Mansfield Historical Society marks anniversary of school integration attempt

‍

‍

By Bob Kowalski

Mansfield Record

The Mansfield community gathered on a hot August evening to dedicate a site commemorating the attempt to integrate Mansfield ISD 70 years ago.

Dignitaries, school and civic representatives and church leaders joined more than 300 other participants in We Are Mansfield: Uniting People on Sunday. The gathering at Geyer Commons, organized by the Mansfield Historical Society, marked the anniversary of the effort by three Black students to become the first of their race to attend Mansfield schools in 1956.

The historical society is undertaking a project that will recognize the site as a landmark featuring a statue depicting four school-age children of different races holding hands, a gazebo and a pathway lined in bricks that community members can purchase to honor their families, businesses, churches or organizations. As part of the proceedings Sunday, the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation presented the historical society with a check for $40,000 to kickstart the project.

Michael Mainer, the business administrator at Bethlehem Baptist Church, served as master of ceremonies, and told the crowd that "we're here to talk about how far we've come."

After the presentation of colors by the Mansfield High School JROTC and opening prayer by David Alexander, pastor of First Methodist Mansfield, Mansfield ISD school board president Jandel Crutchfield introduced the special guests and pointed out that the adage that there's no "I" in team didn't apply because there is an "I" in unity.

"Our strength is in bringing all of our ideas together," Crutchfield said.

Texas Rangers Major Reuben Mankin presented The T.M. Moody Trailblazer Award to Paster Floyd Moody, the last remaining student from the day in 1956 that inspired the historic event. Moody thanked the historical society and officials attending, particularly the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation for its donation. "I like to be around folks that have money," he joked.

Mansfield Mayor Michael Evans, joined by council members Tamera Bounds and Todd Simmons, presented a proclamation to mark the occasion.

Historical society president Tom Leach shared with the audience details of the site and its connection to Mansfield's education history, acknowledging its recognition as a landmark and the part that the integration attempt played in shaping the community. "It plays a role in who we are today, but it never defines us," he said. "We are a proud community that embraces what we stand for."

He was followed by Lake Ridge High School student Jordyn Hodby, who recited an original poem entitled, "70 Years Later," and a moving performance by the Timberview High School choir.

Tiffanie Spencer, superintendent of Mansfield ISD, cited her experiences as a student in the district who eventually rose to lead it. "I was a student who called Mansfield ISD home, and I had that honor because of the people that came before me," she said.

Spencer pointed out that 34,000 students attend Mansfield ISD schools, bringing varied backgrounds and stories. "Unity doesn't mean we're all the same. Unity is not uniformity."

She added that the greatest tribute to the early attendees is to continue their work.

"Progress is not the end of the journey, it's an invitation to keep going," she said. "Our unity determines where we go next."

Ameenah Allimson, a Summit High School student, recited two poems, "Human Family" by Maya Angelou, and "One Today" by Richard Blanco, followed by a community choir performance.

The closing prayer was offered by Jon Thomas, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, who invited all the other pastors in attendance to join him before the crowd.

Geyer Commons, 605 E. Broad St., is a newly developed site on historic land that originally belonged to Mansfield co-founder Julian Feild, who donated the land to the school district, which recently transferred the site to the city. It served as an educational property for more than 150 years, first as the Mansfield Male and Female College and later as the first home of Mansfield ISD.

The original Mansfield High School, where protestors and Texas Rangers stopped the attempt to integrate on Aug. 30, 1956, still stands on the site.