Early Bowie County School Board Minutes

Mr. Tidwell devoted much time to completing the plans for districting
schools, these plans were beginning to take final shape.
J. B. Lylal was County Superintendent from 1912-1918 and in 1913 the 
first record is found of the county board.  The personnel of this board was 
D. A. Chambers, President.. A. B. Wathington, Vice-President...
A. L.Howe, T.M. Braley and N. E. Lawrence.

In the first minutes we find the following:  
The board recommended the consolidation of many small schools as possible 
into larger ones where the patrons of all schools affected are willing 
and want to do it. On Dec. 7, a set of suggestions to teachers was adopted 
by the board and these suggestions show that descipline was a problem for 
the teacher.  At different times, we find D. L. Davis,  J.L. Wheeler, 
S. J. Hargis and P. G. Ruff replacing some of the above members.  
These boards continued the custom of holding  a county-wide meeting of 
trustees.

     From 1916 to 1923...C. A. Bonham was  Superintendent and the board with 
which he worked was: D. L. Davis, President....J. S. Hargis, P. G. Ruff, 
S. M. Braswell, and T. M.Braley, during this 6 year period we find only two 
changes made.  Roy Dalby replaces D.L. Davis in 1918 and G. E. Goodnight in 
turn replaced Roy Dalby.  In  1921, the board worked diligently redefining 
districts and laying plans for larger schools.  The members of the county 
board visited schools and made reports on them.  Several consolidations are 
mentioned in the minutes; the first form was in what is now Pleasant Grove 
Common School District.  The minutes of the board meetings show that much 
interest was being taken in schools and that the county was really becoming 
school conscious.  The average state and county apportionment's during this 
time was $7.00 per scholastic.
     J. K. Johnson began his four years as County Superintendent  in 1923 
with S. J. Hargis, G. E. Goodnight, T. N. Bradley, S. M. Braswell and P. G. 
Ruff as board  members.  Mr. Braswell resigned as was replaced by W. A. Landreth...
P. G. Ruff moved from the county and was replaced by S. H. Ball.  In 1924, 
W. J. Nash and Abe Reed replaced T. M. Bradley and S. H Ball respectively.  
In 1926, C. P. Cooper replaced J.S.Hargis and J. D. McCullough replaced 
W. J. Nash and a large number of school districts were re-defined which is 
indicative for a excellent building program.  One consolidation was voted.

The record for the longest tenture in the  County Superintendent's office goes
to C. C. Porter who served from 1927 to 1933.  G.E. Goodnight, W. A. Landreth, 
J. D. McCullough, W. S. Crumpton and Abe Reed were members of the county board 
in May 1927.  J. W. Howell replaced J. D. McCullough who moved from the district 
and the death of W. A. Landreth and Abe Reed left two vacancies where were 
filled by D.A. Peavy and S. J. Reed.  In 1930, R. L. Owens and J. R. Tidwell 
replaced D. A. Peavy and J. W. Howell.  In 1932, J. R. Pickins and C. R. Nettles 
replaced R. L. Owens and S. J. Reed.  During this eight year period the county 
was divided into high school districts and much grouping was effected.  A large 
number of schools were standardized or classified and affiliated.  Soon after 
L. H. Griffin came in to office, G. E. Goodnight resigned because of pressing 
duties as a county agriculture committeman.  Mr Goodnigh't thirteen year service 
gives him the record for the longest tenture on the board.

The present board consist of H. H. Campbell, Chairman C. B. Nettles, 
W.S. Crumpton,J. R. Tidwell and J. Pickens.  W. S. Crumpton was a county 
board member at his death in 1956. He served 30 years on Bowie Co. School Boards, 
as well as the Pleasant Grove School Board.


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Submitted By: Jean Scott  Mailto:Hines36160@aol.com

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