February 26 - March 4, 1998 page 17 A Tribute To A.H. Parker High School
.H. Parker High School has maintained a stately position on 8th Avenue. This artist rendering shows a building that has since been removed, but tillihes in the hearts of thousand nh .. gained a foundation Cor success at Birmingham's oldest high school for African American student~. rker High Inspired Ca lotta Harris To Teach By Shcrrel Wheeler Stewart Harris has taught at Parker al vided the paint and some tools, and ted 38 years to the education of stu and went to North Carolina A&T you have push and pull, but when most every day for the past 43 years. the shop students and others rolled dents of that institution, was first in UnIversity After teachlllg in North Ihey develop a sense of prid.:, you Like thousands of alumni who have up theIr sleeves to turn the cOllages efforts to prepare BIrmingham city Carolina ahout 10 years. he returned can see the difference." attended Birmingham's most presti into a school. residents wilh a challenging high 10 Alabama and taught in the Bir Dansoy silid school pride has gious high school, Harris said, "once In 1933 news articles, Dr. A.H., school curricululn mingham school system 2H years been on or Ihe reasons for the change you havc been part of the Parker ex Parker said: "I asked the people liv The school has maintained ils befon: rctmng in Ihe ~chool's reputation in recent pcricnce, it will always be a part of ing in the cottages to vacote as soon reputallon over Ihe years. although I Ike Mrs. Harris, Canty ~ilid years. you" as possible. hey werc in sympathy it has struggled With some of the once you become a pan of Parkel, it "When I came 10 work here [ Parker High School was founded with us and committed readily. As same difficulties filced by other ur b,'comes a part of you fmever. couldn't sken some nights because as Industnal High School in 1900. soon os a coaage would be vacated, ban schools. CUllly IS part of an alumm group new~ reporter would be calling my Its mISSIOn wa, simple - the edu· the shop boys entered, took out all Industrial High outgrew the. that lIleets regularly (0 plan udivi hou e tn lalk about something that calion and academic preparation of the partilions. fumigated and calci COllages in 1919. and n Lent was tics for contlOuing the fellowship of had happened at the school:" Dansby Negro children in the BIrmingham mined the interior; then girls would erecled in the front yard of the "hool Parker friends and uppnrting Ihe aid "Today I can say tbings have Public School System. come along with brooms, mops, t andle the over!1ow. In 1920 ne- school. Par~cr also has a "United" heen quiet for a while. I am very The school opened it:; doors with scounng powders. tubs and pan. to I' t' n.' hcgan for the pre t"nt il , Ahllunl A 'SllCiatjlll') Ihal meel regu th,mI.IW.Ili\d prdY Ihal il conlinues." 18 tudents. But as the years pro· give the whole interior a thorough, and lit 1924 an new Inuu trial High larly and eonIIllUe._ hI upport thc Dansby las Instiluted programs gres,ed, it was not uncommon to find cleaning. School huilding was completed. scho()lthrough variet) of aClivitles. in rccent year, to increase sludenl Carlotta Harris more than 3.000 students studying al "As soon as one house was fin Steven Canty grauuelted from Ju ·1 last year. Ihe class of 19-13 moti vallon and to recognize all of the school on any given day. ished in this way, we moved a clans Parker in the class of 1943. He re dona led $1,600 to Ihe Parker High Iho.'e "ho make achievcments. When Carlolla Harris was a ,tu· Two graduation ceremonies in and began on the next vacant members still feels much of Ihat School com pUler program. The class 'Aoout three times each year we dent at Parker High St:hool in the were held each year in the early days house." spirit Dr. Parker talked about. has mude olher subslanllal donal ions hay.: a luncheon for the most im 19305 and early 40s, she watched of Industrial High School. Most of "When the interiors of the all "Everything about Parker was to Ihe school throughout the years, proved students. The honor students with amazement as teachers'; ,uch time Ihe number of students recei v the cottages were completed, and great." Canty saId. "We had a lot of Dr. Eddie Dansby, Ihe currenl arc recognized all of the time, but as Major Brown and Mrs. Mablc ing theIr diplomas at each ceremony the classes moved in the Board of activities. Our band was great. The pllncipulof Parker High School wcl the siudents who improve their Murphy taught studenLs the basics n:achd more than 400. Education furnished us with painl sports teams were great, and Ihe aca comes the support of Parker alumnI. grades from Os to Cs and Bs also and the complicated lessons of Industrial High was born of and Ihe school boys painted all of demi.:s were great too. "Its imponant for our sludents deserve some recognition and en mathematics. humble existence' these 14 cOllages." "There was just something to sec Ihe love and dcvotlon alumm couragelllent So they can continue, Sometimes those classes were The school started in a building "While we were building and aboul Parker that gave us the foun contlllue to have for Parker High he said. pa<.:ked with more thun 50 students. ncar its current site. Whcn that bUIld Ihus making our own schoolhouse dalion for a healthy self-esteem." he School," Dansby saId. He is in his "We have strong academics and And there were no class ing was condemned, the relocated there was built into the SPirit of the said. eighlh year as prinCIpal of the school alhletles, und we want it to con changes when the bell rang The from thilt building to 14 cOltages on school - spirit of strength and a pur "We excelled because we tried. that IS filled 10 capacity with 1150 llnue," he said "This kind of ll'achers moved from class sc<.:tU1I1 8th Avenue. AI the time, there were pose Ihat I firmly believe is the W knew w- had to succeed." Canty students. achicvemelll ha, always been a part to class section. 14 cottages on the land. The cottages foundatIon of the Institution even to said. "When students don't excel "We al\\iays talJ.. all,lut Parker of the Pal!..cr tradition." "I \~as crazy about all of my were occupied by famIlies who the present time." Parker said. now II'S usually because they do not Pride We try to instill Ihis pride The tradition is one of the rca teachers. They inspired us. And moved so that the school could con Industrial HIgh School, now try or have not applied thcmselves." wllhin OUI ,tudenls and get them to sons Mrs. Harris ~till teaches at Mule I sat in class. I knew I wanted tmue. known as Parker High School in Canty became a teacher. He focus on pride in themselves and in Parker nfter -l3 years. to be teach 109 at Parker one day." The school system only pro- honor of Dr Parker who commit- graduated from Parker at age of 16 their school," he said. "Sometime Parker High School History Local Educator Credits Parker High For Success Special To The World From The Records At The Parku High Schoof Learnillg Resource Cellter With The Assistallce oj Ms. Camp BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -Ask me take on ~ome responsibili. MIlton Hurst about Parker High ties," aId Hurst. DUff ng the school year of Avenue H and Fourteenth Street, School. and he swells wHh pride "The school was a nurturing 1899, some Negro cilizens nf Bir South. the Negro high school was like a proud papa. environment. Our teacher made mingham called a historic muss formally opened with eighteen stu Hurst, a retired UAB aca us feel as Ihough we could ac meeting. The purpose of this meel dents. The end of Ihe fin;t year saw demic adVIser and member of the compl ish anything. They taught ing WilS to draw up a pctllion in an enrollment of forty-live students. Parker High School Class of us black history and invited in which Ihe Ncgroes of this ~lly The tlurd year was marked by 1950, remembers Parker as a spirational speakers to the would request the Board of Edu the addition of MISS Orlean D. place where school pride flour SChool, and we felt we were the cation to establish a tax-supported Kennedy to the faculty. In 1904 the Ished III the minds of the students best In the counlry." school f(lr Negroes. Dr. W. R. first seDlor class, made up of fifteen and faculty despite the racial seg In his senior year. HurH com Pelliford. president of the Alabama memhcrs. grauualcd. regation of Ihe day. And it was peted in the citywide BIrming Penny Savings Bank, a Negro In 1910 Ihe school wos moved tough, no-nonsense Instructors ham News Oratnrical Contest in owned financial Inslilution, and to a three·story frame building on like English leacher Leona Reed which he w(ln u scholarship 10 Mrs. B. H. Hudson, a cashier of Eighth Avenue between Eleventh and - now Leona Pallon - and his Talladega College. After re<.:ei\' that Bank. were the leadmg spirih Twellth Streets, North. ThIS site was tory teacher Dessle Ray, who ing on e~onolllics degree at Tal m this efforl Dr Samuel Ullman. then known as the Lane Auditorium. taught them to be proud In spite ladega College, he earned an Chairman of the Buard of Educa· formal classes In mdustrial training of the lilTlltcd opportunIties of MBA from Allanta Universily tion, encouraged the movement: began and the school hecame known fered to blacks, Hurst said. and studied counseling at Auburn and during the ummer of 1900, the as the Industrial High School. "They were taskmasters," University. He then returned 10 Board established the high ,~hool. In the summer of 1914. the city Hurst said as he fondly reflected Tallcdega to, wClrk as an assistant Upon recol11lllendatlOn of Ihe huilding 111 pector condemned the on hiS teachers' insistence on to the president und Ihcn as dI schuul superintendent, Dr. 1. Lane Building. anu the Board pur· excellence and discipline. School rector of alumni alTalrs and ruh - Herbert PhIllips, Ihe Board up chased Ihe United Presbyterian counselor GrifflO Day and Pnn he relations. He laler taught eco· pointed Arthur Harold ParJ..er 10 School on the corner of Eighth Av cipal R.C Johnson also were in nomics he fore becoming the dean Milton Hurst, Class of (May) 1950 serve as the prinCIpal and only enue and Nlnlh Slree!. On the SpOI strumentul in teaching him ahout of Student affairs. teacher of the new dlOOl, which stood a mall church and a dwelling honor and responsibdity. Hurst then wenl hack to Au lion inslructor rllr LJAB Oplions, ~J..llls lind thai they ,on at:llleve was 10 be known a the Negro HIgh of ~cven room,. Later the Board "Griffin Day made me appre burn Universily til work as direc a conlinuing ~du(;utlOn progl Joe Dick.o,on - n. \\: cars ... K8: Oh, yes. Played utImpcl. Gnffin nw: l11at's 1115 nunt? Kirkwood Halton - KH 8W: They would gct you out of the the Day, you can't forget hun . 1\8: Yes, and his mother also taught tllCfC. ater I understand. 8W: Who taught History over thel\!? 8W: I didn't know Ius mother taught HW: We 're chromdmg P;ukcr High K8: 11leY would get you arlywhere you K8: Willi;un ...MaJor Brown taught His Iherc. S'hml. l>.. 'C Interview with J. Mason Davis about BW: 11,"t was common then'! father. went to Wilberforce.a nd he welc private schools sel up Untlel the Parker High School and the JMD: It was a common thing Occausc came a graduate of that University whole sudal wei fare program (If the community in general the Iugh schools were three year schools. Two of the DaVIS children we t tn Tel Compalllcs. Schools such iC> TaJlooega mamtaineo Wilberforce and three of the 0 \IS It was sai" that schooh such as Birmingham World: What is it that four years high schools and many of the children went to Talladega All fIve Wenonah. Ishkooda, makes Parker High School graduates children of the protessors and the towns' graduated from college. Muscoda.Westfleld , Praco an" so proud of the fact that they arc gradu people attended those preparatory BW: Ebony Magazine carned II fcol' Hooper City were somc of thc tlllest ates of the A.H. Parker High School? schools at Talladega. ture article on Parker that salu high sdHlols in this arca. J. Mason Davis: Well. there are a lot Wilherforce. Fisk .. . Tuskcgee. Parker High School was the lar C,I ... I can remcmher th.: cady day s of of reasons. And you are askIng me to Dillard . all had Preparatory high Negro school in the world. tha t. it had my practIce. thc peoplc thut I repre put it in perspective during the time schools and the faculty of the high somc of the most innovativ e Ilr(l s.l'nted who itttcndetl those schools that I attended Parker a little hcfore school and college were mterchange grams of any hlack school In DI IC. wert' well educated. vel y celllSClen and after? able. The chIldren who attended the Docs Parker YCt have that enviahle tlOlIS . It was a plcasure to represent BW:Yes. preparatory schools were able to get position'? them JMD: Okay. Parker was the only the same type of education that they JMD: We have to keep everything It was a different day.. B,,,;k then . public four years high school in BIr would gel going over into the college in conte x\. You are talking aooutthc those who came from the steel COIll mingham during the years of public program. issue that came out somewhere lIluOlties, thcir parents had a great tie school segregation. BW: That's very interesting. among 1950 and 1952. Parker may ,irc for thcir children to succeed BW: So we are talking about what to JMD: Arthur Shores finished hIgh have been the largest high school in They pushed education and insisted what? school at Talladega he attcnded terms of studenL~. lin the child learnll1g. they encour JMD: 1 am talking about from 1900. Parker and was my father's class· We were therc in hordes. hcca u~e aged disciplinc. Industrial High School was formally mate They aucnded Parker High that was the only public high school At Falrfieltl Indmtrial High School. established by the Birmingham School. left after th.: thIrd year and People that lived outside the cIty 11m there w,,, Dr E.J. Oliver who was my Board of Education until the date of graduated from hIgh school. entered ItS .... and their parents worked for the grandfathcr DaVIS ' student at Thomas desegregation of the Birmingham the college program and became Tennessee Coal. Iron and Land Corn· public schools in the middle sixues. graduates of Talladega College. My pany. attended the Tel schoo ls. They See J. Maso1l Oil page 21 .J. Mason Da v is The majonty of that period of time. until 1952. Parker was the only pub lic high schooh hat the Board ofEdu cation maintained exclusively for persons of Afncan-American de scent. In 1951. Ullman became a four-year high school. The kids that were in my class that had come to Parker in the eleventh grade from Ullman went back to Ullman, they became the first graduating class In 1952. BW: They talk about Dr. Parker ... JMD:Yes ... BW : ... and. the work he did at the A. H. Parker HIgh SchooLl read his The Dream That Came True ... JMD: ... Yes BW.: ... Do you know anythinll ~bo\Jt Mr. Parker? Your family. did any of them nttend Parker High School. Did they know anything about this gendeman? JMD: Yes ... We knew Dr. Parker very well. I did not know him personally, be cause when Dr. Parker died I was four years old. He was a member of the same church that I am a member of, the First Congregational Church. His spouse gave the first electronic pIpe organ that the church owned. Subsequent to that there was a hand pumped wind instrument that I had the privilege. along with all those other boys. We kept air in the organ so that the pipe organ could operate. Dr. Parker was origmally from the Quad Cities, went to Ohio to live. attended school there in Oberlin. He later came back to Birmingham and became what ANNISTON DISTRICT was consIdered Superintendent of the (205) 236-0711 black schools. It was Dr Parker, who persuaded the Board of EducalJon to start a high ~hool BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT for African-Americans in the City of Bir PiiCO has a 75 year history of professional service and (205) 328-8425 mingham. Meyer Newfield's grandfather was also on the Board of Education when HUNTSVILLE DISTRICT my grandfather was htree! in the Birming (205) 726·8844 ham Public School System as pnncipal at Cameron Elementary School in 1895 or·96. MOBILE DISTRICT Meyer, at 93.is a member of this ftrrn to caring to its thousands of policyholders in Alabama. (334) 433-4979 day. BW.: Wh:l1 WiC> yourgnllldfather·s narne? MONTGOMERY DISTRICT JMD: His name was W. C. Davis. for whom Davis Elementary School was (334) 262-1660 namedm 1949or·50.andtodayit'sDavis Center over on 4th Avenue and between SELMA DISTRICT 29th and 30th Streets South. (334) 874·8021 BW: Did your mother and father attend We are proud to salute A.H. Parker High School Parker High School? JMD: Yes. my father attended Parker TUSCALOOSA DISTRICT High School. My father was in the band (205) 7587269 at Parker High School. B.W: Wen: you In the band'? JMD: J was in the band at Parker High School and Fess Wha1Iey was the hand and its legacy and tradition of excellencl'. master when my father was there at Parker. He played a trumpet. I playcJ trumpet My son play~ trumpet However. he attended 10hn Carroll. My futher ... my Aunt Wilma and Aunt Isabel ... all the Davises auended Parker fnr three years. because it WI!! not II four-ycarhighscl1 February 26 • March 4, 1998 page 21 • II Parker High School Section KirkwoodJrompage 19 hi- dtnner. he would th.lIlb't ,Iothcs and Nowm 'r 16, 11)59. I ne\'er wlllliJq;tl whallher do. You know.lhere·s an old I'wkerYouta/kaoouICohnPuwtll.Colin In edlk:ilUon . r hale n Mastc-r'5 Degttt owntOwn. lf Inc MAI'progtamlJU:CCd". all of them ~ouid get be!unJ him. ",wk. II. II \\as tWO monlhs afler my bah) ",'J" >;1l1(Y ahout eVCf)boJy with a degree !hal \ Powell's wife. Alma Johnson. wa. in fmlll SamJOOJ Ul1\vl."r<.ity hecDu»c he paid nnd 1 think II C' Ul and should , We are go. up the hill to Cm,,: A. "Juggle. do", 0 m bUill I had many opruIUlIlue, here.'l1le been hen: x-number of years get paid the sctool Wllh Ole, Her fnlher was prioc,ptl\ fOI it. We are carrymg un in thol stunc illg to have attmu)ons downtowll and the bowl . and that's where we .... wldpla)' opp.Iturul1Cli I ha'l: hat.I here al Booker samelhing. of the school. Robert C. John-.on. There tradIuon . wc' It' gOlllg to be nght in the cenll:r of. ball and practi~"e . Sometinll:~ he ",ouid Wa..rungtoD I wouldn 'I gi\e It up fOf any BW: Regardless of what you do? are a 101 of people a111ll:russ this nation. W.: invite kid, to come here and Ill.l\1! Suwe'rcpulllnllnnew Iront onourbuild get us 00 II trud. - now that was danger thing in the WCM'ld There lTUIy ha\'e been KB : Regnrdles.~ofwhatyoudo,!hemllll whJ came oul of Pader. Iuoch Willi u> ill our Bo:w Roolll We IJlII we are pull 109 tlnt'W l!1 1Ullt~ fllmt with ous - butlte would gel us on the truCk and bigger plxe;. man: IT1CIlC) , but nodung acn:l'>S the hall can ~uce twenty "A" BW; In addition to being 0111 edUC'.luon WllI1t them to sec wflat n Boan! Room's IjgJltill~ Md gln~, and wlurrms. thill's the we would go play. Hc gOI us ullifOl1lb. more ImJ'UWlt than the c perieoo: and srudents nod the one on this side can pr0- It could aloo be a tourist attrnc Itke we want them to 'iCC whal n real f\flit exterior .. CTaig Smdey IS on of those folk ~ ho Ie SOIlS thaI 1 ha\ e learned under Dr. duce IwenlY "0"5, but they gel the same tion7 quality hfe Is like. But mOle Importanl BWL.ooks guod .... illu:1l you that DadJy played II lremCIl G:tston's k::IdeMip. pal 8,',1 don'lIhink Iha!'s fair• KB; II would be the gl'Catest 1(l\lrl~1 t than that. we '" 1lIlt to tell them what ~le KB: WC·ll.l gulng to d!! lhe ~t tlung dous rule m his tife. Craig w:b a bod boy He always gave e,erybOOy a chan<:e. he BW: You think there was something else. traction in this town , BUl.lI1m~ importanl worJ..plru:e will loot. like when they get with Ih<: interior, Wll willll1a1..c this oolld •_ 1 mean bad rxdtly put him out oCthe gll"e me a chance This ~ IIle boy from a going on when you had those leaChers ... than the building. we've Just b'OllO get t~It' . ln order to gel UlClt'. thev've gOt to ing fiN ch'\.~. 11$ Dr Ga.\ton taughl us to Icague. Daddy "'as president of the. He family of ele\'eIl from ElKm Ridge who KB : Yes. those tcache~. were proud to b:ick to a quality education, It.:. nOl how >Iud:;, So. uur aim i. to try III influence I1S he. You know that,Joe. He ll.,oo to tell us wll'In't on [xiddy's IC'dITI. he WJ!>lI ' t on sooxhow gOl to be Chairman and Presi- be teachers SIIlllrt you are. Its how mu.h you get 10 1Tlll!l)' Im1o, 11\ wv can Let them know", hat Ull1llf you eM 't go til'lOt c1a'oS. don'l go. the Ie,lnl we played fur, I wa~ ailrud be • dent of thi, COOlpan)". !he Ct.'ret to th.1t is BW They were interested in education, talk We've got some people \\oho are it, going 10 be Iik.e when they get down stay where you nrc. II.'. imporuml 10 u~ = I thought Cl'aIg was gomg to re-deh hanl Wll, I rune been working ""l1<:e 1 KB: During that time. teaching was our nfnud to read. I thmk we suffered some the rood. We do that by 1 Elemenlary. Hc(grandfather Davis) trocized until he: worked his way back IOto School,andTalJadegaCoUege.lhatmakes nesses in this community? er.; have. percent nnd we bury the sIXty percent. had been principal at Thomas from the mal fabric again, you the person thai you are today, you are JMD: They come in all categories and They know whalthey have becnu.o;e tele But our in~ur"nce prOtJucl5 un; I\ur J 905 until his death in 1935. We had ba,eball and softball leams, a member of one of a large:; law finn ..... it's hard 10 answer with a generalized an vision has shown them what the others chased pritTIorily ,n thai fony [lCrcent Dr, Oliver was there (at PIHS) He in ...... YMCA Industrial Basehall League. .ThID: This is a large law finn. we have swer. There will always be the conve have. If Uley do not have t moncy as the grollPing, sisted on discipline. proper decorum. and played tearns all around lown. Wood 108-110 lawyers, four locations, we em nience stores. the barber shops and beauty others whnt arc they going to do'? RIghI now we me losing that mJlrkel. and learning. lawn. Thirty-FIrSt Street Red Socks. Fair ploy over 300 people. salons, There will always be the garages, TIley are going to gel It. Our new team ,s workmg hned Iv train He took care of thaI for the boys and field. En"ley. AClJx:o, North Bim1Ulgll=. I think Parker. if it did no more, it gave aUlo mechanics and the cleaning seJ'Yices. The futllre of inner cily educl1lion is tied our sales consullants 111 order Ihal Ms . Mnl'€I Neely, my Uncle Jack Mclin Park. South Town. TItUsVille. me an exposure to people of like kind The futlJrl> for block business is the same up with the CCOIlOll1ll:. Sf.1C lul, religIOUS. they wHl he lUllrllll!' \he,bMlt inHhc Davis' assmal mTullndcg8,m, isled GI".lyrllOnt, Smilllficld __We ... 1iII p ayed ~nd ~ople of different kind. I enj Yt:d.; tbr Ihe gcnetnl economy, In Ofdcr and health systemS', ., All of the "C!,tUllllrl' huslllcs!;, I . on that for the gltls. They had a tradi WIth each other. we knew those kic15. being with other people. I think the leam t maintain any business. il is nlrnOSI im impact' on tllC child tha! ",a1k> In rhe BW: You have II vcsu:d "itcresl~"'l tion out at Fairfield when they come Kirkwood Balton. who is now Chairman. ing SOCIal interaction had a great deal to JUSlble 10 base it lIS uneighborhood buSI school. Il~ other hlack ht"'OI:"r;s inICr"~I? into a~scmbly they sang Th~ Old Ship and CEO of the Booker T. Washmgton do WIth the: per.>On !hal I am, ness that enlers 10 one segment of the BW :Can wcrcrm'dy whm we I~jvcnow '? JMO: II is that segmenl oj the busi O/Zion .. in"Jrnncc Family of Comp..mies . ... hi~ The family background, Their insisting population, It's too mobile When we JJ.\,ID: We nrc trying llS hnn! 11$ we can. nesses lhall nllll1ed inilllllly. It IS Ihe OW: When (was Ihere. Get On BtHUd father ... is t:redited by almost every boy !hat you not ordy do your work: in thecom Jived m Enon Ridge nnd Smithfield there. but the prugmnlli are nOI cn<.:ompassmg. barher,. benutJdul1s. auto 11lcch'IO.I:S, WOlS the song that you did not wanl to of my age that lived in Smithfield. ur. pany. they also insisted that you did your you had a concenU'lllion of 80% of tlle One pmgnun CiUll1()\ help wly1hmg un, l1()velty slOre and ~n"vc"it:nce 'lore, hene Enon Ridgc WIth being the person thal work. al home. I could not go to work or black middle class. Icss it helps all of the lactor.; tllat I ju<;t nwner Tht: person who has bUsi · JMD: •.. Today. I am geumg stories led them mlo the righl way of LIfe, He go out to play on the week-ends until I That is no longer true, named. You cannot hdp me if IllavC onc nesses in West End and other pI ce5 from out of the public .o;chuols where (MI,Balton) insi~tOO OIl u.\ playing s~ had lirst mopped the kilchen and done The future tOr any busine'-S. any cthl11C tU1Tl teaching meaJob thai requires two where they sell rClallthtngi. "lnc hal children arc dOlllg the very converse. we had 10 play II properly."know lhe the bathrooms, I had to clean the bath grouping's busil1CSl> is only lIS good Illi the anns, be-cue shucks. illhc community busi They are cn.:()uragillg and insisting thai rub:' he demanded. room floors. make sure in the spring and product or SCJ'Ylce it offers 10 all 01 the BW: Does eliminl1ung problcm~ JII in ness III the ghetto Ihal h,,, ICl l'ome other sludenL' nOI succeed, not spe.u.: We had to prepare the: place where we wnrncr that the front porch was clean, publiC. 1h: demand 11ll~ to be there the ner city education mcnns that we need !(1l!ctllcr ('ur thell surviv.d. 1<1 he ahle correct English. nOI to h By Joe N. Dickson BIRMINGHAM WORLD VISITS ing to do something because back in those knocked me orr my high horse .. I was at TIlE Reverend Doctor John 11Iomas days, they would say, "Now, son, what the pinnacle of my college career. I hal Porter, Pastor Sixth Avenue Baptist are you going to be in life?" "I don't know. this great distinguished career ahead of Church Graduate A.H. Parker High Well, we had to know something. You me and got right to the top, and the bc~ . School 1949 had to have an answer. They didn't ac tom fell out. 1 didn't go back to get my cept, "I don't know". clothes for two years. I went home for a BW: Dr. Porter, good morning, we're BW: It was Parker High School, then few days, it was two years before I went glad to have the privilege of talking with Alabama State? back. During my confinement I gave >;c. you this morning. We are going to JP: Yes. rious thought to what I would do with my chronicle your high school this year. BW: What did you do, what happened Ufe. JP: Okay. at Alabama State? BW: And it was on to ITC? BW: Education is becoming such a issue JP: I was in English .. .! had a history JP: Yes. In our community, we wanted to talk with major, that was Henry Williams ... A his BW: Did you serve any time as assistant some graduates of Parker High School. tory major and an English minor. It was pastor or student pastor before you went We want you to share some of the experi in college that I began to give serious toITC? ences that vou had at Parker Hil!h School thought to what 1 would do with my life; JP: Yes, after I got sick 1 went to Wash· with our readers. and, actually, it was during a period of ington and worked for the Department of JP: The kind of teachers we had at Parker illness, when I had to leave college I was Navy as a clerk typist. This was typing made all the difference in the world Not confined for, almost a year. that I learned atAH. Parker High School. the building or the grounds but the teach During that confinement I had a talk with BW: So, Parker High School had, in ef ers. the Lord. ReaUy, my senior year in col fect ... It was an experience to sit under Henry lege, I went in to Dr. Adair, the school JP: Had prepared me for the time when Williams in a history class. He would physician. He told me that ... he had taken I needed work. 1 went to Washington preach history. To some people history some tests, and he said I was a very sick because of what I had learned at Parker is, boring ... but not at Parker... not under person. And it was at the peak of my col High School. And I worked for Depart Henry Williams. lege career. He told me that he had to send ment of Navy as a Clerk-Typist for about You had your literature class. The teach the test off when it came back and he told ... a year and a half until 1 got enough ers in the English c1asses,literature ... the me that I had cancer or tuberculosis. I took money to go back to Alabama Slate to poetry that I quote now in my sermons, it like, "That old man don't know what finish. many of them I learned at Parker. I think he's talking about". It was then, my senior year that Martin that the teachers, and I ean Just name them 1 told them 1 was going home for a few came to town, my senior year atAlabama Rev. John T. Porter, Pastor Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, A.H. PInker Graduate-1949. one after another, that made all the differ days to rest and to not make any decision State was Martin's first year at Dexter. ence, and how blessed we were to have until I returned. BW: At Dexter? BW: That wasn't ITC .. Morehouse Church ... and it wa~ Benjamin Mays. papcrsure bemg puhhshcd .. thcre aJ\: fnul that opportunity to be exposed. to be in 1 didn't go back for two years. JP: That's when he invited me to be his School of Religion? (Laughter) I said Benny got all his hoys volumcs out so tiu. He must have kept spired. pulpit assistant. JP: Morehouse School ofReligion.That he got the deccased pubh~hcr and he has e"cl), piece of paper hce'ci IccciVl'd.llc Many of us came from families whose BW: So, were pulpit assistant for Dr. wa~ one year before rrc. I'm one of the this great pa~tor who's silting down and has iI lett,'1 that I \\ rotc him I d, 111 't re· parents had not gone to college, we could '7""""'''' __ ... King? few Wllh Benjamin Mays' signature on Bcnny's doing the work. He Wll.' the old m.:ml-cr writing him a leuer. but he's got not get inspiration for post high school """"'l/iliiii.-."." __... ,, .. WI""...... JP: Yes. His first year as pastor at Dexter my ... man, wll.,n·t he'! the letter in ther.: thai h.: thaI he wrotc education from our parents because they was my last year at Alabama State.That's BW: ... On your ... I noticed when our JP: Yes ... I'd forgotten that. hack to me. really had no experience themselves, we '~-"1I1 ,."", where it started. I spent a year sitting next illusuious editor was eulogized at this Have you seen the picture of MJJ1Jn and 5""~""'WWI had to get it from our high school teach .. 5 to him when he wasjustJohn Doc,jll~t a church .• The Sixth Avenue Baptist myself tll.U cwnc out when ... MiUlin's I I ers. ...-11 77=4 ...... local pa.~tor. Finest preaching I ever heanJ ' BW: What teacher would you say had -}III". in my life. 18 l '11 ' t 1 f • I the most profound effect on John Porter? BW: Was heard under Dr. King? JP: (Laughing) Many of them are still BW:For two years? JP: Yes ... yes ... yes. alJve.l betternotquotc ..... lean namesev JP: I was president of everything in BW: Well, after you left there .... era!. I think of people like Henry Will sight You couldn't vote against me with JP: After that year, I wentlo ... Morehouse e iams. I think about Mrs. BU(IlCtt, she's not out coming by the room and explaining School of Religion, after one year, I gradu- 1- Burnett now, she has Mothername. She's why you voted against me. But the Lord ated . still alive. She was an English teacher. I think about Whetstone. W. W. Whetstone, just inspiring, the shared with you beyond school hours. Whetstone was a counse As 'Itt I S COI.l 1'.(;1 : I'IH 1'\l1I ' ~ IOi{ ' 1' lor for one ofour high school social clubs. CE'1"l In. more dun ,j\ thOlI\.md ~r ' IYII.tn.. ·, He would find the time to be with us, to through It, uoor"i. Th" tJ.!~\L·;u - old IO,Uttl guide us, and this was after the hours of ICJrning h .. l\ proJlII.:cd \Ollle tlfthe IlJ(i(ln\ I1lCl\t school, which meant that he got no pay anti Innucl1tiallcaJer\: for it, .. his Interest went beyond just eight Ridwrd :1rnllJ!,/fJJI. h: r',:":;): '1.1~CIf of H,fnl",wn."n.· hours of class work. tCrlm): BW: The consurnate teacher who cares I ' tl' ( .'//,lIIfllI ('6.;) Federal J",J~e of \1 "bJn1"; about the student in his community. O. },mlll' (;mll ('76). arl'Cllnted to rhl' \\mld '\I" JP: Yes. Prcsiuclll Clinwn; BW: Well, you had these good teachers Dt; SothOlltul ""I//Ild (·or'). PreSidenr, and all, what was influenced you to be \ lni\cr\lty: c Are you ready for April? Dr: Pun 1I;lId (·n,v). PrcSlJent, 1.",,,,,11 ~rarc and all, what was influenced you to be College; come a minister? If not, give us a call today, I\lIk~""(Jd Hilltml (,57). I'rcSlJent ,md ( FO, JP: I don't think I got anything from o WECANHELPJ \\ 'a,hin~ton In\uram:c C()mp~IIl\ ; school that guided me into the ministry, .- F"'d II: HII/II ('Sr'). former \1,II"""J"'['lle because back in the '40's for a young man to say I am going into the ministry", he Dr: I.(JIIIJ /Jfll, (,0('): I)"c<'or. \I.IIl.IInJ \IIt,lJllT either Ik'ld had a nervous breakdown, or Compliance at [1.\13; his rmnd was Just bad. It was just not re )rJu}. /.""1.,. Sf: (''i-ll: I'"hl"he,. 1I,,,,,ttl,,h.1t1l ' t VI: I.llthn II'I/illlll.' I'M).' \"j".ltlt I ally a popular thing to do. 785-1100 S(:icnce F"llmi..lti(lO; I think my religious orientation carne from 1'(/111 1I(/1If.< (,19): rorme, IHe'Hiel1r. the church. I think the forming of charac Jn'wralll."C CompJn\. ter and integrity, it carne from the school r" ,_ - The also. CO\SIIHR TilE STIli IlLS ' Oh, I had one teacher who would whip I, I ,\ Learning us half to death, and she was an ordained • 'umher one in enrollment j.!rO\\lh .IIHong .11141 l ~zone,lnc. mcmhcr tn,rtUltion, in the I.I\r the \c.tr\ preacher. • Fnulmnlcnt ha' illtU:.I\CU 2Xl ~ BW: She would beat you half to death. P.O. Box 584 • (,racJuJ[lon rate ha, i nlfc,,,cd (,W:, JP: Yes. • Alumni ha,c of morc rh'lIl 1tI.tlOti BW: Today you can't beat anybody. 7070 Aaron Aronov Drive, Su ite B,103 JP: She would put that strap on you. The Fairfield, Alabama 35064 oricntation to the ministry came later, when I tx:carne more focused on actually what I was gomg to do. I knew I was go- \\'ith numhe" likc rhi" you l"ll1 'ee \\ h\ \Iile, ( : "lI q~c Irlll\ h . • 1101 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive "PreparillK l,{'{/dersfo/' the list ("{'IItU/:!' " Birmingham, Alabama 35111 (105) 151,5173 ' __ SIXTH AVENUE BAPTISrr CHURCH Rev. John T. Porter, Pastor 1881 MEQIIIJ'PING CIIRIST1ANI TO SOlVE" 1991 MIL E S COLLEGE DR AIHfRI J. II . ~1.t)1\ , II . PHI ' I IlI\1 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BIRMINGHAM WORLD 5500 \IIRQ\ \I\~'£I BOI UI\RIl, 1· \IIHIF. I.Il . II. \,Uh-l' I !I~ \l rl~1 1\ 1"1111'1')\ IN THE , ( 11 I 12'1' '12'1 11111) CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH I February 26 - March 4, 1998 page 23 Parker High Schoo Section A "Dream That Came True" The Autobiography of A.H. Parker Special To The World ForcwO/d had Ihe privilege ofattendillg Ihe In We are happy to present here" A dustrial High School at Birmillgham, Drealll That Callie True. " the Auto Alabaflla, ullder his efficielll biography of Arthur Harold Parker. prillcipulsitip, alld 10 the mallY mell Tht' first release lI'illappear serially alld womell who have camel to know III the Illdustrial High School Record, itim ill other COllllections. the jUl/mal of the school. in which Earl" ill his mall hood he believe in thl' aI/thor has givl'lI his best alld Ihe SOlllh and its promises for his //lust fruitful senllee to humanil'\~ As people. As a reslill ofhis beliefhe cast it is published by uur paper ollr prim his lot in Binllingham. While he has ers will also be primillg it (IS a book.. been a vital force for good in worth Shortly lifler Ihe last installmelll in while comllumit)' affairs. his chief ~ our paper, If will appear ill book imeresl has been in Ihe educalion of 1urm. Ihe vasl lIIajorit}- "the ninety and - ThllS 11'1' will perpetuale Ihis life his nine "-oflhe Negro .1'011111 ofthis cil),. to1), so that it will prol'e an inspira As principal of the Industrial Higlt tiol/ to ourpeoplt' throughflllllre gen School from its beginlling llIltit now, eratio/H. Ite, like the late Booker T. Washing 11lis autobiography 1I0t ollly will tell lon, believed that the foultdation of .:Ihe .ltory of the author s own life but eve/)' race IIIIISI be laid in tlte com it \I'i/l trace the history of our Public malt every-day occupalions that are :. School System especially of Illdus- righl abollt our doors. With this deep trial High School. II is unique in Ihat personal conviction as 10 Ihe educa he is 0111.1' the perSall who call trace tion of the majorit), of the Negro the growth of the school with SItch youlh, he has courageously and pa accuwcy: it is cOl/cise because 11011 - tiently labored 10 his end spite of essentials are omitted; it is illleresl crilicisllls. handicaps and discour iI/X bl'ewise illS so human; il is vail/ aJlemelll. Bul thru it all, he keplfailh able becallse il is readable and ma)' wilh tlte SOlllh and especially with • be IIsl'd to advalltage III our clas; Birmingham. maills and wtll prove eql/allyas ell The Induslrial High School which tertaillUlg for ollrleisure readillg. was so long poorly housed and scant Juliet R. Bradford ily equipped loday has buildings, Birmingh(/m. Ala. equipment. organization and a spirit Intro(/I/('(ioll second 10 none. Indeed it is "A The seniceable life of A.H. Parker Dream That Came True, " the subject CCllIlIOI be laid in writing. These few oflhis autobiography. Moreover, this words willch we are so happy 10 give school conspicuous for its induslrial Dr. A.H. Parker (front center) with members of his early facult. In its infancy A.H. Parker was known as Industrial High in introductIOn to his autobiography training, has sent out year after year • are IlIl1lecessary. especially for Ihe School and for many years was considered "the largest negro high school in America." hl/ndreds of boys alld girls who have See Drem page 28 Worl.d'i BIII.II N.lrO Hllh Ichool Support The B· mingham World Call 251-6523 For Details Birmingham's Parker has largest June graduating class, highest enrollment THIS MONTH more than ing a Negro com/nunity of more than 100.00 Negro youngsters will get 210,000. Parker has for many years LawsQ State Community College their diplomas in high schools across combined in lIS curriculum both ,/"' the nation. Largest colored graduat academic and trade training. Its gradu ing class Will comeout of a 50-year ates who will continue their school old Instllution in the Deep South, ing in college will find thelT educa • Birmingham's sprawling Parker tion IS up to the high standards 01 the "African Ameri,-,-._ in B slness High. which is the biggest Negro high best universities. Those who look for school in the world with an enroll a job will dIscover that their voca ment of 3. 702 students. tional courses qualifty them for em The Path Toward Empowerment " The alert. aspiring 476 cap and ployment at a decent wage. "owners al Parker's commencement Since its opening day as Indus will leave the school with the usual trial High School in September, 1900 A Time to Remember... fonu memories of exciting Friday af (the name was changed to Parker has ternoons at Legion Field watching tri mushroomed tremendously from its umphant Parker football teams, first morning class of 18 pupils. Its dancingwith the girlfriend at the Se vast growth is symbolic in many ways nior Prom in the lunchroom and bull of the startling increase in all second sessions at the cross-the-street con ary schools for Negros in the South in fectionery over a Coke. But even recent years. Today there are 40 times morc than memories the 1950 senior as many public high schools for Ne I J Madame C. J. Walker I. class wtll also leave Parker with as groes in the 18 southern states as there Cosmetics Manufacturer \ fine an euucallon as can be obtained were 35 years ago. The number of Negro graduates in these school about I in a Southern high school. rI" L -._,' ~- Parker, besides being the biggcst 40.000 this June represents a like gain. of some 2700 Negro high schools, is But more imporessive than the num- ~ .. l, also onc of the best. Serving a Negro ber of Negro high sc'hoo-I graduates in community of more 2700 Negro high the quality, parker represents this qual schools, is also one of thebest. Serv- ity at its best. Alabama Income Growth Lowest In Southeast MONTGOMERY-Alabamian's lowed by South Carolina (5.9%). per~onal income growth was low Florida (5 .8%). Tennessee (5.7%) est in the Southeast during t!"le first and Louisiana (5.4%0). Even MIS three quarters of 1997, according to sissippi which has the lowest over a new study from the Center for all income in the region, was up 5.2 Government anJ Puhlic Affairs at percent. Auhurn University Montgomery "This is not good news. espe OUTIng the months of July. Au cially at a tUlle when the national gust and September. statewide in economy has enjoyed such prom comes were up just 4.4 percent ising growth." said Dr. M. Keivan from the same period of 1996, Deravi who directs the center. "It While top· ranked North Carolina means that our economy is not Isaac Myers moved up 6.3 percent. keeping pace with our peers and we The quarter ended a nine have proportionately less to invest Businessman. Labor Organt zer ~ month gain uf 5 pen;cnt in income in the future than they do." ""-. ./ When growth In the number of Jobs lor Alahama compared with 7 per ---- Maggie L. Walker cent for North Carolina. Of the re was considered, Alabama ranked Bankcr, Organi/cr maining six states studied, Georgia fifth WIth an increase of 1.3 percent enjoyed ; 67 percent growth, fol t.c. (•• C 'ri (' See Jones page 18 Continuing the Dream ... Educating for Tomorrow Board. Some people say that Ot1is wa-; that will be It 11 you do not help somebody:'Qhs said. Spring Q~arte~~gistr .. tion - I\larch 4, 1998/ Classes Begin - March 5, 1998 '~lC;xJ of hiS Ume at the Pcrwnncl Board. As he goes throughout the commu Once agiun. he found himself back in nity uoing his work he says that he is con Atlanta enrolled III school. This time FOi Morc Information Call. ~t.antly rcminJcU of the words of Dr.A H. Mudying Theulogy at 1.T.C.'s Gammon Parker,tllC founck:r of the school. "He who Semmary. Lawson State Community College (205) 925-25] 5 if living all honesl life, doi.llg useful -Illis ume he's hack in Binningham tlwl/x l/lImbk work,is rising IJIId lift Admissions Office (20S) 929-6309 / Financial Aid Offlce (20S) 929·6391 and has heen labeled "Activist," QdIS h ing oIllen as he rist$_" d"J1ClIs Ihe label, "Btnntngham is beautiful. It IS nme " 1 am a 'Social Educator: I spe AccrcdilCd by the Southern Associlhon of COIIClies & S ~ hool s to RebuilJ, Reston:. and Renew our edu clalit<: in solving all Issues thaI affect Dr. Perry W. Ward, President caliun system." Ot1is said. BIQ(kfolk . You cun go to school to be came an engmeer or mathematician but page 24 February 26 - March 4, 1998 ·~--P-ar-~-e-r~H~~ig~h-S~c~h-o-ol~S~e-ct~io-n~------ • History from page 17 The entire school is completely writing Department. "Dream Come True" became ill in tional on strect parking provided III the stnklng si lver dome of the uudl :J" School. air condilJoned. Additionally, car On January 28. 1947. after clos 1969 He retired III May of that year 20ther areas adjacent to the school. torium An equally handsome view b In 19 17, Mr John T. Whatley petcd noms and paneled walls arc IIlg a most successful semester's In a touching program the students In addllion. there Will be ample space may be obtained from the cast side. joined the faculty and organized the outstanding features of the media work and offer blddmg his mid-se and faculty said. "Goodbye. Mr. un ell her Side of the school to pm which features the main entrance, the b Printing Shop and the school hand. center. All buildings contain the lat mester sentor cross farewell, Mr. Chips." vide I'm outdoor activities. circular butldmgs of the vm:auonal '11 On January 29, 19 I 9. Me. William est in equipment. deSign, and decor, _, Bennett Johnson was employed as a William B. Johnson suddenly and In September 1969. Mr. Edward The ovcrall view of the school departmcnt. the admimstrauvc fllcili tics, and the classroom complex. thus prOViding a pOSItive environ .,~ teacher. This was a fateful event as quietly passed away_ The Board of B. Thompson. who had served liS a from the west side is highlighted by high school teacher of science, a ment for learning and creativity. 1( the later history of the school will Education then appointed a new pnn Boys' Advisor, and principal 01 two .'. reveal cipal, Mr. Robert C. Johnson, who elementary schools in the city, WitS ,~ In 1920 ncgollations ended III the had been a fom1cr teacher at Parker. purchase of the block on which the He became the third principal. Un appOlllted fourth principal of Parker present school IS located. In the der his leadcrslllp from 1947 to 1969, High School. A new era in the life of 1£ .. k . sprlllg 01 1923. wor' began on the the ~chool moved to greater goals of the school began - an era dedicated eelebrating ;)1 new building. the first unit covering achievement. New innovations in to retaining the glory and spirit of the -:. the entire square between Joseph and cluded the beginning of a Guidance past and to reaching new heights of 0. John on Eighth Avenue. In 1924 this Program and the addition to the fac achievement. For many reasons I huilding wa, dedicated. With mixed ulty of a full lime Girls' Advisor and Mr, Thompson, embodied with the Black Historll }V/onth emotions. Dr. Parker m hIS autobi a full lime Boys' Advisor. The Stu unquenchable Parker High School '1 ographv. A DREAM THAT CAME dent Council and other pupil orgam splflt. was prepared to become the -l* " '(I TRUE, movingly and viVidly de- zations expanded their activities to next torchbearer Besides being a • senoes the event. In 1926 an add i- IIlclude district, state. and national graduate of Parker. Mr. Thompson is 0: tlon WliS made to the first unit, and memberships. The students won the nephew of Mr. William Bennett III in 1927, a Boys' BUilding was com fame in local, district, state and na Johnson. second principal of the HOLY FAMILY CAmOIlC CHURCH .l plctcd. In 192829 a two-story struc- tional Science Fairs. An audio-visual school, and is the son of Mrs. Myrtle ture was added. ThiS. with the addi- aids program. second to none in the J. Thompson, who for decades was -I lion of a library and a gymnasium in city, was IIlsututed. an outstanding tcacher at Parker. As ,J 1921 comprised the physical plant In October 1953. Parker was a new principal, Mr. Thompson is un _, which has served until the present host to liS first Evaluative Cnteria Re energetic young man with great as d In 1939. aftcr tlfty years of ser- viewing Commlllee, headed by Dr. pirations. He is fore ver on the move, \ice in the Birmingham Public W. Mormon McCall of the State De forever in search of new IIlnovations Schools. Dr Arthur Harold Parker partment of Educauon. In his writ in educational practices deSigned to <. was retired by the Board of Educa- ten report to Dr. L. Frazer Banks, make teaching more effective and J( tion The name of the school, In Superintendent. Dr. McCall said. learning easier. Principal Thompson willch he had worked for thirty. nine among other things, "You Will note heads Parker In the brave, often revo· ~. years. was changed from Industrial that the Committee found many com lutionary years of the "Seventies" .1 High School to A. H. Parker High mendable features in this high school. when school desegregation chal .1 Sehoul. Mr William Bennell The excellent relationship between lenges all-the community, the faculty, l.! Johnson, who had served for several the faculty and students IS evident. and the students- "to strive, to seck, years as assistant prinCipal, became The commullity has great faith III this to find. and not to yield." The line l' the second principal. Through the school, which should serve as a fur spirit of cooperation, faith, and team lJ ye.lrs, the enrollment had increased ther challenge to the faculty in its work, known in the past as the "i n ; from eighteen students in 1900 to work." vincible Parker High School Spirit" < 3.761 in 1946. and for many years In 1953 Parker was accredited must be kept alive. the school was continuously referred and approved by the Southern Asso The new Parker High School IS .' to as "the largest high school for Ne- ciatlOn of Colleges and Secondary a comprehensive high school. The " groes III the world." Schools and has never lost this rat- campus occupies approximately fifo l' The school, already famous for ing. teen acres, encompassing the present 21 its large population. its emphasis on In April 1962. aRc-Evaluation old site. The completed physical plant .1' industrial education. its beauuful ren- Committee visited Parker for further consists of eight buildings. These in .~ dltion of Negro spirituals. its vital- study; and this commillee III it~ lind- clude three vocational buildings, two ized commencement programs. ings to Dr. Theo R. Wright com of which have been remodeled from b reached new heights under Mr Will- men ted on the fine school spirit so the existing structures. Another unll \II lam B. Johnson. II noted wtth pride much in evidence. In April 1969, a consists of a lunchroom and kitchen '{ ils achievements as Winner In the third ReViewing Commillee came complex and a gymnasium; whll\; the I~ Birmlllgham News and the Elks- and related Its finding to Dr other three buildings house, admlnlS' II H'lllcal:stute. teglOnaf and national- Raymond ChrIStian. By this time, tratlve oflices. a class(oom c "I' oratorical con~sts; the rllIUonal fume however, plans for a new school were and a media centor. Adjacent t ~b c (. gained by the Band from trips III large already III public print and architec media center are a small lecture hall , .h northern and eastern cities; the rec- tural drawings went far beyond the an auditorium and a music complex r:::1~.' ognillon which came from the win- suggestions of the committee. all under a common roof. y n i ng of a nationwide "bond and Mr. Robert C. Johnson, who had The design of the beautiful r:; stamps" sales contest; the prowess of served as principal through all these physical plant is a series of circular : the unbeatable "Thundering Herd,' eVllluations and who awaited the re structures so arranged that movement I and the establishment of the Type- ality of the new school for a second from one area to another can be ac complished without going outside. A number of walkways connect th e I Like The 699 Before, separate buildings to the main com plex, makmg the buildings easily ac cessible. A parking area accommo \ Brown's Big Win Is Tough datmg approximately onc hundred I forty-eight cars will be located on the si te of the present school. with addi- How much coaching goes into team) in a meeting thiS afterDoon winning your 700th game? that somebody had told me this was About 31 years worth. our 700th that's aliI said. Parker basketball coach Cap "Y wasn' t going to worry about Brown found out Fnday IlIght that it because there was a little pres his 700th career coaching victory sure on them already and I didn' t WHAT Is NBC's was not to come any easier than the want to put any more on them." previous 699 as his Thundering Respondlllg best to that pres Herd (19-5). ranked Sixth in the sure were Rodnee Mosley, who at state in Class 6A, took a 5 I -46 win tacked the basket for 22 points and over third-ranked Sidney Lanier of eight rebounds, and pOint guard Montgomery (23-4) Brtan Stutson, who tall ted 12 PRIME ALL THE TIME "Any time you've got a lot of POlllts, six rebounds. four assists youngsters and you playa tcam like and three steals. Lallier. you have to coach. espe Both guards suffered knee in HOME EQlJITY LINE? etally on defense" Brown said "At juries III the game, but kept play a certain time. a coach has to take ing. control of the game." "Bnan made some plays and When Parker got a steal with a passes and killd of keeps (the team) Six-point lead III the flllal millute, cool." Brown said. "Nobody's gL Brown Icaped from hiS courtside ing to take the ball from him." chair and yelled over a wildly Stutson matched Lanier shoot cheering home crowd for his team ing guard Steve Rogers( 18 points) to call timeout It took several sec In an early long-range shootout, onds before any of his squad no keeping Parker In the game. He An Equity Line That's ticed his IIlstruction keyed several Parker fast breaks, " I wanted to make sure we and held off Lanier late with hiS were all together on what we nawless ball handling. wanted til do," Brown said. "That's "Coach deserves to get hiS AlwaY1 At Prime. B.50r what YOll save your timeouts for. I 700th win because he makes us play wanted to make sure they didn't do so hard," Stutson said. "He didn ' t swell on It He just told us to play lInything silly. We didn't need to No ClMMlCJCS. No 16lffT,OOllCTORY" RAn~ No SVRrRI\J \. PumC' All J"beJill1t' Homt blUil)' 1 ine I. iu" wlu( yuu'd score n and hustle because we needed to expt'Ct rrom NRC The Prime Ralt_ not i'lImt' plus I.~O% likr most b.a.nlu olT~r un ollf HUlllc Lqulty Ijne, It IOl~VJ Brown', career rc.:ord, now Win." like it is-Primt, So yOU Qrl burrow ag;lJn~t the equity ill }'"ur lulOu:' 10 dO) all kJltds of rhings. Buy .. nfW c.. r, POiY f(lt r"u, 700-212, was compiled from news Zane Arnold. a 6-foot·6 for child', colkgc: NUdluon. M;a~ home: impruvemtnr'l, And Mv('r I~Y muff' th.m Prune IU tltl 11. W,'II enn rily yow dlHin& COlIO and WaJvc the first yr.u" annlUl fec .l lf II sounl!, like I rrimC' oe;llio "'tIll. gJ,·t US;;1 call, ot ).lOP'" my NBC br.1ndl , papcr c lippings. old high school ward rated as the state's top pro~ yearbooks and Brown', personal pect, scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds, but spent much of his records He said the landmark vic . V,n,bl. "" baud on .,., u,1l S",,, 1...... 1', Pnm. R"" .Iu,h .·o.IJ be 8.10% "I'R" 01 J'J,"'ry l~ '9')8. I'll" ...,.t on ",w 110m. NatIonal Bank of Commerce tory sneaked up on him. He said he time on the bench with foul trouble. Eq"'ty Linn onfy.' NBC. riU,.,. 'lP Ie) $100 ,10""1 c;o\t1l1 your ltlul.d ..qUIlT line ~Jn«' II G,OOO r onOf'r, anJ CKlUI ,,,~dln, lor 90 dJlYI, ( lounllo WhJt you 1't!ally w/Ull in a b.mk. ,------com and Olhtr Icrt 11'1' f'f1~tcd to he bawl'c" '_'00.00 "nd 1100.00. "wpt'IU ~uQtlQ! II 'naulrrd. 'nll."tel' tn.Iy br lAX IokdlK'llhIe (rOCUlllt a t.ax was aware earlier in the season that luthonty 'Of tPl'(lfj~ itliolNrUUon ,m dtdlKl,billlY). NOt - "lttn an rJ.tirndrJ fC'p.1Vmtnt" x!luk or yoll un ply (.fl 'fbI" C"q"tlr hftit (\f utd,t tn full Member FDIC til £quAI HouSIIlV Ltnder he "1I~ lerolng in on No. 700. but Subscribe To The clch cntmln. Tht- mUlflWm,ntllUlI r~tc lJ Ito%' Annualll'(' "I ~\O.OO .,l,vtdlhc! klt nat. 10 t .. ight 01 it as his team hegan to slip from lis early-season dol1lllla Birmingham MIlO OIlICl ",h,t.. • ...... , C, .. III...... , h.,t.w. Ull'.... t,onl.l. M.. I.w I',,~ tlon 1\" "'\"~ HII"': ,,11'1: ,,,"'I! ~~I\\': " .'1 ,"'\'1" '"q ... ,,' "I had forgotten about II be World Mil " M'"I.I •• "" , .. , •• , 1111 ,.11.. ,.11 ClI, ",III,lIt. Ir""III. hlllr.ll, cau e (JUI team wa n't plaYing Call 251·6523 For Details II ~'\P!«" ~'\\'I ',1,1.', 1\0("" ~!.llq ''''I~ ,1.:1,,,, well," Bruwn said. " I told (the / " February 26 - March 4, 1998 page 25 Parker High School Section Former Parker Student Parker High's Current Studies Engineering AT VA TUSCALOOSA- The odds professionals who are looking at the were probably stacked agalllst Erica cradle- starting with the parents and l.ynn Edwards becoming an engineer. educating them." It's a field not many blacks en He said engineering is a good ter, but with determlllation, a pretty field for the growing number of Principal Eddie Jr. clear set of goals early on, and the blacks. Starting salaries WIth a five Dansby, Southeastern Consortium for Minori year undergraduate degree often top tics in Engineenng program in high $30,000 a year, and there's a need for school , Miss Edwards increased her more blacks with post-graduate de celved his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Bir Membership, ASSOCiation for Super chances greatly. grees to teach engineering and other Degree. He did graduate worked at mingham Area Council of Boy vision and Curriculum Development Now, the Parker High School techn ical courses. Alabama A & M University, Hunts Scouts of America, Neighborhood He has several resolutions and letters graduate, is a sophomore in electri "It's been predicted by the year Ville, Alabama; Umversity of Ala Citizens Participation, Grid Fore of commendation from the City cal engineering at the University of 2000, .• a little over a third of the bama in Birmingham and post gradu caster, Mentor for young men com· Council members and Mayor RI Alabama. She said the SECME pro work force wHl be minonty," Single ate work at the University of Ala mittee, and member of the Kiwanis chard Arrington, Jr. Dr. Dansby gram helped her choose her career. ton said. "We have to start now to bama In Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Club of Vulcan. has received numerous awards "The SECME program enabled make sure we have qualified engi Eddie Dansby, Jr. has served as Eddie Dansby, Jr. has received and recognition for high standard me to take honors courses at Parker," neers in the year 2000." a classroom teacher in the Birming numerous awards and recognition. and accomplishments including Miss Edwards said. "A high-level of Some recent figures on the num· ham, School System , as assistant He received the outstanding High first place from the Parent Power math, sciences, English ... every ber of blacks completing post-gradu· principal, as a student advisor and as School Principal Award by the Bir Explosion and first place from the thing was honors courses." ate programs are bleak. In 1987 only a supervision principal of both el mingham PTA Council association, City of Birmingham Beautifica Another plus was that speakers 18 of 3,700 students in the United ementary and secondary schools. He Achievement Award from Who's tion Board. in the engineering field came to States who earned their doctorates in IS a member of the Sixth Avenue Bap Who of Greater Birmingham, Appre Eddie Dansby, Jr. hobbies and Parker to share their practical expe engineering were black. tist Church where he serves as a Dea- ciation Award for Hard work, dedi· interest are music, sports, reading and rience with students, and talked to "As you can see that's a short con and a member of the Visitation cation and loyalty service by the Na photography. He is a true role model them about different specialties in en age," SlIlgleton said. Committee. He is a member of the tional Teachers Association, The out· for the students, teachers, staff and ginecring. Black enrollment in UA's Col Homeless Advisory Board, and ac standing high school award by Bir· community 111 which he serves. He "Once you heard those speakers, lege of Engineering is 15 percent, Eddie Dansby, Jr. tive member of "101 Black Men of mingham Grid Forecaster, Certificate is well known for his strong disci you would really get a feel of engi ranking it 12th in the nation, Single Eddie Dansby, Jr. is a native of Birmingham, a graduate of the 1993 of appreciation and Merit, Boy plinary and organizational skills ant neering and then decide for yourself ton said. And some of the school. Birmingham Alabama and IS a prod Leadership Birmingham Class a Scouts of American Merit Award. ability to create and maintall1 a if you were interested in a career in ranking ahead of UA are all black. uCl oftJ1c Birmingham Public School member of the Professional Associa United Way (Community Chest). positive and conducive environ engineering," she said. System. He attended Miles College, tion, Birmingham National Achievement Award, National Coun· ment for learning. He is married to The consortium was founded in That's the goal of SECME, an Birmingham, Alabama where he re- Principal's Association, Member of cil of PTA Association, Certificate of Lillie Dansby. 1975 by engineering deans from six eight-state association that's now Southeastern, holding its 13th annual summer con includlllg UA. Now there are U.S. School Chief Visits Parker High ference at the University of Alabama. members from Alabama, Florida, The yearly event is held for mlddle Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, school and high-school teachers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Yamili.o Thomas seemed uncer little better." expanding skyline. toring classes for students haVing I minority schools to fami Iiarize them Tennessee tain if her microscope was properly Hunt and Cavazes were at Parker A number of students said that problems taking standardilcd tests selves with engineering and carry the The summer institute offers focused on the green grains of pollen to listen to students' suggestions on skyline represents as much a barrier were helping them pass the tests and knowledge back into their class teachers classroom sessions, field she had Just taken from a white dog efforts the state and federal govern· between the haves and have-nots as it stay in school. rooms. trips, computer and laboratory ses wood bloom. ments could make to battle problems represents growth, process and oppor Marvlll King, 16, of West End "We've found that rather than Sions, and a chance to meet with rep Usually the Parker High School such as teenage pregnancy, drug and tunity. High, said his CARES group has been just giving scholarships. we have to resentatives from industry, universi 10th grader would be helped by her alcohol abuse, and school dropouts. That barrier, students said. IS involved 111 efforts by students to help train the teachers because they're the ties and minority organizations. biology teacher, Lottie Palmer. But on The advice came from students en partly responsible for some alarming each other with problems. The group ones that make the difference in the Some 82 Southeastern teachers, Thursday she received help from an rolled in the Birmingham school numbers Hunt mentioned. He noted a also helped feed the homeless, he said. classroom," said Gregory Singleton, along with teachers from other states other teacher, U, S. Secretary of Edu system's CARES (Comprehensive At survey of Parker students in which 90 "In looking at their lives wc've I director of the Minority Engineering cation Lauro F. Cavalos. Risk Educational Services) Program. percent said they knew of people who seen the lives we do not want to Icad," who either have their own programs Program at UA. With Gov. Guy Hunt looking on, CARES is a model program de had experimented with drugs, 90 per King said. or are interested in forming their own, And he said it's never too early Cavezos brieny resumed the role of signed to help students who are in cent said they had seen marijuana King asked Hunt why he had not are attendmg this year's meeting, to get students who might be beaded teachcr as he toured Mrs. Palmer's bi danger of not reaching their potential used and 70 percent said they had seen supported a program that would have June 18-29. for an engllleenng career IIlterested ology class, peenng through micro academically, socially or emotionally. cocaine used. put drug counselors m high schools Prince E. Hoskins, a seventh and in sctence and math courses, since en scopcs and thumbing through a few Hunt and Cavazos took time out Cavazos put much of the blame judged to be at risk for high drug use. eighth grade teacher at Pittsview gineering is largely based on the two. pages of a textbook on plant life. A for a tour of classes. They visited a for school dropouts on drug abuse and Hunt said he has supported a Middle School in Russell County Unfortunately, students often decide " traincd anatomist, Cavazos looked class room of mentally handicapped said the battle against the problem number of drug-prevention programs srud last week at the conference that by the fifth ~ rade that they don' t like she'~ learned tipS all the way down \ through MISS Thomas' microscope students and watched as rome of the should begll1 111 the classroom could not recall the one King was math. 10 how 10 take notes. , and told her It was correcl. studenLs learned to bake cookies while "I beheve we've got tu ,tart 10 .talking about. He said he would look "Sometimes It's hard to tell, es still others were learning to tell time. the schools and work up through the into it. "We are starting now as early as "And I can share with (students) pecially with somethmg like pollen." They also stopped in on an system," Cavazos said. the third grade, (and) thcre are some the things that I've learned," she said. he told her as he patted her shoulder. ROTC class and watched about a During their meeting with the r------~ ------Cavazos also stopped at Tommie dozen students drill, and paid a quick CARES students, who represented a Hicks' desk and noticed that the mir visit to the school's journalism lab. number of Binningham schools, Hunt ror on his microscope needed adJust Parker, one of Birmingham's old and Cavazos heard suggestions for ment as he looked at the slide with est schools, is the system's third larg battling drugs, teen pregnancy and grains of pollen. Cavazos helped est high school with just over 1,000 school dropouts. Hicks with the adjustments and said, students. All of those students are Marcia Marbury, an 18-year-old "Now look I I think you'll see them a black and live withm sight of the city's Carver High School senior, said tu- Row House from 18 teacher made me rip out a seam that Roosevelt. They'll never forget you," school board got bond money in the wasil 't straight. But If I need to make a grateful Parker told her before she early '20s. By 1924, Industrial moved a dress today, I can do it," she Said. left the school in a motorcade after to the site at EighthAvenue North and "And if I had to cook for a living, I'd the ceremony. Third Street, where the current build Here's'Ib be a very good cook because of what One of the musicians to come ing was built in 1972. I learned here." out oflndustrial in the 1930s was J.L. Although constantly over Charles Rivers, prestdent of the Lowe, who went on to play the trum crowded - until the '60s it was rou 1935 senior class who now lives in pet III the Erskine Hawkins' jazz band tinely called the largest black school Those Who Washington, D.C., credits the school while writing much of the group's in the world - Parker attempted to librarian, who held a doctorate in li music. Now an independent producer instill a spirit in his students found brary science, with furnishing the li and arranger in New York City, Lowe in few large public institutions. As brary with books and materials un recalls teachers who kept him and part of these efforts, unifornlS were matched by other public high schools other practicing late into the eve required of all students: blue dresses Dream Big in the '.305. nings. for girls and khaki slacks with white "Because of there education, she "They tried so hard to make us shirts for boys. Was able to get stuff for us that most proud, and we in turn wanted to make "When you wore that uniform, ordinary librarians wouldn't know something of ourselves," he said. you knew you were an Industrial to "They spent so much time with us. Dreams. where find," said Rivers, who re High School student and you were tired several years ago from his job They weren't just waiting around to expected to behave accordingly," said as manager of operations for the pick up a check." JosephIne Cass Marshall, a 1935 Washington, D.C post office. In the school's early days, Parker graduate who went on to teach En Harold White McCoo of Phila hlmsel f was one of the teachers. glish at Parker for 34 years. delphia, 75, was director of the choir When the school opened with 18 stu With every student dreSSing in 1935. At the lIIne, It consisted of dents in a second-noor room of the alike, poorer students with few the entire student budy of 3,000. Part Cameron Building on the corner of clothes were not discouraged from of hisJub was classifying each of the Avenue H and 14th Street South, attendlllg classes, she said. voices and then arranging them ac Parker was teaching gardening and The Uniforms were abolished III cordIngly tn the school's crowded carpentry along with SCience, math the late 1940s, and the shoemaking and English. In those days, streets on Compass Bank salutes those who have overcome auditorium. and printing classes have given way obstacles to make positive change in thIS country. "Long he fore It became popular. Birmlllgham's Southside were iden to welding and hotel and restaurant we were singing spirituals, Clver tl fied by letters rather than numbers. management courses. The row Those strong individuals who have dreamed big songs, love songs · everythmg that Enroll ment climbed to 45 by the houses and LaneAudllorium are vi s dreams and helped make them reality. made up the gamut of black singing," end of the first year and continued to ible only in the archives sectIOn of saId MCCOll , who recalls nearly rise. In 1910, the school was moved the school library on Parker's 15-acre As we celebrate Black History Month, we reflect on 10,000 spcctator$ filling Legion Field to a three-story frame building on campus. the people and events that helped shape the Black one May evening in 1935 to hear the Eighth Avenue North and II th Street, But the spirit that Authur HarOld community and our entire nation. choir. but in the summer of 1914, a city in Parker brought with hJm to that first Among those hearing the stu· spector condemned the structure. class 111 September 1900 at what Here's to a promIsing future of progress clOd growth. dents sing was First l.ady Eleilnor The board of education then origll1ally was called Negro High Ro()seveit, who attended an assem bought an old Presbytenan church on School has continued, a continuity bly meeting at Industrial in the spring Eighth Avenue North and 9th Street, undoubtedly fostered by the fact that of 1937. She pmised the students' and soon added 14 row houses on the school has had only four princi ~ Compass Bank performanl'c and offered them cn property next door. pals in its 85-year history. IVhrre Ihere '.• Compa ss. Ih ert'i< a (( 'a.v. ,uuragefllcnt. "Music is one of the "Parker was holding school in a Although difficult to determine things which will help to smooth the hunch of shacks, but he was able to Parker's key to his success likely he ~ way tor all of you" the first I~dy tt~ld convince white authOrities to invest III the motto he gave his school and the students as they wllved white in what he was dOing," said histo students shortly after it opened. To nan Harris. Parker was ready with handkerchIefs in ....lute to her. strive, to seek, to find, alld /l ot to plans for a new school when the yield. .. "Thank God for you, Mrs. ------" ----- ~ ~------_____l , February 26 - March 4, 1998 page 26 PA PRII)E " f ) February 26 - March 4, 1998 page 27 Parker High School Section Parker from page 22 BW: Yes? spectrum, you were associated with Dr. have th.1l many trained musicians who are BW: corporate boards. the Alabama BW: Why are you so low profile? the lung run. But the whole idea IS. that it JP: He must have kept every pIece of King when others in this City stood back. available. They'revery, very scarce. I have Power Board? paper ... JP: Well, I am only pastur of Sixth Av givcs evcryhody tJlC nght to .. (II says, Why? people call from Ume to Ume looking for JP: It.s " to be on a Board like thnt . enue Baptist Church. (Laughter) ... BW: He was Ofgani/m. here'syouTllloncy). YOllgotoanysdl senous matters. LIke getting ulcers or gOIng blond or even haVIng a stroke. At AmSoutr Bank. we want to help do some Subscribe thing about It. SO when you order a sct of AmSouth Kente checks. we'll donate a portIon of the proceeds to the S,ckl~ Cell D,sease ASSOCiatIon of Amer C4 To,eyre .mlque checks that help fIght a unIque dIsease. Order yours today Bcc..1UsP To The willie they '1"ay pay tnbute to t,l)e past. rT'0r'{' mportantly. they can help preserve somcones 'uture. Birmingham World ANISOUTH BANK Newspaper 1111. RElA I 10 'SIIIP 1'101'1 E To op n c:, CheckIng octo.1'" With no r"lot'thly serv ce ,barge V'SII ory A",SOUlh brollch Call 251-6523 call I 800 AIv'SOLJTH or v,s/( our Web SIre at www.or7South corn \ page 28 February 26 - March 4 , 1998 Parker High School Section Orzell Billingsley, Jr. Judge Attorney, Unsung Hero of A. H. Parker High School By Joe N. Dickson Robert Swain vs. State of Alabama Alabama State Bar" Billingsley Judge Billingsley started the attack on saId. preemptory challenges. Billingsley has organized and In 1956, then Attorney founded, 12 towns or cities in Ala Billingsley, Attorneys Peter Hall and bama. A staunch champion of NAACP Associate Counsel economic and Civil Rights for the Constance Baker Motley argued the Negro, Judge Billingsley once 111- 5 year old death sentence case of cluded in a brief the follOWing Clarence Hamilton who had been hnes .... "Twenty years ago Black charged with "intent to ravish" an people were given on opportunity 80· year old white woman The U.S. to make first class citizen hip a Supreme court unanimously set reality but they are in a mess to aside the sentence. day. Because they lack leader hip This case is Just one of the many and understanding. Their c ncen cases that had very strong racial over tralion should have been eco tones that Judge Billingsley, relent nomic development. In Alabama lessly and fearlessly attacked with this was not accomplished due to fervor mostly unethical outside hell", and Even though Judge Billingsley so called 'Do-Gooders' who .Judge Oneil Bilingsley was at home in the court room, he ended up with all the money that has always maintained that the Ne could have been obtained by lo Admitted to the Alabama State gro will only be treated eQual in cal Black folks I sincerely at Bar m 1951. he was the first Black America when he educates himself tempted to help in every way pos lawyer to serve as ajudgc and the first and works day an I1Ight for economic sible." iliad, elected to acounty democratic equality. If my good fnend, the late Dr executive committee. As a practicing "My major activities have been Martin Luther King, Ir could re IlilOrncy. Judge Billing Icy h scncd in economic development for Blacks turn and see the present Situation as dud. or co-counsel in a number in Alabama and elsewhere, starting - he would die an automatic of law maktng cases. In the case of in 1951. before I was admitted to the Death, immediately! Dream from page 23 hUlldreds of men and women, who I have no other apology to make tion. Here at Springfield my mother "1'/"1' charged with the spirit of their for this long talk about myself, than and father met and married, in Au principal. II is sigllificant that they the constant urging of my friends to gust, 1867. Five children were born have become Intelligent alld produc write an account of my life. A natu- to them, three boys and two girls. I trI'e crtlzens. Their ..... orks bespeak ral reluctance to talk In the first per- was the second child. As far back as more thall pell can tell Ihe !Vorlh of son has delayed my beginning this, I can remember is-when I spoke a SIIch WI ill5liluliOll and life of this but since I have given my word to do piece of four lines in one of the mall. II. I am going to close my eyes and churches. They told me that I was The IlIdll.!lrial J/igh School ill ils "snap" into It. four years old then. work alld il.1 graduates will forever I was born May 7, 1870 at I started to going to school at the stand as (l mOllumelll to the life alld Springfield, Ohio. My father's fa- age of seven. Althat time theelemen achiel'emellls of A.fl. Parker. Thl! ther was a white man about whom tary schools there were separate-my queslion mighl arise, whal has I know nothing. My father's mother teachers were all colored. There wa.' wrought such a life? 0111' (lnswer is was the daughter of a Chickasaw one high school in the town and to foulld ill his own words taken from a Indian. She was born and reared in this all went, white and colored .: recenl Chrislmaf Greeting in which the northwestern part of Alabama When I completed my elemelllar\ he said. "The boys alld girls of the and when nearly grown moved to school course and entered thigh Illdustrrallllgh School havejilled so Decatur, where my father was born. school, I came upon my lirst realiza much of m,l life with ullalloyed joy, He took the name of Parker from tion of race-liS meaning and ~i IlIfi hal'/' so strengthened my abiding the man who owned him and his cance. I still remember how I mi. sed faith in youth. h(lve so raised my hope mother. At the age of twelve, he and longed for the teachers and play for my state alld COUlltl)· alld have so escaped from thiS owner by wan of mates I had left. I did not know then New Blood Test May Predict Heart Attack qlllckelled III)' love for God and all the famous 'underground railway' what had gone out of my life to make HOUSTON-A new blood test coronary artery disea~e. a leadmg aid Ballantyne. "But we want to that is good. beawiful and true-thaI and made his way to Canada. He it so different. I remember well that I that measures "sticky" molecules to cause of heart attack. learn more effective ways to iden 1 ..... 0111 to commeml to those II'ho ..... ish remained there until the Civil war did not care for the high school as 1 predict heart attack has been dtscov Study participants who de\'el tify and trC I , J