R00TS OF KCHS-CBDHS

Mr. John A. Douglas, a student from 1912 to 1918, and Mrs. Lorene McAfee Taylor, a former student and teacher in the district provided the information herein which served as a basis for tracing the Kilgore Colored High School/C.B. Dansby School roots. Information was provided also by former student, Joyce Cameron-Choice, Class of 1955.

According to Mr. Douglas, the Kilgore Baptist Church served as a school for Blacks as early as 1873. When the Odd Fellows Lodge set up and was chartered in Kilgore (date unknown), a two-story building was erected on South Commerce Street, and the school was moved there.

In a case study of the Kilgore Colored School done by Mrs. Taylor in 1938, she noted that in 1885 a group of thirty colored citizens met under a pine oak tree, and from this meeting grew a one-room building on a one-acre lot belong to Mr. John Reynolds. The first teacher here was Morten Walker, who enrolled twenty students.

After a few years, the enrollment increased and Mr. Pentecost purchased a new site on the opposite side of town. This location is now known as West South Street and Fritz Swanson Road. School was held there for several years. During those years the following teachers were employed: Morten Walker, M.E. Alexander, W.R. Pentecost, Dora Wells, and Mary Courtly. Later, a new site was purchased from Rev. H.C. Alexander. The principal was T.J. Downs, and Mary Courtly was assistant principal.

In 1932 four teachers were added: C.B. Dansby, Abner Henry, Frankie Cheeves, and Sadonia Thomas. The school was enlarged to four rooms. In 1933 Pirtle and Meeting Comfort Schools, in adjoining communities, were consolidated with the Kilgore Colored School.

Kilgore Independent School District purchased a seven-acre tract of land from Mrs. P.M. Bates in 1934; upon which a brick school building was erected at the approximate cost of $50,000, including equipment. The school also received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The faculty increased from four to nine members. The first building consisted of seven classrooms, a hall and two indoor toilets. The faculty at the time included: C.B. Dansby, principal; A.L. King, coach; Lois Towles McNeely, music; Josephine Jones (Davis), Jr. High Department; Mary Ann Butts, Primary Department; Allie Blackman (White), Primary Department; Obelia Cheeseborough (Bennett), Elementary Department; Estella T. Gray (Redd), Elementary Department; and Frankie Cheeves (Austin), Primary Department.

In 1939 the science and agriculture building was added at the approximate cost of $25,000. It included the home economics department, the manual arts department, a science room, a supply room, and an office. Two teachers were added: Florence Tillman (Keys), Home Economics, and T.A. Buts, Manual Training.

An $8,000 cafeteria was added in 1944 (later used as a library); and a $125,000 gymnasium was constructed in 1949. All the buildings were red brick except the boys club house and cannery, which were both one-room frame buildings painted white. The campus was enclosed by short white posts.

By this time there were 17 faculty members: C.B. Dansby, principal, Aberenia Perkins, secretary; E. T. Blanton, coach and mathematics; Cornelius Carr, assistant coach; G.R. Petty, Manual Arts and Mathematics; Wendell Moore, Agriculture; Francis Cook, Music and English; Abner Henry Smith, English and Literature; Velma Colquitt, History; Josephine Jones Davis, sixth grade; Frankie cheeves Austin, library and seventh grade; Obelia Cheeseborough Bennett, fifth grade; Allie Blackman White, fourth grade,; Estella Gray Redd, third grade; Mary Ann Butts, second grade; Lorene McAfee Taylor, first grade; and Theresa K. Cameron, first grade.

[ Back to Top ]

Many students expressed an interest in and desire for a school band. The program had no support from the school board prior to 1948. It was then that Rufus B. Anderson was hired into the system; and with the cooperation of the school board, Parents and Teachers Association, and the people of the community, the first school band was organized. The band was trained in one of the classrooms of the main building. After the gymnasium was completed, the old field house was converted into the first music room. It was in this field house that the band developed with so much momentum that the superintendent recommended uniforms be purchase for the Kilgore Colored High School Bank. There were the first purple and gold uniforms. Prior to then the band had been wearing the old red and white discarded uniforms from the white high school. Instruments were also purchased so as to develop a full band program.

Also housed in the music building was some of the finest Negro Farmers of America quartets. These groups developed and won first place awards year after year in local, regional, state and national contests. The choral group repeatedly won awards at the Texas State Fair. It was a very popular group in and around East Texas, appearing on television, singing for the Lions Club, Rotary Club and many other organizations. The award-winning girls quartet was also very popular. All music was under the direction of Rufus B. Anderson.

Around 1954 the music department had grown so rapidly that the field house was demolished and replaced with what was known as the “band hall” and cafeteria; at the approximate cost of $35,000.

The pep squad had been active since 1938, and was the inspiration of the football team.

Enrollment had increased from 20 students in 1885 to 500 in 1948. The large enrollment increase came in 1934 when the three schools were consolidated; and again in September 1951 when the New London Colored High School (now, West Rusk Independent School District) consolidated grades 9-12. The New London High School had consolidated some years earlier with the Starr Bailey High School (of their district, allowing them to attend school in Kilgore. The New London School District in Rusk County provided buses for the students to travel approximately 24 miles each day to the Kilgore campus in Gregg County. About one-third of the total enrollment lived in rural areas; and those students living within Gregg County were transported by buses purchased by the Kilgore Independent School District.

By 1954 the enrollment had doubled. The band had participated in Christmas parades throughout the area, and was working hard to measure up to the State Band Contest at Prairie View A&M University. Under the direction of Rose Griffin and Eunice Daniels, the girl’s basketball squad had an outstanding four-year record of 38-2; 45-3; 38-3; and 42-6.

Cuney Bruce Dansby died in June 1955. Following the death of Mr. Dansby, Odis H. Turner became principal; and holds the record of being the school's only principal. The mandate of integration closed the doors of the C.B. Dansby High School in 1970. Between the years 1956-1968, over 572 high school diplomas were awarded to graduation seniors. The credentials and honors of Odis H. Turner were instrumental in his transitioning to Kilgore High School in the position as co-principal.

On May 30, 1956, the school name was changed to C.B. Dansby. In 1956 an additional wing was added which housed two classrooms. Four additional elementary classrooms, and an office were added. Around 1959 the Fredonia and New Hope Schools consolidated with the C.B. Dansby Schools. Some of the teachers from Dansby transferred to Fredonia and New Hope. When the Chandler Elementary School was completed in 1961, the Dansby Elementary School moved to Elder Elementary School on Highway 31, where Eunice B. Daniels was principal.

In 1972 Rufus B. Anderson purchased the Dansby campus, and converted it into a multi-service community center.

In 1991 the Kilgore Colored/C.B. Dansby School (KCHS-CBDHS) Alumni Association was formed. The Dansby building no longer exists. On August 5, 2009 Officers of the Association met with Mayor Joe T. Parker, and City Manager, Jeff Howell regarding the donation of property to the Association for the purpose of erecting a KCHS-CBDHS Memorial Monument. On August 11, 2009 the City Council members voted to donate the property at Highway 31 and Martin Luther King Boulevard to the Alumni Association.

The Association established a Memorial Site Committee; and plans for Operation Commemoration, the adopted campaign name, were set in motion for unveiling of the Memorial Monument to coincide with the KCHS-CBDHS 2011 School Reunion; which will be held in the banquet/ballroom of the Kilgore College.

[ Back to Top ]