History of the Doyle School and the Doyle School Community Center
History of the Doyle School and the Doyle School Community Center
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Doyle traces its heritage back to the Kerrville Black School, which was first recorded in 1909 by only giving the names of the teachers at that time. Then the records move on to 1920 when Mrs. A. W. Doyle was hired to teach the African American Children in Kerrville. While teaching, Mrs. Doyle donated land for one of the old buildings from the white school to be moved to the black community where the present Doyle School is located. Schools were segregated at this time therefore the name of this school was the Kerrville Colored School. Mr. and Mrs. B. T. Wilson were hired in 1941 and in 1942 Mr. Wilson wrote an Alma Mater for the school and he named the school Doyle High.
Doyle traces its heritage back to the Kerrville Black School, which was first recorded in 1909 by only giving the names of the teachers at that time. Then the records move on to 1920 when Mrs. A. W. Doyle was hired to teach the African American Children in Kerrville. While teaching, Mrs. Doyle donated land for one of the old buildings from the white school to be moved to the black community where the present Doyle School is located. Schools were segregated at this time therefore the name of this school was the Kerrville Colored School. Mr. and Mrs. B. T. Wilson were hired in 1941 and in 1942 Mr. Wilson wrote an Alma Mater for the school and he named the school Doyle High.
Integration became law in 1954 but Kerrville didn’t accept the law until 1955 so the schools here remained segregated until 1966 when total integration took place in this area. After integration the Doyle campus became the Doyle Kindergarten. Later it respectively housed the Kerrville Independent School District Special Education Department, the Disciplinary Alternative Education School, and Head Start until 2002. This was the year that the school district decided not to use the campus anymore. At such time, the president of Partners in Ministry, Bill Blackburn, became interested in helping the community to decide how the historical building could best serve the surrounding area. He was instrumental in conducting a community survey. The survey reflected an overwhelming response for the need of a community center. Because of his interest, he was instrumental in encouraging the Cailloux Foundation to provide a grant to purchase the Doyle School property from the Kerrville Independent School District. June 2, 2003 was the closing date of purchase and thus began the plans for the organization of the Doyle School Community Center.
Integration became law in 1954 but Kerrville didn’t accept the law until 1955 so the schools here remained segregated until 1966 when total integration took place in this area. After integration the Doyle campus became the Doyle Kindergarten. Later it respectively housed the Kerrville Independent School District Special Education Department, the Disciplinary Alternative Education School, and Head Start until 2002. This was the year that the school district decided not to use the campus anymore. At such time, the president of Partners in Ministry, Bill Blackburn, became interested in helping the community to decide how the historical building could best serve the surrounding area. He was instrumental in conducting a community survey. The survey reflected an overwhelming response for the need of a community center. Because of his interest, he was instrumental in encouraging the Cailloux Foundation to provide a grant to purchase the Doyle School property from the Kerrville Independent School District. June 2, 2003 was the closing date of purchase and thus began the plans for the organization of the Doyle School Community Center.
Since that date in 2003, community members from the immediate area of the Center, plus others from throughout the Kerrville community, have served on the Board of Directors. This Board has always been considered a “working board.” These men and women often provide much of the “elbow grease” to create the popular quarterly programs, the after-school kids’ club, and senior programs.
Since that date in 2003, community members from the immediate area of the Center, plus others from throughout the Kerrville community, have served on the Board of Directors. This Board has always been considered a “working board.” These men and women often provide much of the “elbow grease” to create the popular quarterly programs, the after-school kids’ club, and senior programs.
Doyle has often relied on the generosity of the Hal and Charlie Peterson Foundation, the City of Kerrville, and individuals to support the financial needs of the Center. Basic operational costs have been paid this way, with much of the “work” of the center being provided by volunteers.
Doyle has often relied on the generosity of the Hal and Charlie Peterson Foundation, the City of Kerrville, and individuals to support the financial needs of the Center. Basic operational costs have been paid this way, with much of the “work” of the center being provided by volunteers.
In 2019, several important grants were awarded, creating the Hope4Health Program at Doyle, serving the medical, food, and transportation needs of the Doyle neighborhood. Additionally, the EIC of the City of Kerrville, the Hal and Charlie Peterson Foundation, and the Perry and Ruby Stevens Foundation, have joined their resources together to underwrite an ambitious renovation of the building, and was completed October of 2021.
In 2019, several important grants were awarded, creating the Hope4Health Program at Doyle, serving the medical, food, and transportation needs of the Doyle neighborhood. Additionally, the EIC of the City of Kerrville, the Hal and Charlie Peterson Foundation, and the Perry and Ruby Stevens Foundation, have joined their resources together to underwrite an ambitious renovation of the building, and was completed October of 2021.
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