The 50s: Aycock trains future leaders - Black History series

Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas

All credit for these articles go to
Susie Sansom-Piper and
the Rockdale Reporter

Black History month articles
Written by Susie Sansom-Piper and
published in the Rockdale Reporter

Index

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS, SERIES 8, PART 3

by Susie Sansom-Piper - Reporter Contributor

Rockdale Reporter - 2015-02-19

Editor’s note: This is the third article in the eighth series of “On the Other Side of the Tracks,” a Black

History Month series by former Rockdale resident, and longtime teacher, Susie Sansom-Piper.

The 50s: Aycock trains future leaders

Success is not measured by numbers, nor dollars and cents, but it comes from

determination, and perseverance.

With the arrival of Alcoa in the 1950s, living conditions began to improve. New families

moved to Rockdale, and some of the residents no longer depended on farm labor and

domestic labor.

Aycock School was still functioning in the original orange Rosenwald building on Third

and Pecan Street, but due to an increased enrollment, two more teachers were added.

Community love and cooperation were still prevalent, and oft times needed funds were

obtained for the school through combined school and community talent shows.

The Parent-Teacher Association was headed by Clemmie Goins for many years. There was an

oddity to her willingness to work in the community, for she had no children of her own.

Her home was the “rooming” place for teachers who came from other towns to teach at

Aycock.

This era is often known as “The Decade of Champions” for Aycock, for there were state

winners in literary events, football, basketball, track, band, debate and home economics.

It was also the beginning for the Aycock Band, under the leadership of Theaul Howard.

Their performances were amazing, because they consisted of sixth, seventh and eighth-

grade students.

What is little known is that many of the students from Rockdale High School would visit

the Aycock Band Hall and practice with this little band.

This was the beginning of integration in the Rockdale schools, long before the Civil

Rights Law, the students were unofficially “integrating themselves.”

These same ideals were followed through by students on both sides of the tracks on the

basketball courts, as well.

During this era, Common School Districts were eliminated by the Texas Education Agency,

and high school students from Milano, Griffin Chapel, Thorndale, Sharp, Tracy, Gause, and

Leo (between Lexington and Rockdale) were affected.

Aycock moved to a new campus in 1954, remaining until final integration in 1967. This

move provided more action and attendance of school functions in the community.

Many students from both campuses (the old and new), brought a measure of pride and fame

to their communities through their endeavors after leaving Aycock.

They included: Emma Lee Banks, Allie M. Banks-Powell, Bertha Thomas-Kline, Eula A.

Sansom-Hebert, registered nurses.

Helen M. Crayton- Rhem, Johnnie M. Black-Steptoe, Pearlie M. Haynes, Mildred Wilhite-

Lovelady, Matthew Cook, Samuel Tucker, Fannie L. Lovelady-Spain, Margaret Sanders-Green,

Sharon Williams-Stein, Barbara Sansom-Holsome, and Oscar E. Wilhite, educators in Texas,

Arizona, Mississippi. and California.

Leo Scott, pharmacist, and Abilene City Councilman; Lee Earl Gadison, lifetime Armed

Services.

Athletics include William Preston Moultrie, coach, Stanford and Howard Universities;

Billie Jean Walton, Billie Ray Locklin, Frank C. McKee, James Leroy Wright, pro

football/basketball.

Bob Roberson, postal supervisor, Arizona; Lucy Ray Crawford, Billie Eugene Gray, business

owners, California, Texas.

John F. Williams, engineer; George Lee Molden, Lawrence Bacy, Overton David Smith,

ministers in South Carolina, Oklahoma, California.

Marie E. Moore, Texas Highway Department; James Lee Molden and Lovie Molden-Edwards, law

officials in Texas.

These former students have left an indelible imprint on the sands of time.

Their services “on the other side of the tracks” will always remain as a reminder of

things left behind. Although their contributions may not be engraved in stone, they will

somehow be woven into future generations.”

New Aycock High School opened in 1950s,

hosted some ‘unofficial integration.’