o o l . As e x p e c t e d , t h e c o n d i t i o n s w e r e l e s s th a n s a t i s f a c t o r y . T h e b u i l d i n g s a n d gr o u n d s w e r e i n p o o r c o n d i t i o n . I t ap p e a r e d t h a t l i t t l e c a p i t a l w a s b e i n g in v e s t e d i n i t s u p k e e p . I t w a s f u r t h e r ob v i o u s t h a t l i t t l e w a s b e i n g s p e n t o n te a c h e r s a l a r i e s , b o o k s a n d s u p p l i e s . My o w n r e c o l l e c t i o n i s t h a t m o s t o f t h e ca s t - o f f t e x t b o o k s f r o m A & M C o n s o l i - da t e d , t h o s e m i s s i n g c o v e r s o r p a g e s o r th o s e t h a t w e r e o u t o f d a t e , w e r e s e n t to t h e s t u d e n t s a t L i n c o l n . A r e p o r t b y a Ci t i z e n s A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e , a p p o i n t e d ea r l i e r b y t h e s c h o o l d i s t r i c t ’ s B o a r d o f Tr u s t e e s , s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e h i g h s c h o o l cu r r i c u l u m b e i m p r o v e d a t t h e w h i t e sc h o o l . M r s . K a s t e n d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e following courses, although available to white students, were not being taught to the Lincoln students: typing, shorthand, agriculture, Spanish, Latin, physics, trigonometry, solid geometry, botany, and zoology. The Fellowship began preparations for the next meeting of the school board. Kasten shared with me a copy of his original handwritten questions that the group had decided should be proposed to the Board of Trustees. October 24, 1960 - Meeting of the A&M Consolidated School Board, A&M Con-solidated High School Library.[Ed. Note: The following is a partial transcription of an article written by Willie Morris, Associate Editor of “The Texas Observer” that appeared on Nov. 4, 1960.] It was a hot, sticky night, and rain was falling softly when the crowd began to as-semble at the school. The library was too small for all of the people there, and some-one opened the windows to let in the air. By 7 p.m. the seven board members were in their places behind a long study table at the front of the room. Sixty or seventy people were there. About three-fourths of them were Negroes, young and old of all descriptions. Many of them were old women in bright print dresses and carrying handkerchiefs. There were not enough chairs, and some had to stand in the back, around the walls. Dick -3- -1 0 - “D o you believe our schools have equal facilities , equal courses , and equal opp or-tunities for the children. . .” “D o you believe our schools have equal facilities , equal courses , and equal opp or-tunities for the children. . .” I l e a r n e d a t A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d H i g h Sc h o o l , C o l l e g e S t a t i o n , T e x a s . -- De l o i s W i l b o r n T h o m p s o n (T h i s i s m y p e r s o n a l p e r s p e c t i v e a n d m a y no t r e p r e s e n t t h e v i e w s o f m y f a m i l y o r ot h e r s ) . I n a r e c e n t l e t t e r f r o m D e l o i s , s h e w r i t e s : My s i s t e r H e l e n g r a d u a t e d f r o m A & M Co n s o l i d a t e d H i g h S c h o o l , r e c e i v e d a n un d e r g r a d u a t e d e g r e e f r o m T e x a s A & M a n d we n t o n t o e a r n h e r M a s t e r s i n N e w Y o r k . . (T h a n k s t o C o n s o l i d a t e d ! ) M y s i s t e r , F r a n - ce s , g r a d u a t e d f r o m A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d an d w e n t o n t o T e x a s W o m e n ’ s U n i v e r s i t y an d r e c e i v e d a B S i n N u r s i n g . S h e i s a R e g - is t e r e d N u r s e . M y b r o t h e r , A u d r e y , g r a d u - at e d f r o m A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d a n d m o v e d to D a l l a s . F r o m t h e r e h e j o i n e d t h e A r m y . My b r o t h e r W i l l i a m w e n t t h r o u g h h i s e n t i r e sc h o o l y e a r s a t A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d a n d gr a d u a t e d . H e w e n t t o S a m H o u s t o n i n Hu n t s v i l l e a n d i s 3 c r e d i t s f r o m a p h o t o g - ra p h y d e g r e e . H e h a s p e r s o n a l i s s u e s w i t h dr u g s . I g r a d u a t e d f r o m C o n s o l i d a t e d , to o k c l a s s e s a t A & M a n d w o r k e d w i t h P a u l Ga r v i n ’ s m o t h e r i n t h e k i n d e r g a r t e n , t h e n go t m a r r i e d a n d m o v e d t o S a n M a r c o s . I th e n b e c a m e a l i c e n s e d c h i l d c a r e a d m i n i s - tr a t o r a n d h a v e b e e n i n v o l v e d w i t h m e n t a l he a l t h / m e n t a l r e t a r d a t i o n f o r 3 6 y e a r s . I t ’ s no t w h a t y o u h a v e b u t h o w y o u u s e i t . W e ha v e t o a p p l y o u r s e l v e s n o m a t t e r w h a t w e ha v e . I s t i l l l i v e h e r e i n t h e A u s t i n / R o u n d Ro c k a r e a . I l i v e w i t h m y s o n i n F o r e s t Cr e e k G o l f C o m m u n i t y , R o u n d R o c k . N o , we d o n ’ t p l a y g o l f . M a y b e o n e d a y w h e n I r e t i r e I w i l l . I w o r k f o r E d u c a r e C o m - mu n i t y L i v i n g . W e h a v e I C F / M R a n d H C S ho m e s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y . I h a v e 4 g r a n d - da u g h t e r s . T h e y a r e 1 1 , 1 2 a n d t w i n s w h o ar e 8 . T h r e e o f t h e g r a n d d a u g h t e r s a r e Pu e r t o R i c a n F o l k l o r i c d a n c e r s . T h e y a r e cu t e . T h e o t h e r o n e i s a 2 n d d e g r e e B l a c k Be l t . T h e y k e e p u s b u s y . D e l o i s ♦ an d C e l l B i o l o g y a t E a s t T e n n e s s e e S t a t e Un i v e r s i t y , J o h n s o n C i t y , T e n n e s s e e . No w , h e d e v o t e s h i s t i m e t o h i s s e c o n d ca r e e r i n t h e h i s t o r y o f m e d i c i n e . H i s hi s t o r i c a l r e s e a r c h h a s t a k e n h i m t o ar c h i v e s a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d w h e r e h e h a s be e n u n c o v e r i n g d o c u m e n t a t i o n o n t h e me d i c a l c r i m e s c o m m i t t e d b y N a z i m e d i - ca l p r o f e s s o r s o n p r i s o n e r s a t N a t z w e i l e r Co n c e n t r a t i o n C a m p a n d S t r a s b o u r g Un i v e r s i t y . ♦ Ka s t e n , f r o m p . 1 . De s e g r e g a t i o n , f r o m p . 7 . h i r l e y ( R o b i n s o n ) P a y t o n an d P a u l S t e w a r t G a r v i n ( n o w Th a b i t i N g o z i ) c a m e t o A & M C o n - so l i d a t e d H i g h S c h o o l a s a s e n i o r an d a j u n i o r , r e s p e c t i v e l y , i n t h e Fa l l o f 1 9 6 5 . S h i r l e y a t t e n d e d Li n c o l n S c h o o l f r o m fi r s t t h r o u g h 11 th g r a d e . D u r i n g h e r s e n i o r y e a r sh e w o n F i r s t P l a c e a w a r d s i n Tr i o E n s e m b l e , C o n c e r t C h o i r a n d Gi r l s ’ C h o r u s . S h e g r a d u a t e d a s a m e m b e r o f t h e fi r s t i n t e g r a t e d cl a s s o f A & M C H S . P a u l , a s a j u n i o r , p l a y e d f o o t - ba l l , b a s k e t b a l l , a n d b a s e b a l l . H e wa s a l s o l i s t e d o n t h e H o n o r R o l l . As a s e n i o r , h e p l a y e d b a s k e t b a l l , pa r t i c i p a t e d i n T a l e n t ‘ 6 7 , t h e C i t y St u d e n t G o v e r n m e n t P r o g r a m , an d L a t i n C l u b w h e r e h e e a r n e d a La t i n A w a r d . H e w a s v o t e d M o s t St u d i o u s b y t h e s t u d e n t b o d y a n d gr a d u a t e d w i t h t h e C l a s s o f ‘ 6 7 . ♦ Sh i r l e y R o b i n s o n Pa u l S t e w a r t G a r v i n S Pr o j e c t H O L D M o m e n t i n T i m e , J a n . 2 0 0 7 Project HOLD Moment in Time, Jan. 2007► school. This continues to be the policy of the A&M Consolidated School Board of Trustees. They are making every effort possible to maintain each on a separate basis in regard to both facilities and instructional programs. The Board of Trustees does not feel at the present time another Citizens Commit-tee, appointed as suggested by the Citizens Fellowship Committee, be needed. It shall, however, continue to appraise the total education problems of the district and will use individuals, groups, and organizations in their efforts to determine policies most helpful and bene fi cial. The Board of Trustees, even though it is classi fi ed as an autonomous body, is gov-erned by the federal and special laws of the State of Texas. These laws will be adhered to by the Board of Trustees in adopting policies and initiating administrative regulations. If the school is to receive funds from the State, some $300,000 annually, the interpreta-tion rendered by the attorney for the Texas Education Agency and the Attorney General of the State of Texas must be accepted. The state law prohibits funds being dispersed to schools that integrate without an af fi rmative vote of a majority of the votes at an elec-tion. An election for this purpose can only be called for by the Board of Trustees after receiving a petition signed by 20% of the quali fi ed voters in the district. The Board of Trustees reaf fi rms the philos-ophy adopted as a foreword to the policies of the district, which is as follows:PHILOSOPHY The concept of the equality of all men is deeply rooted in our democratic way of life. Participation is democracy is based on voluntary obedience of the laws formulated for the welfare of our citizens. Our school should encourage and train its students to accept their responsibilities in a democratic society to the full extent of their capabilities. Our school has the responsibility of developing within each student a tolerance toward others’ beliefs and practices that is positive and cordial and without necessar-ily embracing those beliefs and practices. The school should foster attitudes which will lead to acknowledgement of the existence of a Supreme Being. The school has the responsibility of constantly striving to improve the interests, ideals, attitudes, appreciations, understand-ings, and abilities of the individual student T h e n e w a n n e x w i l l h o u s e a m u s i c r o o m an d a l i b r a r y . A s m a l l o n e - r o o m f r a m e b u i l d i n g a b o u t 5 0 ya r d s b e h i n d t h e m a i n b u i l d i n g i s n o w u s e d as a c l a s s r o o m , a s w e l l a s m u s i c r o o m a n d ca f e t e r i a . S o m e 4 0 o r 5 0 y o u n g s t u d e n t s s a t cl o s e t o o n e a n o t h e r i n s t r a i g h t - b a c k c h a i r s . In t h e b a c k o f t h e r o o m , a c o o k w a s p r e p a r - in g l u n c h . A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d , t h e w h i t e s c h o o l , is a c o l l e c t i o n o f s e v e r a l l a r g e b u i l d i n g s . Th e r e i s a m u s i c r o o m , a c a f e t e r i a ( w h i c h is n o t l a r g e e n o u g h t o a c c o m m o d a t e a l l th e s t u d e n t s a t o n e s i t t i n g ) , a n e w c i r c u l a r au d i t o r i u m , s e p a r a t e c l a s s r o o m b u i l d i n g s , an d a g y m n a s i u m . T h e g y m , a n o l d w o o d e n st r u c t u r e , h a s a v a r n i s h e d w o o d e n fl oor, a sc o r e b o a r d c l o c k , a n d 1 5 o r 2 0 l o n g r o w s o f se a t s f o r s p e c t a t o r s . A t t h e m e e t i n g o f O c t . 2 4 , K a s t e n w a s pu b l i c l y a c c u s e d o f b e i n g a c o m m u n i s t fo r e x p r e s s i n g t h e b e l i e f s o f t h e C i t i z e n s Fe l l o w s h i p . A n A & M B o t a n y p r o f e s s o r an d h i g h l y r e s p e c t e d m e m b e r o f t h e co m m u n i t y , D r . J o h n S p e r r y , s t o o d u p an d d e f e n d e d K a s t e n b y s a y i n g t h a t h e (S p e r r y ) h a d s a t o n t h e c o m m i t t e e t h a t re c o m m e n d e d K a s t e n a n d c o u l d v o u c h fo r t h e f a c t t h a t h e w a s m o s t d e fi nitely no t a c o m m u n i s t . D u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g , t e m p e r s fl a r e d an d t h r e a t s w e r e m a d e a g a i n s t t h e Ka s t e n f a m i l y . T h e r e p e r c u s s i o n s o f t h e me e t i n g w e r e s e r i o u s l y f e l t b y t h e K a s - te n s . T h e y r e c e i v e d p h o n e c a l l s f r o m pe o p l e t h r e a t e n i n g t h e s a f e t y o f t h e i r ch i l d r e n a n d t h r e a t e n i n g t o b u r n d o w n th e i r h o m e i f t h e K a s t e n s c o n t i n u e d t h e i r pu r s u i t o f d e s e g r e g a t i o n . S o m e t i m e l a t e r , t h e S c h o o l B o a r d an s w e r e d K a s t e n i n t h e f o r m o f a l e t t e r ad d r e s s e d t o t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e C i t i - zens Fellowship: Dear Citizens Fellowship Members: The Board of Trustees of the A&M Consolidated School District is apprecia-tive of the efforts and concern of the patrons of the district for improved schools. Board members have been ceaseless in their efforts toward insuring the best schools possible and promise the patrons of the district their continued best efforts. The board welcomes sincere suggestions for improvements made by individuals or groups. They acknowledge the contexts of the latter presented by the spokesman for the Citizens Fellowship group, the four questions posed by the spokesman, and the special request made by the Rev. Flowers and Shephard in behalf of the Citizens Fel-lowship group, “that a Citizens Committee be appointed by the Board of Trustees to study the problem of school integration in the A&M Consolidated School District.” The Board of Trustees, after considering suggestions and recommendations from a Citizens Committee consisting of 25 patrons representing a cross-section from all walks of life, colored and white, in the early part of 1960 adopted the following statement: It is the intent of the Board of Trustees of the A&M Consolidated School to operate:1. The A&M Consolidated 4 grade High School, on the land acquired by the school district in 1953.2. The A&M Consolidated 3 grade Junior High School on the site it now occupies.3. A 5 grade elementary school on the site it now occupies, as long as the pres-ent buildings are usable and are well able for elementary school purposes; (this is in addition to an elementary school east of Highway 6).4. The Lincoln School, as a twelve grade -5- -8 - h e n I g r e w u p m y p a r - en t s ha d a g a r d e n a n d r a i s e d c h i c k e n s an d o t h e r p o u l t r y a n d I n e v e r r e m e m b e r ev e r b e i n g h u n g r y . W e w e r e r a i s e d t o be c o l o r b l i n d a n d I n e v e r t h o u g h t m u c h ab o u t r a c i s m . A s a n a d u l t l i v i n g h e r e i n Au s t i n , I h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d m o r e r a c i s m th a n I e v e r d i d g r o w i n g u p i n C o l l e g e St a t i o n . I t w a s d u r i n g t h e s u m m e r o f 19 6 5 t h a t m y p a r e n t s , t h e l a t e B e r t o R . Wi l b o r n a n d t h e l a t e A b b i e J o h n s o n W i l - bo r n , c a l l e d t o g e t h e r t h e i r fi v e c h i l d r e n wh o w e r e s t i l l o f s c h o o l a g e a n d l i v i n g at h o m e . I r e c a l l m y p a r e n t s r e c e i v i n g so m e k i n d o f n o t i fi c a t i o n f r o m t h e A & M Co n s o l i d a t e d S c h o o l B o a r d . I w a s n ’ t su r e w h a t t h i s w a s a l l a b o u t . W e a n x - io u s l y a w a i t e d t o h e a r w h a t t h e y h a d t o sa y . S u r e , w e h a d h e a r d o f t h e u p h e a v a l in t h e d e e p S o u t h w i t h t h e b o m b i n g s in A t l a n t a a n d t h e r a c e r i o t s . W e e v e n kn e w a b o u t D r . M a r t i n L u t h e r K i n g ’ s ma r c h e s a n d fi g h t s f o r r a c i a l e q u a l i t y bu t e v e n w i t h a l l o f t h i s w e w e r e s t i l l n o t su r e h o w i t w a s g o i n g t o a f f e c t o u r s m a l l co m m u n i t y a n d t h e B l a c k s w h o l i v e d th e r e . O u r f a m i l y l i v e d o n P h o e n i x S t r e e t wh i c h w a s w a l k i n g d i s t a n c e f r o m L i n c o l n Sc h o o l a n d o u r c h u r c h . W e a l w a y s fe l t s o f o r t u n a t e t o l i v e s o c l o s e t o o u r sc h o o l w h e n m a n y o f o u r f r i e n d s l i v e d i n th e W e l b o r n , C o l l e g e H i l l s a n d W a s h - in g t o n C h a p e l c o m m u n i t i e s . I n o u r s m a l l co m m u n i t y , o u r s c h o o l a n d c h u r c h e s we r e w h a t h e l d u s a l l t o g e t h e r . I d o r e m e m b e r m y p a r e n t s h a v i n g a p o s t o f fi c e b o x a n d w h e n t h e m a i l fi n a l l y s t a r t e d c o m i n g t o t h e h o u s e . M y fa t h e r r e t i r e d f r o m t h e r a i l r o a d s o I d o n ’ t re m e m b e r h i m e v e r b e i n g a w a y f r o m ho m e t o o m u c h . Li t t l e d i d w e k n o w t h a t t h i s s u m m e r , th i n g s w e r e a b o u t t o c h a n g e a n d o u r li v e s w o u l d n e v e r b e t h e s a m e . O u r fa t h e r , B e r t o , r e a d t h e l e t t e r t o u s a s w e sa t a r o u n d l i s t e n i n g v e r y a t t e n t i v e l y . H e to l d a l l o f u s t h a t f o r t h e 1 9 6 5 - 6 6 s c h o o l ye a r t h a t w e w o u l d h a v e a c h o i c e o f wh i c h s c h o o l w e w a n t e d t o a t t e n d . H e sa i d t h a t w e c o u l d c o n t i n u e g o i n g t o Li n c o l n S c h o o l ( w h i c h w a s d o w n t h e st r e e t ) o r a t t e n d A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d ( t h e Wh i t e S c h o o l ) w h i c h w a s f u r t h e r f r o m ou r h o m e . H e d i d m a k e o n e r u l e a n d th i s w a s t h a t w e a l l h a d t o a t t e n d t h e sa m e s c h o o l . M y s i s t e r s a n d I , H e l e n a n d F r a n c e s An n , a n d b r o t h e r s , A u d r e y a n d W i l l i a m (J o e ) h a d a d e c i s i o n t o m a k e . I t w a s n o t to o t o u g h t o d e c i d e . A l l o f m y s i s t e r s an d b r o t h e r s w e r e h i g h a c h i e v e r s i n sc h o o l a n d w e w a n t e d t o r e c e i v e t h e be s t e d u c a t i o n p o s s i b l e . I t w a s p r o b - ab l y t h e t o u g h e s t o n m e , D e l o i s , s i n c e I w a s t h e o l d e s t a t t h e t i m e . T h i s m e a n t th a t I w o u l d h a v e t o c o m p l e t e m y l a s t tw o y e a r s o f h i g h s c h o o l a t a b r a n d n e w sc h o o l . M y s i s t e r H e l e n b e g a n 7 th g r a d e at A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d , a n d m y s i s t e r Fr a n c e s w o u l d b e g a n t h e 3 rd g r a d e . M y br o t h e r , A u d r e y , t h e 8 th g r a d e a n d m y br o t h e r W i l l i a m ( J o e ) b e g a n t h e fi r s t gr a d e a t A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d . Wh e n w e w e n t t o C o n s o l i d a t e d , n o tr a n s p o r t a t i o n w a s p r o v i d e d f o r u s . M y fa t h e r t o o k a l l o f u s t o s c h o o l e a c h d a y at C o n s o l i d a t e d . W e w e r e l u c k y t o h a v e hi m . T h i s w a s d i f f e r e n t f r o m b e f o r e s i n c e we c o u l d j u s t w a l k d o w n t h e s t r e e t t o Li n c o l n . W e w a l k e d h o m e i n t h e e v e - ni n g s . I k n o w t h a t w e l i v e d m o r e t h a n tw o m i l e s f r o m t h e s c h o o l . O u r p a r e n t s p r o b a b l y a l r e a d y k n e w wh a t o u r d e c i s i o n w o u l d b e s i n c e t h e y ha d a l w a y s s t r e s s e d t o u s t h e i m p o r - ta n c e o f a g o o d e d u c a t i o n . W e l o v e d Li n c o l n b u t w e h a d h e a r d t h a t w e w e r e ge t t i n g t h e “ l e f t o v e r s ” f r o m C o n s o l i d a t - ed . T h i s w e d i d n o t l i k e a n d f e l t t h a t w e de s e r v e d a fi r s t c l a s s e d u c a t i o n j u s t l i k e th e W h i t e s t u d e n t s . W e w e r e p r o u d o f ou r s c h o o l a n d l o v e d o u r t e a c h e r s . T h e y we r e e x c e l l e n t a n d p r o v i d e d u s w i t h a go o d e d u c a t i o n w i t h w h a t t h e y h a d . I t wa s n o t f a i r t h a t w e d i d n o t h a v e a l l t h e sa m e o p p o r t u n i t i e s o r e q u i p m e n t a s t h e Wh i t e s t u d e n t s . F o r t h e s c h o o l y e a r o f 1 9 6 5 - 6 6 , w e ch o s e t o a t t e n d A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d Sc h o o l s . W e k n e w w h e r e t h e s c h o o l wa s l o c a t e d s i n c e o u r L i n c o l n f o o t b a l l ga m e s u s e d t o b e p l a y e d a t t h e i r s t a - di u m . W e d i d n o t o w n o u r o w n s t a d i u m . Ev e n s t i l l , t h i s n e w s c h o o l , t h e c l a s s - ro o m s , t e a c h e r s a n d s y s t e m w e r e v e r y ne w t o u s . F o r m e , i t w a s s o m e w h a t di f fi c u l t s i n c e I w a s a J u n i o r a n d w o r k i n g to w a r d g r a d u a t i o n . W h e n w e w e n t t o t h e s c h o o l , e v e r y - on e w a s v e r y k i n d a n d n i c e t o u s . T h e r e wa s s o m e t e n s i o n a m o n g t h e s t u d e n t s bu t n o t h i n g s e r i o u s . W h e n I e n t e r e d t h a t sc h o o l , I h a d o n e g o a l i n m y h e a d a n d th a t w a s t r y i n g t o g e t a g o o d e d u c a t i o n an d p r e p a r e f o r g r a d u a t i o n . T h e s t u - de n t s c o m i n g f r o m L i n c o l n g a v e u p s o mu c h t o c o m e t o A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d i n th e i r J u n i o r a n d S e n i o r Y e a r . F i r s t , s o m e st u d e n t s d i d n o t g r a d u a t e b e c a u s e A& M C o n s o l i d a t e d r e q u i r e d a d i f f e r e n t nu m b e r o f c r e d i t s n e e d e d f o r g r a d u a t i o n th a n L i n c o l n . S o m e s t u d e n t s h a d t o w o r k e x t r a h a r d to m a k e u p . S o m e d i d n o t m a k e i t a n d ga v e u p . I t w a s d i f fi c u l t f o r m e b e c a u s e I h a d t o s p e n d s o m u c h t i m e s t u d y i n g . It w a s s u r p r i s i n g t o s e e s o m a n y d i f f e r - en t c o u r s e s o r c l a s s e s o f f e r e d s u c h a s fo r e i g n l a n g u a g e s , B u s i n e s s , D r a m a , Jo u r n a l i s m a n d m a n y e l e c t i v e s . T h e s e cl a s s e s w e r e n o t e v e n o f f e r e d a t o u r Li n c o l n S c h o o l . I t w a s e x c i t i n g b e c a u s e my y o u n g e s t s i s t e r a n d b r o t h e r b o t h to o k S p a n i s h i n s c h o o l u n d e r M r s . W o r - le y . M y b r o t h e r W i l l i a m ( J o e ) e v e n w e n t to M e x i c o d u r i n g t h e s u m m e r w i t h t h e Sp a n i s h c l u b t o p r a c t i c e h i s S p a n i s h . T h e s c h o o l f a c i l i t i e s a t A & M C o n - so l i d a t e d w e r e b e t t e r t h a n o u r f o r m e r cl a s s e s a t L i n c o l n i n t h a t t h e r e w e r e la r g e r c l a s s r o o m s , s t a t e o f t h e a r t e q u i p - me n t ( f o r t h a t t i m e ) a n d n e w t e x t b o o k s an d a w i d e r v a r i e t y o f c u r r i c u l u m . T h e te a c h e r s w e r e g o o d b u t t h e y s e e m e d t o W De l o i s W i l b o r n , S e n i o r at A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d Hi g h S c h o o l , 1 9 6 7 . A L i n c o l n F o r m e r S t u d e n t T e l l s H e r S t o r y By D e l o i s W i l b o r n A L i n c o l n F o r m e r S t u d e n t T e l l s H e r S t o r y Project HOLD Moment in Time, Jan. 2007 Pr o j e c t H O L D M o m e n t i n T i m e , J a n . 2 0 0 7 ► Th e B r y a n D a i l y Ea g l e , S e p t . 1 8 , 19 6 2 . R e p r e s e n t i n g t h e p l a i n t i f f s w e r e Al o y s i u s M . W i c k l i f f o f H o u s t o n , W . J . Du r h a m a n d T h u r g o o d M a r s h a l l o f D a l - la s . O n e o f t h e s e a t t o r n e y s h a d b e e n co n t a c t e d p r e v i o u s l y b y D r . K a s t e n ( p r i o r to t h e m o v e t o E u r o p e ) a n d v i s i t e d b y hi m t o c o n s i d e r t a k i n g t h e c a s e . ” J o e Re y n o l d s o f H o u s t o n w a s t h e a t t o r n e y fo r t h e s c h o o l d i s t r i c t . Se p t e m b e r 1 8 , 1 9 6 2 – H e a d l i n e , T h e B r y - an D a i l y E a g l e : C o l l e g e S t a t i o n S c h o o l s Or d e r e d t o I n t e g r a t e , R i e d e l D o u b t s A p - pe a l A c t i o n S u p t . W . T . R i e d e l s t a t e d t h a t h e th o u g h t t h e A & M C H S I S D w o u l d n o t a p - pe a l a d e c i s i o n h a n d e d d o w n b y F e d e r a l Di s t r i c t J u d g e J o e I n g r a h a m . T h e “ s t a i r st e p ” i n t e g r a t i o n w a s s e t f o r t h e F a l l cl a s s e s b e g i n n i n g i n S e p t e m b e r o f 1 9 6 3 wi t h t h e fi r s t g r a d e c l a s s e s . A l l c l a s s e s no t f u l l y i n t e g r a t e d b y 1 9 7 5 , w o u l d th e r e a f t e r b e r e q u i r e d t o i n t e g r a t e . Th e r e w e r e 3 0 0 s t u d e n t s a t L i n c o l n a n d 15 0 0 s t u d e n t s i n t w e l v e g r a d e s a t C o n - so l i d a t e d . H o w e v e r , t h e j u d g e a l s o r u l e d th a t t h e i n t e g r a t i o n w a s v o l u n t a r y . Da d d y m o v e d t h e f a m i l y o n c e a g a i n t o Pl e a s a n t H i l l , C a l i f o r n i a , a b e d r o o m c o m - mu n i t y n e a r t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a at B e r k e l e y . O n c e a g a i n , w e e n r o l l e d i n fu l l y i n t e g r a t e d p u b l i c s c h o o l s . R a c e w a s a n o n - i s s u e f o r u s t h e r e w h e r e w e p l a y e d an d s t u d i e d a l o n g s i d e c h i l d r e n o f a l l r a c e s . Ca l i f o r n i a w a s i n d e e d a m e l t i n g p o t . 19 6 3 – A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d S c h o o l s b e g i n th e “ s t a i r s t e p ” m e t h o d o f i n t e g r a t i o n be g i n n i n g w i t h k i n d e r g a r t e n . If t h e t w o y e a r s i n N e w M e x i c o s h o w e d me t h e w r o n g s i d e o f s e g r e g a t i o n , t h e n th e t w o y e a r s i n C a l i f o r n i a s h o w e d m e t h e po s i t i v e a n d s u c c e s s f u l s i d e o f i n t e g r a t i o n . Ou r f a m i l y w e e k e n d v i s i t s t o t h e B e r k e l e y ca m p u s w e r e e y e o p e n i n g e x p e r i e n c e s f o r an i m p r e s s i o n a b l e g i r l o f 1 4 . T h e c a m p u s wa s f u l l o f p r o t e s t o r s : B a n t h e B o m b ! B l a c k Po w e r ! P e a c e ! F r e e l o v e ! H i p p i e s a n d l o v e be a d s w e r e e v e r y w h e r e . A n d i n a n i n s t a n t , ou r f a m i l y m o v e d b a c k t o C o l l e g e S t a t i o n , ba c k t o b o b b y s o c k s a n d l o a f e r s . T h e t i m e s th e y w e r e a ’ c h a n g i n ’ , o r w e r e t h e y ? Ju n e , 1 9 6 5 – L i n c o l n H i g h S c h o o l j u n i o r , Pa u l S t e w a r t G a r v i n p e t i t i o n s t h e B o a r d of T r u s t e e s f o r a d m i s s i o n t o A & M C o n - so l i d a t e d H i g h S c h o o l so t h a t h e c a n l i v e h a p p i l y , h a r m o n i o u s l y , an d u s e f u l l y i n a d e m o c r a t i c s o c i e t y . T h e ul t i m a t e g o a l o f e a c h t e a c h e r s h o u l d b e to a p p r o a c h e a c h s t u d e n t s h o u l d b e l e d t o di s c o v e r h i s o w n s p e c i a l a b i l i t i e s , t o c h o o s e hi s o w n v o c a t i o n , a n d t o m a k e a d j u s t m e n t s to a n e v e r c h a n g i n g w o r l d . T h e s c h o o l d i s t r i c t h a s o p e r a t e d d o w n th r o u g h t h e y e a r s i n h a r m o n y w i t h m a n y gr o u p s w i t h i n i t s b o u n d a r i e s . I t a s k s f o r co n t i n u e d c o o p e r a t i o n a n d s u p p o r t o f a l l in d i v i d u a l s a n d g r o u p s i n o r d e r t h a t t h e sc h o o l c a n c o n t i n u e t o o p e r a t e h a r m o n i - ou s l y , e f fi c i e n t l y , a n d e f f e c t i v e l y . Pr e s i d e n t , A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d Bo a r d o f T r u s t e e s Ap p r o v e d b y Bo a r d o f T r u s t e e s At m e e t i n g o n (D a t e n o t d i s c e r n i b l e ) , 1 9 6 0 . De c e m b e r 8 , 1 9 6 0 M r s . K a s t e n , o n b e h a l f o f t h e C i t i z e n s Fe l l o w s h i p , w r o t e t o “ T h e F u n d f o r t h e Ad v a n c e m e n t o f E d u c a t i o n , ” s e e k i n g a g r a n t t o a i d t h e A & M C o n s o l i d a t e d Sc h o o l D i s t r i c t t o w o r k t o w a r d a l e g a l so l u t i o n o f t h e s c h o o l i n t e g r a t i o n p r o b - le m i n t h e c o m m u n i t y . T h e l e t t e r s t a t e d th e l e s s t h a n s a t i s f a c t o r y c o n d i t i o n s o f Li n c o l n S c h o o l a n d f o c u s e d o n t h e d i f - fi c u l t i e s o f t h e s c h o o l d i s t r i c t p r o v i d i n g eq u a l f a c i l i t i e s a n d e d u c a t i o n t o b o t h wh i t e a n d N e g r o s t u d e n t s . T h e r e s p o n s e st a t e d t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e y w e r e s y m p a - th e t i c t o t h e i s s u e s o f t h e s c h o o l d i s t r i c t , th e t e n e t s o f t h e F u n d d i d n o t a l l o w th e m t o c o n t r i b u t e t o w a r d a c t i v i t i e s t h a t mi g h t a f f e c t c h a n g e s i n l e g i s l a t i o n . De c e m b e r 1 2 , 1 9 6 0 T h e C i t i z e n s F e l l o w s h i p r a n a n a d i n th e “ B r y a n D a i l y E a g l e ” w i t h a h e a d l i n e of “ C i t i z e n s o f C o l l e g e S t a t i o n , h o w de e p h a v e w e b u r i e d o u r h e a d s i n t h e sa n d ? ” T h e a d c o n t i n u e d w i t h “ M a n y ci t i z e n s o f o u r c o m m u n i t y t h i n k i t i s t i m e to d i g o u r w a y o u t o f t h e s a n d s o t h a t we c a n f a c e t h e f o l l o w i n g f a c t s a b o u t ou r s c h o o l s y s t e m . . . ” T h e a d l i s t e d fi v e st a t e m e n t s a n d fi v e q u e s t i o n s p o s e d t o th e c o m m u n i t y a p p e a l i n g t o i t s c i t i z e n - sh i p t o d e s e g r e g a t e . T h e a d w e n t o n t o in v i t e m e m b e r s o f t h e c o m m u n i t y t o a t - te n d a p u b l i c m e e t i n g a t t h e A & M W e s - le y F o u n d a t i o n , D e c e m b e r 1 3 , 1 9 6 0 . Sp r i n g 1 9 6 1 By 1 9 6 1 , K a s t e n r e c e i v e d a g o v e r n m e n t fe l l o w s h i p t h a t t o o k h i m a n d h i s f a m i l y to G e r m a n y a n d F r a n c e f o r t w o y e a r s . Hi s a g r e e m e n t w i t h A & M a l l o w e d h i m to t a k e a l e a v e o f a b s e n c e f o r t h e s t u d y ab r o a d . I n p r e p a r i n g f o r h i s r e t u r n t o A& M a t t h e e n d o f t h e f e l l o w s h i p , K a s t e n be g a n w r i t i n g t o h i s d e p a r t m e n t h e a d , Dr . C l i f t o n C . D o a k . A l l o f h i s l e t t e r s a n d in q u i r i e s w e n t u n a n s w e r e d . K a s t e n , su s p e c t i n g t h a t t h e r e w o u l d b e n o p o s i - ti o n t o r e t u r n t o a t A & M , b e g a n s e e k i n g ot h e r j o b p o s s i b i l i t i e s . T h e K a s t e n f a m i l y re t u r n e d t o C o l l e g e S t a t i o n b r i e fl y t o te n d t o b u s i n e s s m a t t e r s , c o l l e c t t h e i r st o r e d b e l o n g i n g s a n d c o n t i n u e d o n t o Pa s a d e n a , C a l i f o r n i a . T h e r e , D r . K a s t e n as s u m e d a p o s i t i o n w i t h t h e P a s a d e n a Fo u n d a t i o n f o r M e d i c a l R e s e a r c h . I n t h e m e a n t i m e , t h e F e l l o w s h i p c o n - ti n u e d t o g a i n m o m e n t u m a s d e s e g r e g a - ti o n w a s j u s t a r o u n d t h e c o r n e r . Ou r B o y k i n f a m i l y o f s i x l e f t o u r L a s Cr u c e s h o m e a n d d r o v e t o D a v i s , C a l i f o r - ni a w h e r e D a d d y w o u l d c o n t i n u e h i s w o r k an d s t u d i e s a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a . Da v i s r e m i n d e d u s a l o t o f C o l l e g e S t a t i o n . It w a s a s m a l l u n i v e r s i t y t o w n w h e r e t h e r e we r e m o r e b i c y c l e s r e g i s t e r e d t h a n c a r s . Th e r e w a s , h o w e v e r , o n e m a j o r d i f f e r e n c e . We e n r o l l e d i n D a v i s ’ f u l l y i n t e g r a t e d p u b l i c sc h o o l s . Au g u s t , 1 9 6 1 – 3 3 N e g r o s t u d e n t s fi l e a su i t a g a i n s t W . T . R i e d e l a n d t h e B o a r d o f Tr u s t e e s . Board of Education. Paul entered Consolidated without a great deal of fanfare. We sat next to each other in several classes. He was a quiet and serious student. Several of us encour-aged him to run for Student Council but he politely declined. Paul had served as Class President his freshman and sophomore years at Lincoln. He was a gifted athlete as well as an honor student. January 20, 1966 - Lincoln School Fire A fi re started in the records room at Lincoln School. Within a few days, the majority of high school students at Lincoln were admitted to classes at A&M Consolidated High School. The fi re destroyed the ten classroom building, principal’s of fi ce, teachers’ lounge and library. The remaining build-ings included the gym, two classrooms, auditorium/assembly hall, homemak-ing cottage, cafeteria, and the science lab/industrial arts shop. Our principal, Mr. E.P. Ozment, spoke over the PA system and told us what we already had heard: Lincoln students would be coming over in the next few days and we were to make room for them in our classrooms and make them feel welcome. Mr. Bright believes that it was in sports where the real test came. He believes that the coaches were M r s . G l a d y s S t e w a r t w o r k e d f o r a co u p l e i n C o l l e g e H i l l s . K n o w i n g t h a t h e r so n w a n t e d a b e t t e r e d u c a t i o n t h a n w h a t he w a s r e c e i v i n g a t L i n c o l n H i g h S c h o o l , sh e s o u g h t t h e a d v i c e o f h e r e m p l o y e r s . Th e y s u g g e s t e d t h a t s h e s p e a k w i t h a ne i g h b o r , M r s . L e l a n d , a m a t h t e a c h e r a t A& M C o n s o l i d a t e d . M r s . L e l a n d e n c o u r - ag e d M r s . S t e w a r t t o w r i t e a l e t t e r t o M r . Ri e d e l a n d p e t i t i o n t h a t P a u l b e a l l o w e d to e n r o l l a t C o n s o l i d a t e d . P a u l w r o t e t h e le t t e r i m m e d i a t e l y . Ju n e 2 8 , 1 9 6 5 – B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s A g e n d a It e m s # 9 a n d # 1 0 A g e n d a i t e m # 9 . I n t e g r a t i o n – D i s c u s - si o n o f p l a n s f o r t h e c o m i n g y e a r . Ag e n d a I t e m # 1 0 . R e p o r t o n O p e r a - ti o n H e a d s t a r t . [ P a u l ’ s G a r v i n ’ s m o t h e r , Gl a d y s N e l l L y o n s S t e w a r t , w a s l a t e r se l e c t e d t o i m p l e m e n t P r o j e c t H e a d s t a r t on b e h a l f o f t h e c o m m u n i t y . ] Ju l y 2 0 , 1 9 6 5 – B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s M i n - ut e s , I t e m X I I . X I I . D r . W o o t e n m o v e d t h a t t h e fi rst fi v e g r a d e s b e i n t e g r a t e d o n a v o l u n t a r y ba s i s f o r t h e s c h o o l y e a r 1 9 6 5 - 6 6 . D r . Is b e l l s e c o n d e d t h e m o t i o n . Au g u s t 1 6 , 1 9 6 5 – B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s M i n - ut e s , I t e m X V I I I . D r . I s b e l l m o v e d t h a t t h e B o a r d o f Trustees approve the desegregation of all of the twelve grades on a free choice basis for the 1965-66 school years. Mr. Palmer seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.August 26, 1965 – Board of Trustees Spe-cial Meeting Minutes, Item VI. Dr. Isbell moved that the fi rst and second grades at Lincoln be completely integrated into College Hills Elementary and A&M Consolidated Elementary. Dr. Wooten seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Alexander moved that students in grades three through twelve be allowed freedom of choice in selection of school to attend in so far as space and class size permit. Mr. Hensarling seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.September, 1965 - Paul Stewart Garvin and several other Black students enroll in A&M Consolidated High School. Recently, I spoke with Mr. Art Bright, math teacher in the high school at the time. He said that Mr. Ozment called the teachers together and appealed to them to work together so that this transition would be smooth. The teachers were in full agreement. It had been eleven years since the Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision in Brown v. The -6 - -7-Photos from 1966 Tigerland Yearbook. Th e fi r e s t a r t e d o n a Th u r s d a y n i g h t a r o u n d 7: 4 9 p m . A c h i l d , w a i t i n g ou t s i d e f o r h i s p a r e n t s , ru s h e d i n t o w a r n M r s . Mi l d r e n C a l d w e l l , w h o wa s t e a c h i n g a n a d u l t ed u c a t i o n c l a s s a t t h e ti m e . O v e r 2 2 v o l u n t e e r fi r e fi g h t e r s f r o m C o l l e g e St a t i o n a n d fi v e f r o m B r y - an r e s p o n d e d . O n l y t w o cl a s s r o o m s w e r e s a v e d . Da m a g e w a s e s t i m a t e d t o be $ 6 5 , 0 0 0 . - - T h e B r y a n D a i l y Ea g l e , J a n u a r y 2 1 , 1 9 6 6 . Po r t i o n o f C i t i z e n ’ s F e l l o w s h i p a d . T h e Br y a n D a i l y E a g l e , D e c . 1 2 , 1 9 6 0 . Li n c o l n S c h o o l B l a z e D i s p l a c e s 1 0 0 Project HOLD Moment in Time, Jan. 2007 Pr o j e c t H O L D M o m e n t i n T i m e , J a n . 2 0 0 7 ► se e n “ a l o t o f y o u p e o p l e ” a t o t h e r b o a r d me e t i n g s . “ N o c o l o r e d p a t r o n s w e r e e v e r pr e s e n t ” a t t h e m e e t i n g i n w h i c h a N e g r o hi g h s c h o o l w a s d i s c u s s e d , h e s a i d . R e f e r r i n g t o a r e c e n t b o n d i s s u e , J a c k s o n sa i d t h e b o a r d “ h a s s p e n t m o r e m o n e y o n th e c o l o r e d s c h o o l t a n o n t h e w h i t e s c h o o l pr o p o r t i o n a t e l y . A l l w e c a n g o b y i s w h a t ou r s c h o o l o f fi c i a l s t e l l u s . ” H e s a i d t h e gy m n a s i u m a t L i n c o l n S c h o o l “ i s s u p e r i o r t o wh a t t h e w h i t e s t u d e n t s h a v e . ” K a s t e n r o s e a n d s a i d , “ I t b o t h e r s m e t h a t yo u r d e c i s i o n s h a v e t o b e g u i d e d b y t h e wi s h e s o f t h e p a t r o n s . T h e s c h o o l b o a r d h a s a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o b e p o l i c y - m a k e r s . W e ’ v e ha d e n o u g h t i m e t o s t r i k e o u t i n t h e r i g h t di r e c t i o n . ” “ E a c h o n e o f t h e s e m e m b e r s v o t e t h e i r ow n c o n v i c t i o n s , ” H e r v e y r e p l i e d . F a t h e r R i m s h a w s t o o d u p a g a i n . “ I t h i n k it ’ s t o t h e c r e d i t o f t h i s g r o u p t h a t w e ’ v e le f t i t t o t h e s c h o o l b o a r d t o t a k e p r o p e r st e p s , ” h e s a i d . T h e s e p e o p l e h a v e r e m a i n e d pa t i e n t l y i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d s i n c e t h e c o u r t de c i s i o n . “ L e s t a b l u n d e r b e m a d e i n e n - tr e n c h i n g s e g r e g a t i o n , ” h e s a i d , “ t h e g r o u p ha s m a d e p r o t e s t s i n c e a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y se g r e g a t i o n i s b e g i n n i n g t o d i s a p p e a r . ” T h e c r o w d r e m a i n e d f o r a t i m e w h i l e t h e bo a r d t u r n e d t o o t h e r b u s i n e s s . T w o r e p r e - se n t a t i v e s o f a l o c a l g a r d e n c l u b , p r o t e s t i n g ab o u t t h e l a c k o f fl o w e r s a r o u n d t h e s c h o o l s , re c o m m e n d e d h i r i n g a h o r t i c u l t u r i s t t o su p e r v i s e g e n e r a l p l a n n i n g . A f t e r a b r i e f d i s - cu s s i o n , t h e b o a r d t u r n e d t o o t h e r m a t t e r s . Mo s t o f t h e d e l e g a t i o n l e f t , b u t a b o u t 2 0 o f th e m — m o s t l y N e g r o e s — r e m a i n e d . L i n c o l n S c h o o l i s i n a N e g r o s e c t i o n of t o w n , a s p r a w l i n g w h i t e f r a m e b u i l d - in g n e x t t o a n e w b r i c k a n n e x n o w b e i n g co m p l e t e d . T h e w i f e o f a n A & M p r o f e s s o r , wh o a c c o m p a n i e d t h e r e p o r t e r , s a i d a f t e r ra i n s t h e s c h o o l h a s b e e n a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y su r r o u n d e d i n m u d . T h e r e i s l i t t l e g r a s s o n th e s c h o o l g r o u n d s . T h e r o a d i n f r o n t o f t h e sc h o o l w a s r e c e n t l y h a r d - t o p p e d . O n e o f t h e t e a c h e r s s a i d t h e r e i s n o o n e pl a c e l a r g e e n o u g h f o r a s c h o o l a s s e m b l y . As k e d f o r a n o p i n i o n o n e q u a l f a c i l i t i e s , t h e te a c h e r w a v e d a h a n d a n d s a i d , “ T h i s i s n o t eq u a l i t y . ” A n o t h e r t e a c h e r s a i d t h e r e i s a sh o r t a g e o f p r o p e r e q u i p m e n t f o r s c i e n t i fi c co u r s e s . T h e g y m n a s i u m i s i n a t i n b u i l d i n g o f f t o on e s i d e . I t h a s a r e g u l a t i o n - s i z e b a s k e t b a l l fl o o r , m a d e o f t i l e . T h e r e a r e t h r e e l o n g r o w s of s e a t s . T h e g y m d o u b l e s a s a n a u d i t o r i u m . “ W h a t a r e y o u r p l a n s i n c a s e y o u g e t a n ap p l i c a t i o n f r o m a N e g r o t o e n t e r C o n s o l i - da t e d S c h o o l ? ” h e a s k e d . ( “ S i m p l e q u e s - ti o n , ” a b o a r d m e m b e r w h i s p e r e d a u d i b l y . ) “I n v i e w o f p a s t c o u r t d e c i s i o n s w o u l d i t n o t be a w a s t e o f t a x m o n e y t o t a k e t h i s c a s e t o co u r t ? ” K a s t e n t h e n r e q u e s t e d , o n b e h a l f o f t h e gr o u p t h a t a c i t i z e n s ’ c o m m i t t e e b e a p - po i n t e d b y t h e b o a r d t o s t u d y i n t e g r a t i o n pr o b l e m s i n C o l l e g e S t a t i o n , t o i n c l u d e o n e wh i t e a n d o n e N e g r o f r o m t h e C i t i z e n s F e l - lo w s h i p . K a s t e n a s k e d t h a t t h e c o m m i t t e e re p o r t w i t h i n t w o m o n t h s . T h e s c h o o l b o a r d c a r r i e d i t s m o t i o n t o co n s i d e r t h e p r o b l e m l a t e r . H e r v e y t h e n s a i d he w o u l d r e c o g n i z e o t h e r s f r o m t h e fl o o r . F a t h e r J o s e p h R i m s h a w , a d a r k , h e a v y s e t ma n w i t h a s l i g h t I r i s h a c c e n t , r a i s e d h i s ha n d a n d s t o o d u p . H e e x p l a i n e d t h a t h i s Ca t h o l i c c h u r c h i s i n B r y a n , b u t t h a t “ s o m e me m b e r s o f m y c h u r c h c o m e f r o m C o l l e g e St a t i o n , s o t h a t I t h i n k I a m a c q u a i n t e d w i t h th e p r o b l e m s o f b o t h c o m m u n i t i e s . ” L a s t y e a r , h e s a i d , a N e g r o p a r e n t , “ w o r - ri e d b y t h e e d u c a t i o n o f f e r e d a t t h e N e g r o sc h o o l , a s k e d i f s h e a n d h e r c h i l d c o u l d b e ta k e n t o a n o t h e r p a r t o f t h e c o u n t r y . T h e y ’ r e in M a s s a c h u s e t t s n o w . T h i s y e a r I h a v e t h r e e of m y b r i g h t e s t N e g r o s t u d e n t s g o i n g t o sc h o o l i n H o u s t o n , b e c a u s e t h e y a r e n o t b e - in g s t i m u l a t e d , n o t g e t t i n g e n o u g h i n s c h o o l he r e . “ T h i s i s t o n e u t r a l i z e t h e i d e a t h a t N e - gr o e s h e r e a r e s a t i s fi e d w i t h t h e i r e d u c a t i o n sy s t e m , ” h e s a i d . F a t h e r R i m s h a w h a d b r o u g h t a n a r t i c l e b y ed u c a t o r J a m e s C o n a n t . H e l e f t i t w i t h t h e bo a r d m e m b e r s a n d a s k e d t h e m t o r e a d i t . “H e d i d n ’ t w r i t e i t o n p r o b l e m s o f i n t e g r a - ti o n , b u t o n t h e b a s i s o f e d u c a t i o n , “ h e s a i d . Co n a n t , F a t h e r R i m s h a w s a i d , h a d c o n - cl u d e d t h a t s m a l l h i g h s c h o o l s w i t h l e s s t h a n 30 0 s t u d e n t s a r e h a n d i c a p p e d i n o f f e r i n g a p r o p e r e d u c a t i o n . R e f e r r i n g t o t h e N e g r o hi g h s c h o o l , h e s a i d , “ I f t h e r e a r e o n l y 1 0 0 st u d e n t s i n s c h o o l p e r i o d , y o u c a n i m a g i n e wh a t i t m u s t b e l i k e . ” T h e p r i n c i p l e o f i n t e g r a t i o n , F a t h e r R i m - sh a w s a i d , “ i s n o t c h a r i t y . T h e s t a t e h a s a n ob l i g a t i o n t o p r e s e n t i t s s e r v i c e s t o a l l . T h i s is n o t c h a r i t y . I t i s a l e g a l p r i n c i p l e , n o t a th e o l o g i c a l o n e . ” R e v . L . N . F l o w e r s , p a s t o r o f t h e W a s h - in g t o n P a r k B a p t i s t C h u r c h , a N e g r o B a p t i s t ch u r c h , f o l l o w e d F a t h e r R i m s h a w : “ A s a ci t i z e n a n d a t a x - p a y e r , I ’ d l i k e t o v o i c e m y se n t i m e n t , ” h e s a i d . “ I d o n ’ t k n o w w h a t Ne g r o e s s a i d t h e y a r e s a t i s fi e d w i t h t h e i r ed u c a t i o n h e r e . I ’ v e b e e n l o o k i n g a r o u n d an d I c a n ’ t fi n d ‘ e m . A n y N e g r o w h o s a y s he ’ s s a t i s fi e d o n t h e e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m i s a lu n a t i c , h e ’ s c r a z y , t h a t ’ s a l l . ” ( “ T h a t ’ s r i g h t , th a t ’ s r i g h t , ” m a n y o f t h e N e g r o e s i n t h e ro o m s a i d . ) “ T h e N e g r o c a n ’ t t r a v e l a n y f u r t h e r t h a n wh a t h e ’ s b e e n e x p o s e d t o , ” F l o w e r s s a i d . “ C o l l e g e S t a t i o n , h e c o n c l u d e d , “ i s o n e o f th e g r e a t e s t p l a c e s i n T e x a s . I t s e t s a s t a n - da r d f o r T e x a s a n d t h e w o r l d , a n d t h a t ’ s t h e wa y I f e e l a s a c i t i z e n o f C o l l e g e S t a t i o n . ” D r . J a c k s o n , r e s p o n d i n g t o a q u e s t i o n f r o m a y o u n g N e g r o a b o u t a s p e c i a l c o m m i t t e e r e - po r t m a d e t o t h e b o a r d s o m e t i m e b e f o r e o n th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a n e w N e g r o h i g h s c h o o l , sa i d , “ I n t h e K e n n e d y - N i x o n d e b a t e s t h e r e ’ s al w a y s b e e n t i m e f o r a r e b u t t a l . N o m e m - be r o f t h i s b o a r d h a s e v e r s t a t e d t h a t t h e co l o r e d p e o p l e w e r e e v e r s a t i s fi e d w i t h t h e i r ed u c a t i o n s y s t e m h e r e . ” H e s a i d h e h a d n o t -4 - -9- ha v e b e e n s h o c k e d t o fi n d t h a t s o m e o f us j u s t d i d n o t k n o w s o m e o f t h e b a s i c in f o r m a t i o n t h a t o t h e r s t u d e n t s k n e w . Th e b o t t o m l i n e w a s t h a t w e h a d n o t ha d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o b e e x p o s e d t o ce r t a i n c l a s s e s . T h i s w a s s t r e s s f u l f o r so m e o f u s . I f e l t t h a t d u r i n g m y J u n i o r ye a r , I h a d t o d o a l o t o f c r a m m i n g j u s t to p a s s m y c l a s s e s . I t w o u l d h a v e b e e n be t t e r i f I h a d a b e t t e r f o u n d a t i o n f o r c e r - ta i n s u b j e c t s s u c h a s M a t h a n d s o m e o f my e l e c t i v e s . T h e fi r s t g r o u p o f s t u d e n t s f r o m L i n - co l n c a m e b y c h o i c e . A f t e r t h e L i n c o l n fi r e t h e n e x t g r o u p o f B l a c k s t u d e n t s ca m e t o C o n s o l i d a t e d b e c a u s e t h e y h a d no c h o i c e , L i n c o l n w a s g o n e . W e o f t e n wo n d e r a b o u t t h e fi r e . I d o n ’ t k n o w h o w it h a p p e n e d b u t i t d i d h a p p e n a t a v e r y aw k w a r d t i m e . F o r m o s t s t u d e n t s , y o u r J u n i o r a n d Se n i o r y e a r i s u s u a l l y fi l l e d w i t h m a n y ev e n t s a n d m e m o r i e s t h a t l a s t a l i f e t i m e . My J u n i o r a n d S e n i o r y e a r s w e r e fi lled wi t h m a n y n e w s t u d e n t s , m o s t o f w h o m we r e W h i t e . I f e l t l i k e a n o u t s i d e r i n a ne w w o r l d . E v e n t h o u g h , a s I h a v e s a i d be f o r e , e v e r y o n e w a s v e r y n i c e . I d i d no t h a v e a n y p r o b l e m s w i t h r a c i a l s l u r s or a n y o f t h i s k i n d o f t h i n g . I t i s j u s t t h a t th e J u n i o r a n d S e n i o r s t u d e n t s h a d t h e i r ow n c i r c l e o f f r i e n d s a n d w e r e g o i n g t o th e i r o w n s o c i a l e v e n t s a n d e x t r a c i r c u - la r a c t i v i t i e s . W e w e r e j u s t n o t i n c l u d e d . I m a d e a f e w f r i e n d s , s o m e o f w h o m I s t i l l h a v e c o n t a c t w i t h t o d a y . B u t t h e r e is n o t h i n g t h a t w e h a v e i n c o m m o n f r o m ou r s c h o o l y e a r s o t h e r t h a n w e w e n t t o th e s a m e s c h o o l . M o s t y o u n g p e o p l e ha v e f o n d m e m o r i e s o f t h e i r J u n i o r an d S e n i o r P r o m . I v a g u e l y r e m e m b e r mi n e . I t h i n k I w e n t t o t h e J u n i o r P r o m fo r a b r i e f t i m e b u t l e f t . M y S e n i o r P r o m , I d o n ’ t r e m e m b e r a t a l l . I t h i n k i t w o u l d ha v e b e e n d i f f e r e n t i f I w a s s t i l l a t t e n d - in g L i n c o l n . W h e n I w a s l i t t l e , I r e m e m - be r w h e n L i n c o l n w o u l d h a v e a p r o m . Th e y d i d n o t g o t o a h o t e l b u t w o u l d t u r n th e e n t i r e g y m i n t o a p a r a d i s e o r a s e - le c t e d t h e m e e v e n t . M y l a s t y e a r a t L i n - co l n , 1 9 6 4 , s e v e r a l f r i e n d s a n d I w e r e in v i t e d t o a t t e n d t h e p r o m t o p e r f o r m a l i t t l e d a n c e n u m b e r . W o w ! W e w e r e am a z e d a t h o w b e a u t i f u l l y d e c o r a t e d th e g y m w a s . S e e i n g e v e r y o n e i n t h e i r fo r m a l d r e s s e s . . . . I c o u l d n o t w a i t f o r m y Junior-Senior prom. Unfortunately, the 1964 Prom was the last one at Lincoln. I never attended my own prom at Lincoln. At Consolidated, I was not able to be in as many extra curricular activities as I was at Lincoln because I just did not have the time. Studying for my basic classes was much more important. The few students who elected to at-tend A&M Consolidated in Sept. 1965, went because we wanted a better edu-cation and to be treated equally. This was our sole purpose. So there were no boycotts, threats, or serious incidents that I am aware of then, and even now. It felt strange because my mother, the late Abbie Wilborn, was the maid for one of my classmates. She worked for the Fishers. The Fishers were a very kind family and always respected my mother. They had two daughters, Kay and Kerry. They sent us their clothes they did not want. This was my biggest concern when I found out that I would be going to school with their daughters. But there was never a problem. These young girls were very nice to my sisters and me. We still contact each other from time to time. Kerry expressed her con-dolences to our family when our mother passed away. These are the kinds of things I remember about Consolidated more than someone saying the ‘N” word to us. I expected that this would hap-pen, but it never discouraged me or my determination to get an education. We missed our teachers from Lincoln because they taught us more than what was in the textbooks. They taught us about life, morals, values, etiquette, responsibility and many other qualities. They were our mentors and provided us with a sense of community. They were able to do this because they really knew “It took a village to raise a child”. The teachers knew our parents, taught our uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters. There was no where to hide. They were great teachers and kept us in line. You had not heard the English language spoken until you spoke to the late Mrs. P.L. Carter, and I could never sew a straight seam until having a class with the late Mrs. Thay Owens, and History was very interesting when taught by Mr. J.R. Delley (along with a little football). There were so many good teachers: our shop teacher, music teacher and coaches. It was great that a few of these teachers moved over to A& M Consolidated with us. This gave some stability to our somewhat confused lives at the time. I have often wondered how our com-ing to A&M Consolidated affected the lives of the White students who were at this school. They did not have a choice in the matter either. Most seemed a little nervous around us when we were around them. After everyone fi gured out that we had more in common with them than not, things worked out fi ne. After the fi rst year, in 1966-1967, things were somewhat smoother and everyone began to accept something that they could not change: Integration. College Station is a city of change. With the University, this town has more acceptance and understanding since Texas A&M has students from all over the world. I personally feel that this is why the desegregation of the schools back in 1965 did not cause the prob-lems seen in other parts of the country. College Station is unique, scholarly and acceptable to changes. I am very thankful to my parents for stressing to us the importance of educa-tion as we grew up. They also taught us to love and respect everyone. We did not have hate in our hearts. So, when it came to mixing with Whites, or anyone else, we did not have a problem. This has made me a better person today. I am also thankful for the two years I attended a White school. Again, I feel that I am better person today for what Delois Wilborn, fourth from left. Future Homemakers of America, 1967 Tigerland Yearbook. D r . F r e d K a s t e n ’ s f a m - il y . T a k e n i n C o l l e g e St a t i o n i n 1 9 6 0 fo r t h e p a s s p o r t p h o t o fo r t h e i r a s s i g n m e n t ab r o a d . S h o w n a r e h i s wi f e , M a r i e , w i t h t h e i r fo u r s o n s . F r o m l e f t t o ri g h t : F r e d L e e , G l e n n , Do n a l d , a n d S t e p h e n . Th e t w o y o u n g e r s o n s we r e b o r n w h i l e t h e Ka s t e n s w e r e l i v i n g i n Co l l e g e S t a t i o n . Project HOLD Moment in Time, Jan. 2007 Pr o j e c t H O L D M o m e n t i n T i m e , J a n . 2 0 0 7 ► th e y n e e d e d t o c o n t i n u e . K a s t e n w a s a l s o i n s t r u m e n t a l i n ac q u i r i n g fi r e h y d r a n t s i n t h e N e g r o se c t i o n s . A fi r e i n t h e h o m e o f a N e g r o fa m i l y w i t h e i g h t c h i l d r e n b r o u g h t t h i s t o li g h t . K a s t e n m a n a g e d t o g a i n t h e a t t e n - ti o n o f C o l l e g e S t a t i o n ’ s C i t y M a n a g e r Ra n B o s w e l l b y p l o t t i n g a l l o f t h e C i t y fi r e h y d r a n t s o n a m a p . T h e r e w e r e n o hy d r a n t s w i t h i n r e a c h o f t h e t h r e e N e g r o ne i g h b o r h o o d s . B o s w e l l q u i c k l y a r - ra n g e d t o h a v e fi r e h y d r a n t s i n s t a l l e d i n al l t h r e e a r e a s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , o t h e r g r o u p s i n t h e ar e a w e r e a l s o a t t e m p t i n g t o i n t e g r a t e so m e o f t h e l o c a l c h u r c h e s . O n s e v e r a l Su n d a y s , w h i t e a n d N e g r o m e m b e r s o f on e g r o u p a t t e n d e d t h e S u n d a y s e r v i c e s of t h e L u t h e r a n , E p i s c o p a l , C a t h o - li c a n d B a p t i s t c h u r c h e s . T h e r e w e r e un c o n fi r m e d r e p o r t s o f m i n i s t e r s l o s i n g th e i r j o b s o r b e i n g r e a s s i g n e d f o r t h e i r in v o l v e m e n t i n t h i s m o v e m e n t . T h e F e l l o w s h i p , h o w e v e r , s o u g h t to o p e n t h e h e a r t s a n d m i n d s o f t h e va r i o u s c h u r c h m e m b e r s , n o t f o r t h e pu r p o s e o f i n t e g r a t i o n . T h e F i r s t B a p - ti s t C h u r c h h a d b e e n p r o m o t i n g B i b l e cl a s s e s f o r w h i t e s a n d N e g r o e s f o r so m e y e a r s . M a r i e K a s t e n , a l o n g w i t h Re v . F l o w e r s , w a s i n s t r u m e n t a l w i t h i n th e F e l l o w s h i p i n o r g a n i z i n g t w o i n t e r - ra c i a l V a c a t i o n B i b l e S c h o o l s d u r i n g t h e su m m e r s o f 1 9 5 9 - 6 0 a t t h e B a p t i s t a n d Me t h o d i s t C h u r c h e s . A b u s w a s p r o - vi d e d t o p i c k u p t h e c h i l d r e n a n d b r i n g th e m t o t h e c h u r c h . A h a n d l e t t e r e d s i g n on t h e b a c k r e a d : A l l G o d ’ s C h i l d r e n ! 19 6 0 – U S C o n g r e s s p a s s e s C i v i l Ri g h t s A c t or e d l i q u i d f r o m t h e r e d p u m p o u t b a c k . I t ce r t a i n l y l o o k e d t a s t i e r t h a n K o o l - A i d . L i t t l e di d I k n o w t h a t k e r o s e n e f u e l e d t h e i r s t o v e s , he a t e r s o r l a m p s . W e s p e n t m o s t o f o u r s u m m e r s b a r e f o o t an d i n s h o r t s t h r o u g h t h e s u m m e r s o t h e r e wa s n ’ t m u c h d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n a n y o f u s ki d s , w h i t e o r c o l o r e d , t h e n . I t w a s 1 9 5 6 a n d se g r e g a t i o n w a s n o t a w o r d I h a d e v e r h e a r d be f o r e . I d o r e c a l l a s i g n a t o u r d e n t i s t ’ s , D r . Go o d w i n ’ s , o f fi c e i n B r y a n . I t r e a d : C o l o r e d En t r a n c e . T h e s i g n h a d l i t t l e m e a n i n g t o m e . I w a s s i x y e a r s o l d . 19 5 7 – T h e S t a t e o f T e x a s p a s s e s l a w s th a t m a k e i t i m p o s s i b l e f o r s t a t e f u n d s to g o t o n o n - i n t e g r a t e d s c h o o l s . Th e o u t c o m e o f t h e m e e t i n g s o f t h e “B r a z o s B o t t o m s P h i l o s o p h i c a l S o c i e t y ” is n o t k n o w n t o m e , o r t o m y f a t h e r , s i n c e ou r f a m i l y m o v e d f r o m C o l l e g e S t a t i o n t o La s C r u c e s , N e w M e x i c o , i n t h e s u m m e r o f 19 5 9 . T h e r e , o u r w h i t e f a m i l y e x p e r i e n c e d a t a s t e o f t h e o t h e r s i d e o f r a c i a l i n e q u a l i t y . We w e r e t h e m i n o r i t y i n a n a r e a w h e r e t h e ma j o r i t y w a s n a t i v e N e w M e x i c a n , H i s p a n i c , an d I n d i a n . I d o n ’ t e v e r r e c a l l s e e i n g a N e - gr o i n N e w M e x i c o . I n C o l l e g e S t a t i o n , i n 1 9 5 8 , a n o t h e r gr o u p o f w h i t e s a n d N e g r o e s c a l l e d t h e “C i t i z e n s F e l l o w s h i p ” b e g a n a l o n g a n d ar d u o u s j o u r n e y u l t i m a t e l y s e e k i n g a fu l l y i n t e g r a t e d s c h o o l s y s t e m . A n A & M Co l l e g e B i o l o g y i n s t r u c t o r , a n d m e m b e r of t h e F i r s t B a p t i s t C h u r c h , D r . F r e d e r i c k H. K a s t e n , b e c a m e t h e w h i t e s p o k e s - ma n a n d p r e s i d e n t o f t h e g r o u p . S a m Pi e r c e , a N e g r o m a i n t e n a n c e w o r k e r in t h e O c e a n o g r a p h y D e p a r t m e n t a t th e C o l l e g e , w a s t h e s p o k e s m a n f o r th e N e g r o e s . T h e g r o u p o f a b o u t 5 0 me m b e r s a l s o i n c l u d e d R e v . F l o w e r s , a Ne g r o m i n i s t e r ; t w o d e a c o n s f r o m R e v . Fl o w e r s ’ c h u r c h ; a n d F a t h e r R i m s h a w , a C a t h o l i c p r i e s t . R e v . F l o w e r s w a s a dy n a m i c s p e a k e r . H e o f t e n r e m i n d e d t h e gr o u p , “ A f t e r y o u p r a y , i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o ge t u p o f f y o u r k n e e s a n d s t a r t m o v i n g to w a r d t h e g o a l s f o r w h i c h y o u w e r e pr a y i n g . ” K a s t e n , h i s w i f e , M a r i e , a n d tw o s o n s h a d r e c e n t l y m o v e d t o C o l - le g e S t a t i o n f r o m S p r i n g v i l l e , N e w Y o r k . Th e y w e r e s u r p r i s e d , i f n o t s h o c k e d , a t th e i n t e n s e l y c o n s e r v a t i v e c o l l e g e c o m - mu n i t y . T h e “ C i t i z e n s F e l l o w s h i p ” b e g a n t h e i r me e t i n g s w i t h a m a j o r i t y o f w h i t e s f r o m th e a r e a a n d a h a n d f u l o f N e g r o e s . Th e N e g r o e s f e a r e d f o r t h e i r j o b s a n d th e i r f a m i l i e s a n d w e r e u n d e r s t a n d a b l y re l u c t a n t t o p a r t i c i p a t e . T h i s f e e l i n g w a s mi r r o r e d i n t h e w h i t e c o m m u n i t y a s w e l l . To g e t h e r , K a s t e n , P i e r c e , R e v . F l o w - er s a n d t h e F e l l o w s h i p d e c i d e d t o fi r s t ad d r e s s a f e w o f t h e s m a l l e r , b u t n o l e s s si g n i fi c a n t , i s s u e s o f t h e N e g r o c o m m u - ni t y i n o r d e r t o t e s t c o m m u n i t y r e a c t i o n s . A f r a i l o l d c o l o r e d w o m a n a n d a l i t t l e co l o r e d g i r l c a m e t o o u r d o o r o n e a f t e r n o o n se l l i n g d e w b e r r i e s . T h e w o m a n w a s a l m o s t bl i n d . I c o u l d n ’ t u n d e r s t a n d w h y m y M o t h e r pa i d $ 5 . 0 0 f o r t h e w h o l e b u c k e t . I k n e w t h a t ou r f a m i l y o f fi v e c o u l d e a t a n e n t i r e S u n d a y di n n e r a t S b i s a D i n i n g H a l l o n c a m p u s f o r th a t a m o u n t . W h e n I p r o t e s t e d , m y M o t h e r hu s h e d m e a n d s a i d , “ S h e n e e d s i t m o r e th a n w e d o . ” P o s t a l d e l i v e r y t o t h e N e g r o s e c t i o n s of C o l l e g e S t a t i o n w a s a l l b u t n o n e x - is t e n t . R e n t i n g a P o s t O f fi c e b o x w a s to o e x p e n s i v e f o r m o s t o f t h e N e g r o co m m u n i t y . O t h e r s c o l l e c t e d m a i l a t th e P o s t O f fi c e w i n d o w u n d e r G e n e r a l De l i v e r y . N o t o n l y w a s t h i s p r a c t i c e a ma j o r d i s c r e p a n c y i n s e r v i c e , i t w a s ve r y i n c o n v e n i e n t f o r t h e N e g r o e s . T h e Po s t m a s t e r w a s l e s s t h a n a c c o m m o d a t - in g w h e n K a s t e n v i s i t e d h i m t o i n q u i r e ab o u t m a i l d e l i v e r y t o t h e N e g r o s e c - ti o n s . T h e P o s t m a s t e r s t a t e d t h a t t h e d i r t ro a d s i n t h e N e g r o n e i g h b o r h o o d s w e r e im p a s s a b l e b y m a i l t r u c k s . K a s t e n n o t e d th a t t h e r e w e r e w h i t e n e i g h b o r h o o d s re c e i v i n g m a i l s e r v i c e w i t h r o a d s e q u a l l y as b a d a s t h e N e g r o n e i g h b o r h o o d s . Ka s t e n w r o t e a l e t t e r t o t h e n S e n a t o r , Ly n d o n B . J o h n s o n , w h o f o r w a r d e d K a s - te n ’ s r e q u e s t t o t h e P o s t m a s t e r G e n e r a l in W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . E v e n t u a l l y , a n in v e s t i g a t o r f r o m W a s h i n g t o n , w a s s e n t to a s s e s s t h e s i t u a t i o n . T h e i n v e s t i g a t o r st a y e d a t a l o c a l m o t e l f o r a f e w d a y s an d s o u g h t i n p u t f r o m b o t h s i d e s o f t h e si t u a t i o n . H e s e n t h i s r e p o r t a n d r e c o m - me n d a t i o n s b a c k t o W a s h i n g t o n . B e f o r e lo n g , a m e e t i n g w a s s e t u p f o r t h e N e g r o fa m i l i e s b y C i t i z e n s F e l l o w s h i p a t t h e re q u e s t o f t h e P o s t m a s t e r t o l e a r n h o w to i n s t a l l t h e i r r u r a l m a i l b o x e s . A b o u t 7 5 fa m i l i e s c a m e t o t h e m e e t i n g w h e r e t h e lo c a l P o s t m a s t e r a n n o u n c e d t h a t h e w a s no w “ p e r m i t t e d ” t o a d v i s e t h e f a m i l i e s o n th e i r n e w m a i l s e r v i c e . I t w a s a g r e a t v i c - to r y f o r t h e “ F e l l o w s h i p ” a n d t h e i m p e t u s -2 - -11- Fi r s t B a p t i s t C h u r c h m e m b e r s a n d v o l u n - te e r s f r o m o t h e r c h u r c h e s w e r e p r o g r e s s i v e in t h e i r w o r k w i t h N e g r o c h i l d r e n i n t h e 5 0 s an d 6 0 s . Guests in Attendance:Mrs. Mary Wilborn Mrs. Edward Lee Thomas Mrs Mary Washington Sam Danger fi eld Mrs. Rosia Wheaton Carr Aaron Sharp Mrs. Fred E. Eckfelt Dori Britton Lucile Washington John Q. Hays Mrs. Robbie Clark Mrs. James Robison Mrs. Bertha Steen Mrs. Bettie Lee Banks Mr. A.C. Clark Sylvester Steen Angie Garvin L.W. Flowers M. H. Harris Roy E. Cain Nathaniel Holmes Frank Thorne Joe Taylor Gertrude Gilbert Curtis Cheeks Beulah Groce Tom Sheppard John Combs James Robison Tommie Preston Dan PetersonLee Groce S. A. Kearney Goerge W. Laws Henry Cooper Melvin Rucker Hugh J. Luke Joyce M. Luke Robert W. Feragen Mrs. Frederick H. Kasten Mrs. Corether McMillon Mrs. Clara Moore Mr. David Columbus Frank Masen Burnice Carroll Mae. E. Hollie Myra N. Rose Martha Moore Mary Fusilier Mrs. G. N. Stewart Mrs. James C. Stewart Mrs. Matilda Jones Ira Hill Lawrence Ray Flower Rev. Roosevelt Moore Samuel Pierce Rev. H. Flowers Annie Lee Roy Marie Carroll Mrs. Louisa Williams Mrs. Nettie Warren Frederick H. KastenA&M Consolidated ISD Board of Trustees Meeting October 24, 1960 Si g n a t u r e s o n K a s t e n L e t t e r t o B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s Oc t o b e r 2 3 , 1 9 6 0 Mr . & M r s . P r e s t o n C a r r o l l Mr s . H a t t i e R . W i g g i n s Ab b i e M a r i e W i l b o r n Mr s . N e t t i e W a r r e n Mr s . M a r i e M e r c h a n t Mr s . L o u i s a W i l l i a m s Mr s . J e s s i e W a s h i n g t o n Mr s . J o s e p h o n e C a r r o l l Mr . B u r n i c e C a r r o l l Mr s . V e r n a L e e C a r r o l l Mr s . C l a r a M . M o o r e Mr s . L u l a E . B r o w n Mr . R o o s e v e l t M o o r e Mr s . N e l l i e B . F o r d Mr s . M . H . H a r r i s Ke a r n e y Ji l l N . C r o w d e r __ _ D . H a r r i s Ir a H i l l __ _ P e r r y m a n __ _ P . K i n g Re v . H . F l o w e r s Fr e d e r i c k H . K a s t e n Mrs. Frederick H. Kasten Roy E. Cain Fred E Ekfelt Mrs. Fred E. Eckfelt Mrs. Hugh J. McLellan Hugh McClellan Velma Parrish Frank W. Sheppard Robert Feragen Mrs. Jack Inglis Mr. Sam Pierce Mrs. W. I Chenault Mrs. Mary Pierce Steven Arthur Payton Willie Mae Payton Dan Peterson Tom Brown Mrs. E. L. Brown Mrs. G. N. Stewart Mr. & Mrs. James Stewart Mrs. Mary Washington Mrs. Edward L. Thomas Mrs. Esterlene Leaks Li n c o l n T e a c h - er s a t A & M CH S : M r . W i l l i e Ta r r o w , M r s . Th a y O w e n s , Mr s . R h o n e , a n d Mr . K i n g . Project HOLD Moment in Time, Jan. 2007 Pr o j e c t H O L D M o m e n t i n T i m e , J a n . 2 0 0 7 Th e B r y a n D a i l y E a g l e , 19 6 5 - 6 6 B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s . S t a n d i n g f r o m l e f t : G e o r g e B . H e n - sa r l i n g , P r e s i d e n t ; L e s P a l m e r ; J . O . A l e x a n d e r , J r . ; A . B . W o o t e n . Se a t e d : A . F . I s b e l l ; W . T . R i e d e l , S u p e r i n t e n d e n t ; J o h n B . L o n g l e y ; Mr s . P . W . B a r k e r , S e c r e t a r y t o t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t .