The Richard B Harrison Story

The Richard Berry Harrison High School Story

Taken from a book of

A History of the Blytheville School District

Acknowledgments from the published book

The book was the result of approximately three years of research, most of it conducted on school district time and expense. The history project was commissioned by Dr. Frank Ladd, Superintendent, and the Board of Education. Primary sources of information contained in this book include minutes of school board meetings since 1903, articles reported in the Blytheville Courier News, and interviews with persons acquainted with the school district.

My thanks to Mr. L.D. Harris, former superintendent, whose weekly column in the Courier gave an excellent picture of the district during the ten years of his administration. Mr. John Roden, former County Superintendent of Schools, contributed many photographs and much information. He also made available the records and resources of his office to aid this project. Miss Alice Marie Ross was kind enough to share her history of the Yarbro School and her essay on Miss Winnie Virgil Turner. Jim Schulte, a BHS student in Chris Carlisle's history class, shared his athletic history of the school district. Doris Warren, former District Treasurer, researched the financial history of the schools.

Thanks are also due to the many persons who gave their time to be interviewed: Mrs. Kathleen Black, Billie Sue Burks, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Callis, Mrs. C. E. Crigger, Allen Dale Davis, Lillian Bley Frank, Olive Wahl Kirksey, Lucretia McDonald, Dr. Helen Nunn, Mrs. L. E. Old, Charles Ramey, Ed Roberts, Freeman Robinson, Sam Stewart, Mrs. Hays T. Sullivan , Mr. Harman Taylor, Mrs. Jesse Taylor and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wiley.

My deep appreciation also goes to Dorris Dean, who spent hours proofreading the text, and to Vaughn Jerome, who copied photographs.

Peggy Yarbro

August, 1996

Excerpts

From

Early History

The Growing Years

The Present Eras

Board of Education, 1918-Present

History of the School Board, by L.D. Harris

The history of the Blytheville School District as a system of public schools seem to date back to 1902, when a special school district was formed by the consolidation of the Chickasawba School District #29 and the Special School District # 3………..

In 1902 and 1903, a three months' school was operated in the summer for black students. S. J. Cherry was employed to teach this school. In 1904, there was a six month's school for colored children. The location of this school is unknown; however, one early school was on the corner of Ash and Fifth Streets. Later, the school was moved to the corner of Railroad and Elm Streets. The 1906 school operated for four months.

A new eight-room Negro school was built in 1927, Six teachers were employed at that school.

During the 1933-34 school year, the eleventh grade was added at the school for blacks. Students paid tuition for this grade. Additional construction was done at the black school. There was a total of 4,495 school children that year, 1,333 of them were black.

The spring of 1935 saw the first 12-year graduating class from Harrison High School. Four graduates received their diplomas from A. A. Arnold, principal.

In the fall of 1935, citizens were raising money to supply city water to the colored school. They need to raise $450. The Courier News reported that charts showing progress were placed in Farmers' Bank and Thornton Drug Store. Committeemen canvassed the city to try to have everyone donate to the project. The school district had purchased about 6 more acres from the Blytheville Development Company to add to the Harrison campus.

In the fall of 1939, the board of Education voted that no girl with a child could attend school.

In the summer of 1944, the board discuss adding lunch to the high school, Lange, and Harrison.

At the end of World War II, the Blytheville School District consisted of one high school and junior high on Chickasawba Street, Lange, Sudbury, Central and Yarbro elementary schools, and Harrison a school for black students in grades 1-12.

By the fall of 1947, Blytheville schools were very crowded; more than 700 students were attending Harrison, with only 12 classrooms there. As a partial solution to this problem, the board voted to open a primary class at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Robinson Addition to relieve the crowding at Harrison. A teacher was hired for the 43 first-grade students who lived in that neighborhood.

By early 1948, the North Central Association accreditation was jeopardized by overcrowding. The board voted to borrow money to add four classroom and a cafeteria to Lange and build a new Harrison High School. As a temporary measure three barracks buildings and an enlisted servicemen's club were moved from the air base and placed at BHS for vocational/agriculture classes, one was placed at Harrison High for vocational classes, a third building was placed at Clear Lake, and the final one was placed at Robinson.

Harrison High School's new brick building was completed in 1950. It was named for Richard Berry Harrison, a black actor. Harrison, previously housed in the Elm Street building, was the first black high school in the county. Now all secondary students would attend the new brick building, while the Elm Street building was used for elementary students.

In the summer of 1950, the skating rink from the air base was purchased and moved to Harrison High School, to be used as a gym and auditorium. Cost and set-up for the building was $35,000.

Because none of the surrounding districts offered classes above the ninth grade for black students, Harrison High School had 45 out-0f-district students enrolled. The state would provide tuition for these students, if the superintendent applied for it.

In the summer of 1953, rural schools were still holding a split term so students could work in the cotton fields. Number Nine patrons decided not to open their summer school that year due to heat and the threat of a polio epidemic. Flat Lake School having been consolidated with Blytheville, that school building was moved to Harrison High School as a home economics building. The former home economics building was changed into three classes for Elm Street School. A small building adjacent to Lange's campus was moved to Robinson for a cafeteria.

During the 1953-54 school year, black schools got a music teacher, Mrs. Ollie Howard. She taught all black elementary students in the district.

1955-56, Harrison High School parents requested and received permission to conduct a fund raiser to buy new instruments. They had already asked for BHS's old band uniforms. Their band classes were conducted on the ground floor of the St. Andrew Masonic Lodge on McHaney Street. The board had rented the space at $2 per day so that band practice would not disturb the rest of the school.

A fire at Elm Street School in the spring of 1958 left 550 students without a school. A school plant survey conducted by the Arkansas Department of Education at this time found that the Blytheville School District was 30-40 classroom short. Building plans included first rebuilding a school for black students, then trying to reduce the classroom shortage in other areas. By using the Robinson School building for Elm Street students, too and staggering the school terms for black students, all students were able to complete their nine months of school during the 1958-59 school year. A new school for black students was opened on Franklin Street on January 19, 1959.

Beginning with the 1961 school year, the school board voted to accept black students from Armorel in grades 9-12. These estimated 37 students would pay regular tuition rates. Armorel had requested that their older students be accepted because they could not afford to build both an elementary school and a high school.

The 1961-62, year saw overcrowding problems at Central, Blytheville Junior High, Harrison High School, and Robinson. One room of the Methodist Church near Harrison was used to relieve crowding until after Christmas. The board voted to investigate portable classrooms. They also voted to establish an adult education program beginning that fall.

Other changes in the '61-'62 school year included a decision not to renew the football contract with Jonesboro, and a decision to pay the cost of diplomas for Blytheville High School and Harrison High School.

The Arkansas Department of Education notified the school district in the spring of 1962 that it would not receive 874 Impact Aid if Blytheville Air Force Base students attend Blytheville Schools. Because of this, black students who had been attending Robinson and Harrison were no longer accepted on a tuition basis from Gosnell.

In the fall of 1962, a committee of black patrons, led by Mrs. T. H. Keith, said they thought there should be a negro on the school board.

In the spring semester of '64-'65, the school board formally voted to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Dan Burge, a local attorney was to draw up an integration plan. The U.S. Office of Education rejected the integration plan, which was freedom of choice, because it would not eliminate the dual system soon enough. The Office ruled that integration must be complete within three years. The school board voted to integrate four grades at a time, beginning in 1965-66.

For the first time in '65-'66 students received report cards every nine weeks instead of every six weeks. Enrollment was up an additional 100 students that year. This figure was building toward 6,600 students in 1968, the highest enrollment ever in the Blytheville schools. The school board voted to participate in federal programs for Adult Basic Education and Title I, beginning in '65-'66. The $320,791 would furnish additional classrooms, teachers, social workers, secretaries, a federal coordinator, free textbooks, and lunches for students. Early plans for this money included the building of four rooms and an office at Harrison High School.

In the summer of 1968, the Board adopted an integration plan to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This plan called for Harrison High School to become a vocational wing of Blytheville High School. This would affect students in grades 11-12. Also, Franklin would be a special education school under the plan relied on passing new millage; if the millage failed, the elementary schools would be zoned. Also that summer, 25 acres were purchased as a site for the new East junior High. Once it was completed, all junior high students would attend either EJHS or WJHS, depending on which side of the railroad tracks they lived on.

In the spring of 1969, the school board asked the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare for a one-year delay in integration. They asked this concession because East Junior High and the new vocational shops for Harrison could not be ready for the fall of 1969; in addition, Blytheville Air Force Base was expected to bring in 1,000 additional families.

In the fall of 1969, the NAACP presented a list of requests to the Board of Education. They wanted blacks in the central office as administrators and secretaries; black principals, assistant principals and counselors at the secondary level; 40% black teachers; black coaches; black history; black Board members; input into the planning and use of federal funds; publishing of the HEW desegregation plan; and black recruiters. Virtually all these request were fulfilled, with a few changes being made each year.

A new policy for unwed mothers was adopted in the fall of 1969: the girl must withdraw from school before her pregnancy became obvious, she would lose two semester of school, one of which could be summer school, and would be readmitted to school on probation, with a prohibition against her holding any position of leadership. An earlier policy adopted in 1952 required married high school students to limit themselves to regular classroom subjects, dropping out of any other activities.

In the spring of 1970, Harrison High School and Blytheville High School were unified. All junior high students attended either East Junior High or West Junior High. At that time all neighborhood elementary schools remained unchanged. L. D. Harris was made superintendent. D. B. Meador was promoted to assistant superintendent; C. C. Dulaney replaced him. Leo D. Jeffers former principal of Harrison High School, was made director of special programs and adult education.

The summer of 1970 was time for the Board of Education to be preparing for integrated schools under the leadership of the new Superintendent, L. D. "Buck" Harris. The plan at that time was for secondary schools to be integrated, neighborhood schools to be maintained in the elementary grades, and Yarbro School to be closed. Identification cards would be required for students at BHS for the first time.

With these personnel changes, with the unification of the secondary schools, with the addition of huge sums of federal money to the budget, with the addition of nurses, social workers, and teacher's aides, Blytheville School District was becoming a bigger business than it had ever been. Changes were happening very fast, and change is never comfortable. The growing pains of the years between world War II and integration were for the most part finished, but many new challenges were about to be faced.

The 1970-71 school year would begin without Effie Lee Terrell, Minnie Foster, Alena Wiley, and Annie C. Horne. All these educators had retired at the end of the previous year.

In the spring of the 1970-71 year, black students staged a walkout. The Board of Education held a joint meeting with the NAACP to try to work out differences. Students who participated in the walkout were given full clemency. The next week, a committee of white students requested a return to order. These two events are referred to in Board minutes as a black protest on April 15, 1971, and a white boycott on April 22, 1971. The Board voted to asked for one more year extension in integrating the elementary schools in order to allow secondary schools to settle down. This request was denied, in the Justice Department gave the Board ten days to come up with a voluntary desegregation plan.

At commencement exercise in the spring of 1971 , the old alma maters for both Harrison High School and Blytheville High School were sung for the last time. Beginning with the 1971-72 school year, Blytheville High School would have a new alma mater.

When school began in the fall of 1971, with full integration, total enrollment showed a loss of 350 student over the previous year.

John Bass became principal at Franklin in 1971, and because Dr. Herman Strickland joined the faculty at Arkansas State University, Oscar Ford became principal at Central. Gene Henton became principal at Robinson.

In the spring of 1972, Ollie Rae Lofton was made Director of Special Services.

In 1975, Mr. Norvell Moore was elected to the school board. He joined the first black Board member, Ayre "Pop: Lester, who had been elected the previous year. Mr. Moore would serve on the Board for about 16 years, rising to become President of the Board.

During the 1978-79 school year, Idell Jenkins became the principal of East Junior High School.

In the summer of 1980, Earlene Strickland was made Chapter I Coordinator.

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RICHARD B. HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL

ELM AT MCHANEY ROAD

The first record in official school board minutes of a school for black students was in 1902, when Mr. S. J. Cherry was employed to teach for three months at $40. The location of this school is uncertain. The earliest school remembered by most people in this area was the one at the corner of Ash and Fifth Streets. The school was later moved to the corner of Railroad and Elm Streets. Mr. Sam Stewart remembers a rumor that the railroad depot workers burned this school because students were too noisy.

In the early years, a school term consisted of only two or three months, but the school year was gradually extended and more grades were added. In 1919, James A. W. Shivers, principal at the black school, began to add a grade each year. By 1928, the school went up through the tenth grade. This was a Rosenwald school, built to replace an earlier school that burned. Mr. Julius Rosenwald, longtime president of Sears and Roebuck, contributed $63 Million to establish a trust to improve education and health service for Negroes as well as support other scientific and religious endeavors. All of the fund was ordered to be spent within 25 years of his death. More than 5,000 rural Negro schools were built with this money.

The Rosenwald school was replaced by a new eight-room school. This housed all the grades.

In August of 1930, the school board decided to charge $1 tuition per semester at the colored school. When teachers got a 6% cut in salary in 1932, black teachers' salaries were left as they were.

In 1933, the eleventh grade was added to the black school on a tuition basis.

There were several schools for black children in the Blytheville area during the 1933-34 school year. They were located at Burdette, Blytheville, Clear Lake, Flat Lake, Friendship, Number Nine, Puxico, Hightower, Promised Land, and Dogwood. All of these schools would later become consolidated with Blytheville. Additional construction was being done on the black school in Blytheville; two more classrooms were added.

In 1935, the first twelve-year class, consisting of four members, Fornay Bradford, Ova Mae Davis, Alfreddie White, and Zilmon L. White, graduated from Harrison. Dr. Helen Nunn remembers that her late husband, Dr. King Nunn, III was the sponsor of this class. At this time, Harrison was the only high school for black students in the county. Students came from distant areas, some to live with local families, in order to attend school. The school was named for a black actor, Richard B. Harrison, who had the leading role in the play Green Pastures.

The students of the school conducted an election to find the name for the school. Mrs. Carrie B. White, a teacher there, wrote the school song, "Harrison, My Harrison."

This school year, 1935, was also the first year that Mrs. McDonald's mother, Annie(Mrs. Cecil) Horne taught. She would load her car with students each morning, as there were no buses. She also transported the principal, Mr. Hollis. Students who couldn't catch a ride had to come through a cotton field over a path to school. A big ditch ran between the present Randall corporation property and Railroad Street. Sometimes the ditch could not be crossed, so students would have to walk up to Cherry street, cross the ditch there, and then come to school.

In the summer of 1935, a drive was conducted to raise $450 to supply city water to Harrison. Charts were placed in the Farmers Bank and Thornton Drug Store to show how the drive was progressing. Committeemen canvassed the city to try to get everyone to donate to the project. The courier News published frequent reports on the progress of this drive. Also that summer, 5.79 additional acres were purchased from Blytheville Development company to add to the Harrison Campus. The municipal airport was near Harrison at that time.

In 1936, The vocational building at Harrison was finished. There were ten graduates that year.

In 1937, the school board voted to continue school at Harrison on a tuition basis until it became economically feasible to do otherwise. Mr. Ayre E. Lester was hired as a vocational teacher that year. Mr. Lester went on to serve on the school board for several years after he retired from teaching.

Early principals at Harrison included Mr. J. A. W. Shivers, Mr. A. A. Arnold, Mr. M. M. Wilbun and Mr. George D. Hollis. Mr. Leo D. Jeffers was principal at Harrison when schools were integrated.

Mr. Gene Henton remembers hearing of Harrison athletes who played in the late years of the 1930's Shannon Little, Benjamin Pearson, Lucius Vassar, Robert Campbell, and Momen T. Smith played basketball. Dr. King Henry Nunn was the coach.

By 1942, the school board was interested in building a new Harrison. They contacted the Public Works Reservation about their 10 year building plan.

In the summer of 1943, bids were taken to straighten Harrison School, which had been damaged by a storm several years earlier. The repairs needed to be done in order for the roof to be replaced. Mr. Sam Stewart remembers the building being propped up as part of this straightening, and that the props were still in place when the school burned in 1958.

Harrison basketball players during the early 1940's included Janie Goodloe, Maggie Summerall, and Vashti Bill.

In the fall of 1947, crowded school conditions were reported to the Board of Education. There were more than 700 students at Harrison, in only 12 classrooms. A primary class was opened at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church to relieve the overflow. The board voted in February, 1948, to build a new Harrison High School.

In March of 1948, the school board voted to move a barracks building from the air base to Harrison to be used as a vocational building.

In the fall of 1948, the school board approved plans for a new $125,000 Harrison High School, to be ready for the 1949-50 term. The high school would be a one story building with eight classroom, a study hall and library, central heating, and restrooms. The board planned to add an auditorium and gym later. The school board decided to ask Negro leaders in the community to help provide funds to buy the land for the school. Dr. B. E. Roberts, a local physician, was chosen as chairman of the fund-raising committee. Annie Mae Roberts was secretary, and Bennie Howard was treasurer. The committee suggested that each family served by the school contribute $50, paid in installments if necessary. Businessmen and professionals were asked to give $100 or more. Churches would be asked for $100-200, depending on the size of their membership. More than $700 was collected the first week. The courier News updated the progress of the fundraising frequently. Mrs. Lavester McDonald( nee Lucretia Horne) remembers going to school as usual, then going as classes to the fields to pick cotton to help buy land for the school. In December, 1948, the tract of land for Harrison was purchased for $5,600.

In the late 1948, a second home economics room was added to Harrison. Arkansas-Missouri Power Company donated some kitchen equipment so three cooking stations could be set up. The other classroom was for sewing. An outstanding home economics student of later years was Jimmie Hughes Raines, who was elected national president of the New Home Makers of America. She remembers flying to national meetings.

In February, 1949, Hughes and Company was given the contract to build the new Harrison High School.

Harrison athletes during this time period included basketball players Arizona Haley and Arvie Lee Haley; and Football players Charles Barr, W. C. Kelly, Hurley Margerum, Abner Branch, Melvin Campbell, Melvin Wilson, and John Eddy Taylor. Raymond Williams and Leotha Hampton played both sports.

In January, 1950, six thousand Arkansas-Missouri Power Company customers had an opportunity to assign their scheduled refund from the company to the school board. High School students went door-to-door to ask for donations from the Power Company customers. An estimated $30,000 would be made available to the school board for completing Harrison and beginning the new BHS if those who were entitled to the refund agreed to make it payable to the board. Mr. Nicholson, superintendent, had come up with this idea. He commended the black community, especially, for cooperating with this effort, which netted $22,000 for the school district.

Mrs. McDonald remembers there being two sections of each grade; one for students who lived on the east side of town, and the other for students who lived on the west side of town. Each section stayed together all day for all classes.

When the new Harrison building was occupied by grades 7-12, the old school became Elm Street Elementary School, with Mrs. Alena Wiley as principal. Mrs. Bessie Partee Ivy was principal of the school the next year. Later, Mr. Robert Wiley was principal.

Harrison High's first annual, the Dragon, was published in 1950. There were 26 graduates that year. Gene Henton, who later became principal of Robinson school and after his retirement a member of the Board of Education, was managing editor. The book was dedicated to parents of the graduates, and all parents' names were listed.

In 1950, the skating rink for the air base was purchased and moved to Harrison, to be used as a gym and auditorium. Cost and set-up for the building was $35,000. Once the gym was in place, commencement exercises, which had previously been held in churches, were conducted in the gym.

Harrison athletes in the 1950's included football players Ivory Long, Benny Cleveland, and Kenneth Pettigrew. Basketball players included Ann Kuykendall, Jewel Lyles, Cozetta Hirsch, Earlene Strickland, Norma Thomas, Patsy Ruth Stokes, Dorothy Bromer, Clarence Butler, Carl Smith, and Dr. Herman Strickland. J. B. Bromer, Gene Henton, Charles Hodge, Melton Bell, Bobbie Strickland, and Richard Stokes played both sports. Ira T. Young was the coach.

In 1951, the Elm St. PTA offered to build an annex to the home economics cottage to be used for a lunch room. There was still no hot lunch program at some of the elementary schools.

Harrison got its first band program in 1952. Before that Mr. Lipscomb, band director at Blytheville High School, came after school and parents paid him to teach their children band. Mrs. McDonald remembers that he taught her to play the drum on a box; no one had a drum.

There were fifty children per room at Elm St. and Robinson schools in 1952. The school board discussed building a new school in the southeast part of town. They considered moving the two-room Flat Lake Building to become the nucleus of the new building.

The school board's plans for the 1952-53 school year included indoor restroom for Elm St.

By 1953, surrounding school districts still offered only nine grades or fewer. Forty-five out-of-district students were enrolled at Harrison. The state provided tuition for these student.

In 1953, the former home economics building was changed into three additional classes for the Elm St. School.

In 1955, the school board voted to rent the ground floor of the St. Andrew Masonic Lodge #231 at McHaney and Eighth Streets as a place where HHS band practice could be conducted. This was to ensure that band practice would not disturb the rest of the school. The cost of the building was $2 per day. Mr. Jeffers requested BHS's old band uniforms for HHS.

In 1956, Harrison's new science wing, already approved for federal building funds, remained on the drawing board because of the architect's illness. There was some danger of losing the funding unless the blueprints were completed quickly.

By 1957, Harrison was outgrowing its building, even with the four-room addition nearing completion. The school board considered raising tuition so that other districts who were sending their high school students to Harrison could pay more of their fair share.

In 1958, the school board agreed to move Harrison's cafeteria to the north side of the street, leaving the south side of McHaney for athletics and recreation. Because of poor attendance, especially by Negro children, the board agreed to employ an attendance officer for the fall semester.

On May 29, 1958, Elm Street School was lost to fire. The insurance settlement was $42,199. Because of the fire, 550 children were without a school. Mr. W. H. Moore, Director of School Plant Services for the Arkansas Department of Education, recommended building a junior high on the Elm Street site and a 15-24 room elementary school east of the railroad. He estimated that the Blytheville School District was 30-40 classrooms short. The school board was interested in acquiring a ten-acre site on South Franklin Street, owned by Mrs. Bancroft Terry, as a campus for the new school. In July, the Elm Street students would attend Robinson through September. The Robinson pupils would then come to school and attend through June. The board would try to have Elm Street's replacement school (Franklin) ready by January, so Elm Street pupils could return to school and complete their nine months by the end of June.

In summer of 1959, the school board opened bids for construction of locker and shower rooms at Harrison's gym. Later that summer, the board voted not to accept out-of-district elementary students, due to overcrowded conditions.

In 1961, Harrison was overcrowded again. One room of the Methodist Church near the school would be used as classroom space until after Christmas. In the meantime, the school board was investigating portable classrooms. At this time, the school board established an adult education program; classes were held at night at Harrison.

In 1963, Harrison was applying for membership in the North Central Association. This is the highest accreditation a school can receive. Additional classroom space was being added at this time.

In 1965, four room and an office were built at Harrison with Title I funds. An additional portable classroom had been built earlier that year.

In 1968, the school board adopted an integration plan to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The plan called for Harrison to become a vocational wing of BHS for grades 11 and 12.

In 1970, Harrison gym was given to the City Park Commission for a recreation center. The School board was in the process of unifying the secondary schools. All junior high students attended either East Junior High or West Junior High; all high school students attended BHS.

In 1971, at commencement exercises, the old alma maters for both Harrison High School and Blytheville High School were sung for the last time. Beginning with the 1971-1972 school year, there was a new alma mater.

Mr. Leo D. Jeffers, principal of Harrison at the time of unification, became director of social services for the school district. He was replaced by Ira T. Young when Mr. Jeffers retired in 1973. Mr. Jeffers organized the Chickasawba Teachers Credit Union.

Harrison Learning Center was used as a Kindergarten school with 17 classes for several years. Later, Kindergarten classes were moved to the primary schools to improve articulation. Harrison's main building was leased to Head Start in 1982.

Harrison High School produced its fair share of public school and college teachers. Some of these are Maggie Moore Ross, on the, Faculty of a college in California; Dr. Eddie Burton, a dentist on the faculty of the University of Tennessee; Dr. Herman Strickland, on the faculty of Arkansas State University; Dr. Tommy Broadwater, who taught at Howard University; Carrie B. Anthony, a supervisor in the Lee County Arkansas, schools; Charles Sanders, assistant director of Cotton Boll technical Institute; Dr. Joan Wilson, a supervisor in the Chicago schools.

Other teachers and administrators, many of them with experience in the Blytheville School System who are Harrison graduates are: Sandra Thomas-King, Minnie Greene-King, Margie Carmel-Fredrick, Louis Bobbit, Bessie McCullough, Robert Campbell, Jr., Sara Cook, Mary "Sue" Strickland-Jeffers, Ted Cage, Gene Henton, Lucretia Horne-McDonald, King Henry Nunn IV, Alvin Clay, William Wiley, Betty Cook-Vann, Irene Aldridge, Rucker Clayton, Ollie Bush-Lofton, Mary Helen Sledge, Cozetta Hirsch-Green, Albertine Hirsch -Jackson, Linda Gamble- Nunn, Winston Turner, Jimmie Wallace-Cage, Norma Taylor-Howell, Corinne Askew, Gloria Sewell-Clay, Maxcine Williams-Ford, Era Shipp-Floyd, Gloria Howard, Bernice Jackson, Vera Hampton-Lucas, Ethel Mills, Jean Campbell, Billy Young, Jimmie Hughes- Raines, Earlene McCoy-Strickland, Charlie Williams, Mae Lee Harris-Williams, Louise Aldridge, Andrew Campbell, Doris Stewart-Pitts, Barbara Stewart, Thomas Gardner, Eula Horne-Spivey, Willie Henry James, Geneva Aldridge-Harris, Sherry Aldridge-Prunty, Norma Valley, Linda Bedford-Williams, Mable Graves-Morris, Mary Smith-Seals, Dorothy Smith-Burton, Robert Carthee, Joe Williams, Arvie Haley-Heard, Arizona Haley-Morris, Hallie Smith-Jordan, Ethel Green, Charles Payne, Ann Sutton-Echols, Walter Short, Earnestine Thomas, Carlotta Greenberry, and Saundra Green, Shirley Henderson-Matthews, Patricia Clark-Blankenship and Dorothy Foreman.

Harrison also produced Cecil Partee, who was treasurer of the state of Illinois; Robinson Nunn, a lawyer; Dr. Anes Wiley-Abraham, a pediatrician; Dr. John McCullough, an orthopedic surgeon in Detroit; Floydel Haley and Virgina Done, law officers; Lawrence Haley and Charles Payne ministers; and Burnell Williams, a soldier who died in the Vietnam War. Norvell Moore who is serving as President of the Blytheville Board of Education as this is written, and his wife Eloise Rodger-Moore are Harrison graduates. Harrison is remembered fondly by many other graduates too numerous to mention.

When asked why Harrison is so important, even today, to former students, Mrs. McDonald said that the school had been the center of the black community. "The junior/senior prom was for adults, too. The junior class paid for the prom for the seniors. A few sophomores were chosen to serve, and they were honored to get to attend the prom. The community identified with the school. Harrison had Latin and other offerings that most school of the time didn't have. The Harrisonite reunions were the idea of Gene Henton and Hurley Margerum. The first reunion, in 1977, included the classes of 1945-1960. After that, all classes from 1935-1970 met every three years. These reunions are not limited to graduates; anyone who have ever attended HHS is welcome. In between the three year reunions, groups travel to Chicago or Detroit for Harrisonite mini-reunions. Harrisonites became incorporated about 1980. A roll call is held at the reunions, with an attendance plaque awarded to the class with the most members attending. The class of '55 usually wins the award. A prize is also given for the oldest class ring. Samuel Parks has one from 1942. Harrison is special because the school is no more.

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Philosophy

of the

Richard Berry Harrison High School

According to the modern trends, functions, criteria, and patterns of modern schools we believe:

1. That Richard B. Harrison High School is designed to train our youth and community to be

participating citizens in a changing society.

2. That our school is founded on democratic principles and that it is based on the idea that

the curricula must be adjusted to the increasing needs of the student in order to develop

his total personality.

3. That it is necessary to establish rapport between the home, the school, and the community

so that a more democratic society might be created.

4. That as a result of our efforts the student shall feel aware of all good qualities of his school

and that he shall exemplify pride, loyalty, and respect for his school in his everyday life.

5. it is our belief that there is no freedom without responsibility; that the aim of the school is

to foster in the students a love of country and a desire to dedicate their efforts to the

democratic way of life, its privileges and its responsibilities.

***

The Courier News, June 26, 1991

Young was almost a Globetrotter

'Old Man" Stayed in Blytheville

Wilson-Ira T. 'Old Man" Young, former coach, vice principal and teacher in the Blytheville School District, is a native of Rosston, Ark.

He is a graduate of Nevada County Training High School. He earned a B.B. degree in physical education at Philander Smith College in Little Rock and a masters' degree at the University of Arkansas.

While playing basketball at Philander Smith College he was offered a contract with the Harlem Globetrotters. Young chose a career in coaching instead.

In 1950, he was employed by the Blytheville School District as coach of Harrison High. When the school integrated he served as a coach and vice principal at Blytheville High School.

He worked as a principal at the Harrison Learning Center and as Chapter I PAC coordinator. He has served on many boards and received many awards and honors. He presently serves on the Focus on Children Board.

He is a member of the Suns Booster Club at Mississippi County Community College and the Omega PSI PHI Fraternity.

He is married and has one son.

(This is the first in a series on individual to be honored at the Mississippi County Black Cultural Association Annual Meeting July 7 at the Wilson Chapel in Wilson.)

***

Harrison Faculty, 1953-54

Miss E. Bussey, Mr. I.T. Young, Mrs. W. M. Robinson, Mr. A. E. Lester, Mrs. R. H. Nunn, M. J. A. Shivers, Mrs. J.M. Robinson, Mrs. C.B. White, Mrs. A.E. Wiley, Mrs. A.C. Horne and Mr. James Edmond.

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Robinson School

McHaney at Sixteenth Street

In 1947, Blytheville Schools were experiencing overcrowding, especially at Harrison School and Elm Street School, where there were more than 700 students in only 12 classrooms.

At the end of that year, the Board of Education voted to open a primary class at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Robinson Addition to relieve the overflow at Harrison. A study had shown that 43 first graders lived in that neighborhood; and additional teacher was hired.

In 1948, a three-acre site for a new school building was purchased. An old barracks building from the air base was placed as temporary quarters for the school. Six teachers and 300 students were housed in this building. Mr. Robert Wiley was principal.

When Elm St. burned on May 29, 1958, about 550 students were left without a school. Although school had just dismissed for summer, the board voted to have Elm St. students begin school again in July in the Robinson building. Mr. Robert Wiley was the principal at Elm. St. at that time. In October, Elm St. students would be dismissed and Robinson students would begin their year, attending until June. The board of Education would try to have a replacement school for Elm St. (which was built and named Franklin), ready by January, so those students could complete their nine months of school by June.

In 1963, six rooms were added to Robinson. When schools were integrated in 1971, Robinson became a primary school serving only grades 1-3.

Robinson started its first library in 1964-65, with Mrs. Era Floyd as librarian.

Dr. Herman Strickland, now on the faculty of Arkansas State University, was principal of Robinson from 1965-67. He then served as principal of Central Elementary until he accepted the position at ASU.

Principal at Robinson have included Robert Wiley, Mr. Leverett, Dr. Herman Strickland, Oscar Ford, Gene Henton and Richard Nickels.

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SOUTH FRANKLIN STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Due to the loss of Elm St. School to fire in the spring of 1958, Franklin School had to be built in a hurry. The students were borrowing the Robinson building while it was not in use, then would take several months off and wait for their new school to be completed. Phillips construction Company was awarded this contract to build Franklin's 18 rooms for $256,511. The site ten acres, was purchased from Mrs. Bancroft Terry.

The first day of school in the new building was January 19, 1959. Because of the three months the students had attended Robinson, they would be able to complete nine months of school in June.

Original plans for integration in 1968 included making a special education school at Franklin. this plan relied on passage of a millage increase. If the millage could not be passed, the elementary schools would be zoned.

When schools were integrated in 1971, Franklin became a primary school, housing grades 1-3. At that time, all kindergarten classes were held at Harrison Learning Center.

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Education '72

Essay on Robert Wiley

by L. D. Harris, Supt. Blytheville Schools

Robert Wiley, principal at Franklin Elementary School, will be retiring at the end of this school year, completing 44 years of teaching.

A native of Osceola, Mr. Wiley completed his high school education at Shorter College in North Little Rock. He began teaching in 1929 at the Flat Lake School (Later annexed to Blytheville) until 1942.

The veteran educator served for four years, 1942-46 in U. S. Air Force during World War II and was a staff sergeant in the Medical Corps. After the war, he completed his bachelor's degree at Philander Smith College in Little Rock in 1946. He later completed his master's degree in elementary administration at the University of Arkansas.

In 1946, he went to Harrison High School to teach math and history. He organized and coached the first football team at Harrison and held this position until 1950, when Ira T. Young accepted this position and Mr. Wiley went into administration.

From 1950 to 1953, he was head teacher at the Robinson School and then principal at the Elm Street School until 1958, when this school burned. After the Elm Street School burned, Franklin Elementary School was built and Mr. Wiley became principal of Franklin and Robinson Schools.

From 1965 to present, he has been the principal at Franklin School and has helped build this school into a fine Class A elementary school.

Mrs. Alena Wiley, his wife, retired in 1971, after serving as a classroom teacher, elementary supervisor, and music teacher in the system for many years.

The Wiley have two children, William and Anes. William is now teaching and coaching in the Dell Public Schools. Anes will graduate with honors from Arkansas Tech in Russellville next month and is qualifying to teach science in secondary schools.

Mr. Wiley has made a valuable contribution to the educational progress in the Blytheville community for many years. In his quiet, efficient way, he has gained the respect and admiration as being an able school administrator who has been able to adjust to the social changes that have been sweeping the public schools in the past few year.

It is fitting that this final year of his educational service should be spent in administering a totally integrated school, and that he had a vital role of helping the Blytheville community adjust to the total integration of the schools. His last year is Blytheville's first year of total integration.

The Wileys plan to remain in Blytheville, and he told me recently that if we ever needed his help or assistance, to please call on him.

Time marches on, and another good man has been put out to pasture. We wish him well in his retirement and will be calling on him from time to time to "pinch hit" in the school system.

***

BLACKS ASSOCIATED WITH RICHARD BERRY HARRISON HIGH SCHOOL THAT WERE NAMED AMONG WHO'S WHO IN BLYTHEVILLE SCHOOLS

Arnold, A. A.-An early principal at Harrison School

Floyd, Era Shipp-Teacher at Robinson Elementary School and was Librarian at West Junior High until her retirement. Mrs. Floyd's church has established a scholarship in her memory.

Ford, Oscar-Principal of Central Elementary School from 1971 until present. Mr. Ford also served as principal of Robinson School.

Gibson, Euseline-Retired in 1992 after 33 years of teaching. Mrs. Gibson taught students with learning disabilities at Central Elementary School.

Giles, Gertha-taught for many years in Blytheville before her retirement from Central School.

Harrison, Lucille-First grade teacher at Robinson for many years before her retirement.

Heard, Arvie-Retired as a sixth-grade teacher at Central school.

Henton, Gene-Principal of Robinson Primary School from 1971 until present.

Hollis, George D.-An early principal at Harrison School. He became principal in 1941.

Horne, Annie-Longtime home economics teacher at Harrison High School and West Junior High. In fact, some members of Mrs. Horne's family have been teaching in the Blytheville Schools since 1935.

Ivy, Bessie Partee-Principal of Elm St. Elementary School. She worked more than 20 years for the Blytheville Schools.

Jeffers, Leo D.-Last principal of Harrison High School; when schools were unified, he became Director of Adult Education and Special Programs. Mr. Jeffers is credited with organizing the Chickasawba Teachers Credit Union.

Jenkins, Idell-A former member of the Harrison faculty, Mr. Jenkins has been principal of East Junior High from 1978 until the present.

Lester, Ayre E. "Pop"-Vocational teacher at Harrison High School, beginning in 1937. He later became the first black to be elected to the Blytheville Board of Education.

Lester, Emma-Taught 28 years in the Blytheville District. Called "Mama" by her friends, Mrs. Lester took in students who came from out of district to attend Harrison High School.

Leverett, Charles-Former principal of Robinson Elementary School.

Lofton, Ollie Rae- Former Director of Special Education, Mrs. Lofton retired in 1990 after serving the Blytheville Schools since 1949.

Mills, Ethel-taught at Robinson Primary before her retirement.

Morris, Arizona-Taught many years in Blytheville before her retirement from Fairview School.

Nunn, Helen-While a teacher at Harrison High School, she received her doctorate at Cornell University. She joined the faculty at Memphis State University, then retired to Blytheville, where she serves on the Board of Education.

Nunn, King Henry III-Taught at Harrison High school, sponsoring the first senior class. He left teaching for a career in dentistry.

Shivers, A. W. -Principal of the colored school as early as 1919.

Shivers, M. J.-Taught more than 20 years in the Blytheville Schools.

Shivers, Octavia Carmel-Taught 30 years in the Blytheville District. The recipient of an MSE from Tuskegee, Mrs. Shivers was honored by having a Girls' Club named for her.

Strickland, Earlene-After serving as a teacher at Franklin, Sudbury, and Fairview Schools, Mrs. Strickland became a counselor at West Junior High, then was named Chapter I Coordinator for the district. She has served in this capacity from 1980 until the present.

Strickland, Herman-Former principal at Robinson Elementary and at Central Elementary Schools. He left Blytheville in 1971 to pursue his doctorate in education, then was placed in charge of teacher education at Arkansas State University.

White, Carrie B.- Teacher at HHS who wrote the alma mater, "Harrison, My Harrison."

Wilburn, M. M.-an early principal at Harrison. He became principal in 1937 and retired in 1941.

Wiley, Alena-The first principal of Elm St. School. She was also a county elementary supervisor and music teacher. She retired in 1971.

Wiley, Robert-Taught at Promised Land School for black students from 1932-42. He served four years in World War II. Mr. Wiley was the first football coach at Harrison High School, working that capacity from 1946-50. He served as head teacher at Robinson School for two years, principal at Elm Street School for six years, then served as principal at Franklin Street Elementary School from 1959 until his retirement in 1972. He had taught for 44 years.

Young, Ira T.-Coach at Harrison High School until schools were unified, Mr. Young later became Director of Adult Education at Harrison Learning Center, then Chapter 1 PAC Director. He retired in 1987. While still a student at Philander Smith College, Coach Young passed up a chance to play for the Harlem Globetrotters to begin a career in coaching.

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Also Worthy of notice are the following (Harrison Affiliates) teacher who have at least 20 years of service to the Blytheville Schools and who are still active service. These people are still making history for the Blytheville School District. Their names and teaching assignments follows:

Brown, Cecil-Band director of Harrison High School and East Junior High School. Mr. Brown has 36 years of experience in Blytheville.

McDonald, Lucretia- Former Harrison High School teacher and now business teacher at Blytheville High School.

Vann, Betty-Special Education teacher at West Junior High School.

Wiley, William-Sixth-grade teacher at Central Elementary School. Mr. Wiley's parents were both administrators in the Blytheville Schools.

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Editor's note: In a May 30, 1963 letter to Mr. Rommey, Mr. Harris, and Mrs. Pen, Miss Turner listed the following notable graduates of Harrison High School:

Cecil Partee-State Attorney, Cook County, Illinois

Albertine Hirsch-Psychologist on Police Force, Detroit

Cleo Surrey-Head of English Dept., Cook-Bethune College, Daytona Beach, Florida

Shannon Little-Graduate Nurse, serving in University of Minnesota Hospital

Jimmie Lee Hughes Raines-National President, New Home Maker of America, fourth grade teacher in Blytheville

Walter Watkins-One of two graduates in 1935. Teaching in Los Angeles Elementary Schools

James McCullough-Doctor graduate of University of Michigan

Courtesy of A History of the Blytheville School District

Complied by Peggy Yarbro

Blytheville, Arkansas

1996