A continuation of the history of the Oil City School, picking up with the 1970-1971 school year, and proceeding through its doors being closed for good (or were they?) in 2016. A postscript regarding it gaining national landmark status is also provided.
 |
| The original 1923 brick school building, circa 2010 |
On 03-Jun-1970, the Caddo Parish School Board appointed Bobby L. Skaggs principal for the coming school year.
Times 24-Apr-1966, Page 4-D
1972-1973
Plaintiffs is a racial desegregation lawsuit against Caddo Parish proposed closing the school - sending grades 1-6 broken up by two-year intervals to various other elementary schools (some as far as 15 miles away) while grades 7-9 would go to Vivian.
Teacher Carolyn Hamilton was mentioned attending a social studies workshop at Louisiana Tech.
1973-1974
Dennis Wade was appointed principal in 1973, when Mr. Skaggs retired.
Times 02-Aug-1973, Page 8-A
A school reunion for alums of the high school was held.
Times 21-Oct-1973, Page 10-E
Organizer of the event was Mrs. Willa Guess McCord.
 |
| Mrs. McCord |
1974-1975
A May Day celebration featured a king, queen, and court.
Times 24-Apr-1975, Page 5A
1975-1976
Announcement of a upcoming second school reunion, to be held 04-Oct-1975, appeared in the "Stroller" section of the Shreveport Times.
Times 11-Sep-1975, Page 1-A
Again, Mrs. McCord headed the event. In honor of the occasion, former teacher and long-time local merchant Maggie Smith Warren (1898-1988) composed a school history (actually more a personal memoir), which she presented to reunion attendees.
 |
| Teacher Maggie Smith, 1921 |
 |
| Mrs. Maggie Smith Warren, 1975 |
Her document, titled "History Of Oil City, La. School 1910-1955" may be viewed at this link.
More on the desegregation front, the racial makeup of the faculty was disclosed as part of overall parish results.
Times 27-Jan-1976, Page 2-A
1976-1977
Mrs Edna Earle Collins Gaines (1912-1993) retired after 38 years of teaching, 32 at Oil City where she once was a student herself.
Times 25-Dec-1927, Page 23
 |
| Mrs. Gaines |
Times 26-May-1977, Page 6-A
1977-1978
A book fair was held in the school library in March 1978.
Times 25-Mar-1978, Page 7-B
1979-1980
James C. Bruce in turn replaced Mr. Wade in 1979.
Times 19-Jul-1979, Page 3-B
 |
| The breezeway between buildings once seemed much larger |
1980-1981
Responding to response to sweltering conditions, in 1980 the Oil City Rotary Club raised money to purchase window unit air conditioners, that were installed with funds provided by the local Parent-Teacher Association.
Times 16-Sep-1980, Page 1
After a little more than one year as principal, Mr. Bruce left to become Supervisor of Attendance and Child Welfare for the Caddo Parish School Board.
Times 06-Nov-1980, Page 15-A
In April 1981, the Caddo Parish School Board approved an $150 annual stipend for teachers residing Shreveport who were assigned to the Herndon, Mooringsport, or Oil City schools. In earlier years local teachers generally lived in the community they taught. Young teachers frequently boarded at homes near the campus, while those longer tenured purchased homes and often became active members of the community. However the uncertainty of one's assignment each term, brought about by efforts to achieve racial balance, combined with a lack of locally available accommodations, and the simple preference of some for city living eventually resulted in fewer or no teachers being local residents.
A summer school session, serving students from several locales, was held at Oil City in 1981.
Times 31-May-1981, Page 15-A
From 1981 to 1984 Larry J. McCathran served as principal. Below he is shown in 2002, where he ran unsuccessfully for Justice-Of-The Peace in Marshall, Texas.
Marshall (TX) Messenger 04-Nov-2002, Page 5
1981-1982
Fifth grade teacher Billie Vic Bozeman Wilcox (later Van Hoose) placed first runner-up for Caddo Teacher Of The Year.
 |
| Billie Vic Bozeman Van Hoose, shown later in life |
Several students placed in a science fair held at LSU-Shreveport.
Times 10-Apr-1982, Page 14-A
1984-1985
Ethel Francis Haughton, teacher at OC since 1968, was named principal.
 |
| Ethel Francis (later Haughton) in 1969-70 |
Times 04-Aug-1984, Page 12-A
In 1995, she was interviewed about her experience, which can be read at this link.
1986-1987
Eight grader Anthony Houston designed an advertisement for an unfinished furniture store as part of a student feature in the newspaper.
Times 25-Sep-1986, Design-An-Ad, Page 11
A reunion, organized by Vita Mandina Gregorio, was to be held on May 1.
Two days later, "Oil City's Coach" Earl Davis Nolan passed away 03-May-1987.
 |
| Coach Nolan |
Read more at Oil City's Coach - Earl Davis Nolan (1907-1987).
1988-1989
Terminally ill student Dennis Earl Elmore (1975-1995) visited actor and Oil City High graduate Earl Holliman.
 |
| Earl Holliman |
1989-1990
An article assessing racial attitudes in the Shreveport-Bossier area included the below picture of Oil City students jumping rope together.
Times 30-Dec-1989, Page 2-A
1990-1991
In April 1991, Principal Haughton was granted a sabbatical leave for the 1991-1992 school year.
It was mentioned that Jerry Paige, announced new Cherokee Park Elementary principal, began teaching at OC in 1976.
Times 26-Aug-1992, Page Page N-3
Forest Hills Elementary principal Betty Snellgrove Booty was featured in the Shreveport Times.
Times 09-Oct-1991, Page 1-SW
Thirty-plus years earlier, she began her teaching career at Oil City, where she met husband Terry Booty, also a teacher who later became a principal in Shreveport.
 |
| Betty Snellgrove |
 |
| Terry Booty |
1960 Oil City Junior High Bengal (yearbook)
The buildings received new carpet and and an electrical upgrade in the summer of 1991.
1991-1992
New Mansfield girls basketball coach Gene Oakes is referred to as a former coach at Oil City Junior High. He is shown below coaching the Wolverine softball team.
1992 Mansfield (LA) High Wolverine (yearbook)
A newspaper feature about Turner Elementary School (Shreveport) fourth grade teacher Dottie Bell mentioned she began her career at Oil City twenty years earlier.
Times 04-Mar-1992, "This Week" Section, Page 1
Student Jovanda Inez Johnson won a national award.in band.
Times 13-May-1992, Page 2-N
1993-1994
Long time principal William Franklin Bozeman passed away on 09-Jan-1994.
Shreveport Times 10-Jan-1994, Page 2-B
In his honor, the Caddo Parish School Board issued the following proclamation:
Agenda Item No. 20
Resolution - William Franklin Bozeman (Former Principal at Oil City Elementary. The board approved a resolution recognizing services to the children of Caddo Parish by the late Mr. William Franklin Bozeman, former principal at Oil City Elementary School. Mr. Byerley read the resolution aloud.
R E S 0 L U T I 0 N
In Honor of the life of
MR. WILLIAM FRANKLIN BOZEMAN
WHEREAS, the late William Franklin Bozeman served the children of Caddo Parish for forty years, and
WHEREAS, he directly touched the lives of students as a classroom teacher and coach; and
WHEREAS, he moved up the education ladder to become principal at Oil City School; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Bozeman was a respected and recognized educator who gave unselfishly to serve
students in Caddo Parish,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the members of the Caddo Parish School Board express sympathy to his daughters, Mrs. Marquerite Cherry and Mrs. Billie Wilcox; and the entire
Bozeman Family.
Times 04-Mar-1994, Page 3D
The obituary of accident victim Shirley "Faye" James Sanders stated she was a former staff member at Oil City School.
Times 17-Jun-1994, Page 2B
1994-1995
In the early 1990s, possibly succeeding Ms. Haughton (need to confirm!) Isaac Pamplin became principal. Shown below when he appeared as a guest columnist in the Shreveport Times, he had earlier served as head of nearby Herndon Jr. High School.
Times 21-Nov-1994, Page 4-B
Shreveport Symphony performed at the school on Sunday, 21-May-1995.
Recognized by Shreveport Green and McDonald's as one of the parish's "clean campuses."
Shreveport Times 05-Jul-1995, Page 6-E
1995-1996
A wedding announcement for Stephanie Elliott Tamburo and husband Michael noted she was then a kindergarten teacher at Oil City.
Times 06-Aug-1995, Page 5-E
Special education teacher Susan Coleman was recognized for an "Unsung Hero" Award by the Shreveport Times in September 1995.
Shreveport Times 18-Sep-1995, Page D1
Students see deer during a visit to the Walter B. Jacobs Nature Park near Blanchard.
Times 21-Jul-1996, Page 7-D
1997-1998
A significant increase in standardized test results from the prior year, combined with an unusually high number of erasures on related test forms, caused Oil City's Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) results to be voided. No teacher or teachers was singled out for possible tampering, however the school board implemented procedures to enhance future security over answer sheets, particularly in off-hours.
1998-1999
An article about Project Leader funding, a program to assess a student's skills and resultant needs versus institutional objectives included a picture of first grade teacher Vernelda Morning and one of her students.
Times 13-May-1999, Page 1-A
 |
| Gymnasium and Cafeteria, 2010 |
2001-2002
OC became one of four new magnet programs in Caddo Parish.
Times 05-Feb-2002, Page 1-A
2002-2003
Teacher Kristina Hardwick wrote an article about the school's environmental focus that was published in the Shreveport Times. Excerpts follow:
Times 17-Nov-2002, Page 2B
Jerard Wills was hired as security coordinator at OCEMS in August 2002.
Times 18-Aug-2002, Page 3B
2003-2004
Fourth graders were noted to have sung "You Are My Sunshine" at the grand opening of the Louisiana State Oil And Gas Museum.
Another kindergarten teacher weds - Dana Mondello Ivins is shown in her wedding photo from the newspaper.
Times 23-May-2004, Page 8-D
2004-2005
Student Alysia Cannon's art work was chosen to be placed on display at the LSU Medical Center in Shreveport.
Times 12-Sep-2004, Page 2D
2005-2006
Students and teachers planted trees around what had been the old football field as part of Arbor Day recognition. Portions of an article about the event follow:
Times 21-Jan-2006, Page B1
Teacher Brenda Durmon Smith was herself once a student at Oil City School. Below she is shown as a cheerleader for the 1969-70 school year. After marriage and raising a family, she earned her college degree and began teaching at her alma mater.
1970 Oil City Jr. High Bengal (yearbook)
In 2006 she as named a National Outstanding Educator for Project Learning Tree (one of only five nationwide). She had earlier been Louisiana PLT Teacher of the Year for 2004-2005.
Brenda, shown below instructing her students in the school's greenhouse.
Shreveport Times 01-Apr-2006, Page 1-B
In 2006 Oil City Elementary School won a national award, being named by Fordham University's Graduate School of Education as one of six nationwide to receive School Change Awards. Per the article:
"Award winners are chosen from schools that have dramatically improved students’ academic performance. The award comes with a $5,000 grant funded by Pearson Education, and subsidized attendance for the schools’ principals at NPLI. The winning schools participate in a national research project on how schools achieve significant improvements, headed by the institute’s director, Lew Smith, Ed.D., associate professor of education at Fordham."
Times 17-May-2008, Page 3-A
Arguably the greatest athlete to come out of OC, Robert Williams got into athletic competition early, as he is shown as a 10 year-old competing in a tug-of-war as a student at Oil City Elementary Magnet School in 2008.
Shreveport Times 31-May-2008, Page 3-A
During his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, the Rebels went to the Top-28 state tournament, losing in the semifinals to Riverside Academy in 2014 and 2015; and Madison Prep in 2016. Below he is shown dunking against Episcopal in the 2016 state quarterfinals.
At the end of his final season at North Caddo, he was named first team All-State and Outstanding Player Of The Year in Class 2A. He received a scholarship to Texas A&M University and the following season as a freshman at A&M, was named to the All-SEC second team; and was named Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches.
He is currently in his second year as a member of the 2017-2018 Texas A&M Aggie basketball team, and has received mention as a potential lottery pick in the next NBA draft..
Teacher Larry P. Chandler and Wendy Sapp, teacher's aide, were noted granted a leave-of-absence for the 2008-2009 school year.
2008-2009
Students watch a dog act at the Louisiana State Fair.
Times 07-Nov-2008, Page 17E
The school received mention in a national news magazine Newsweek article about environmental-themed education initiatives around the country. Here's a link to the article (identified as from the 05-Sep-2008 edition)
Below, teachers Ramonda Goeders (left) and Emily Gulett (right) review the article with students..
Times 12-Oct-2008, Page 8D
The school received the state-wide School Health Award for 2007-2008.
Times 01-Nov-2008, Page 5E
135 Oil City fourth, fifth, and sixth graders learned about forestry on a visit to the Jeems Bayou Hunting and Fishing Club on Caddo Lake on Earth Day, 22-Apr-2009. In groups, they rotated through presentations and activities regarding various subjects, including:
- Learning about the “Trees of Jeems Bayou”
- Participated in a simulated fishing activity where they cast for plastic fish in relay teams to earn points.
- Became familiar with a large Louisiana map and identified the major wetlands areas in the state.
- Learned about the invasive water plant salvinia and its impact on Caddo Lake
- Tested the lake's water quality
They also observed various flora and fauna in the wild and under a microscope.
LSU Ag Center News 29-Apr-2009
 |
| Gymnasium, 2010 |
2010-2011
The following was a press release of the LSU Agricultural Center:
OIL CITY, La. – Oil City Environmental Magnet School has been selected to provide the Louisiana forest exchange box in a display recognizing the International Year of Forests in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in March.
Boxes from each state will be on display for a Congressional briefing on the state of America’s forests and the role of environmental education in helping inform the next generation about the value of America’s forests, according to LSU AgCenter area forester Ricky Kilpatrick.
The boxes contain collections of items, samples, data, facts and reports about the forests and trees in each state. Oil City school students placed items in the Louisiana box and learned about forests at an Arbor Day ceremony Jan. 21.
“Oil City will represent the whole state,” Ricky Kilpatrick told the students. “You should be proud of yourself. Your school is a model all over this country for environmental education.”
The selection was made by the state steering committee of Project Learning Tree, a multi-disciplinary environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation.
“Your box is going to say, ‘I’m from Oil City, La.,’ with 49 other boxes,” science teacher Cindy Kilpatrick told the students. “Go home and tell your parents how fortunate we are that we are the school represented.”
Seventh-graders added material to the box that included LSU AgCenter publications Native Tree Growing Guide, Leaf Key to Common Trees in Louisiana, Louisiana’s Primary Forest Products and Louisiana Trees. Cindy Kilpatrick said she would add leaves, branches, wood, acorns and a pine cone.
2011 is designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Forests to promote broader understanding of the importance of forests and to bolster global efforts to promote sustainable forest management and conservation.
Forest exchange boxes from Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Montana, New Hampshire and New Mexico will be on display until Feb. 4 at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations as representative samples in conjunction with the United Nations Forum on Forests and the launch of 2011 International Year of Forests.
The boxes will be displayed at other forestry and environmental education events and conferences throughout the country during the year.
LSU Ag Center News January 2011 headlines
Some youngsters perform at the school talent show in 2011.
A group of Oil City students traveled to Colorado in the summer of 2011.
Accompanying comments:
PLT connects Colorado and Louisiana! Students from Oil City, LA. visit Denver, after a thrilling week in the Colorado High Country. While learning about CO ecosystems at Cal-Wood Education Center, they slept under the stars, enjoyed rafting on the Poudre River, visited the snow and tundra at Rocky Mt. National Park. Using Project Learning Tree activities and lessons, Oil Citiy Magnet School became a leader in student achievement through environmental education. Principal Mike Irwin is on the national PLT education operating committee with Cal-Wood director Rafael Salgado, who is a Colorado PLT facilitator.
Colorado Project Learning Tree Facebook Site
Like Brenda Smith in 2006, Cindy Kilpatrick honored as National Project Learning Tree Outstanding Educator.
Times 16-Jun-2011, Page 3A.
2012-2013
Music teacher Vicki Kirkendall received KSLA-TV's Golden Apple award, found oddly enough on a Las Vegas television station website.
Below, an incarnation of The Sweet Potatoes, the rock group made up of her students, performs at a talent show.
2015-2016
Journalism students who met with a Shreveport Times representative are pictured below.
Shreveport Times Facebook News Feed 21-Jan-2016
Beginning Of The End - Catching local residents off guard, Principal Irvin proposed a merger of the Oil City and Vivian schools to the Caddo Parish School Board on 31-May-2016. Benefits cited included
- Increased opportunities for students
- More resources added
- Unification of north Caddo Parish
- Creation of a well-suited feeder school for North Caddo High School
Other justification presented referenced the need for costly upgrades to the Oil Campus, notably possible foundation issue with the cafeteria, electrical issues, as well as the need to install elevators in the two main buildings to comply with requirements for disabled students.
Then Vivian principal Paul Zachary had just retired and if implemented, Irvin would become principal of the combined school. To be renamed North Caddo Elementary Middle School, the "new" institution would be located at the existing Vivian campus.
Given barely three weeks notice, there was little time to build any serious opposition. Mayor Sims is shown below speaking at the meeting at which, despite his efforts and those of other townspeople, the school board voted to close the 90 year-old school and bus local students, including kindergartners, 10 miles away to Vivian Middle School, now renamed North Caddo Elementary and Middle School.
Shreveport Times 22-Jun-2016, Page A-11
"When the schools were closed in the rural community, it destroyed the economic value and the communities died." - Mayor Sims
Rodessa, once an athletic rival, was cited as an example of the loss of a school's impact on a community.
 |
| Like Oil City, once a high school, Rodessa Junior High in 1966 |
 |
| Closed in the 1970s, the buildings were neglected and left to deteriorate for decades |
 |
| Demolished in 2016, all that is left of a one-time focal point of civic pride is an empty field |
A decline in the local oil and gas industry over the past several decades has resulted in reduced populations in all of the communities of northern Caddo Parish.. Plus there must be recognition of the economies of scale available in a consolidated school, which can also potentially provide programs not cost effective otherwise. However, a school is the heart of a community, and its loss becomes part of a "chicken and egg" argument. Once peer communities of Oil City; Belcher, Hosston, Ida, and Rodessa lost their schools over the 1960s and 1970s and are all now shells of their former selves. Is the loss of a school the cause of the decline of the town, or is the decline of the town the cause of the loss of the school? The answer is "Yes." .
 |
| What had once been the high school building, circa 2010 |
In July 2016, a committee comprised of Oil City and Vivian residents met to work out transition details, such as selecting school colors (red and black) and name for a mascot (Wolf Pack).
70 Years In The Making - What began as a recommendation in a 1940s educational study commissioned by the Caddo Parish School Board finally came to fruition. At that time area community leaders were assured it would not be the case by the school board, and were even mocked in newspaper editorials for their concern about losing local campuses when initial consolidation began in the form of North Caddo High. But 70 years later, all community schools in north Caddo Parish outside of Vivian (save for selective admissions Herndon Magnet) were no more. The final holdout had fallen.
Epilogue - A National Landmark -
Despite being closed, a movement began, led by local resident Tammy Hawks, to place the key buildings (old elementary and high school buildings, and gymnasium) on the National Register of Historic Places.
 |
| Built in 1923 as the high school, this building later housed elementary classes |
 |
| Tammy Hawks |
Notice of acceptance came with the following message:
Post to Friends of Oil City, Louisiana Facebook Group; 04-Aug-2017
Later a formal certificate was received that currently is on display at the Oil City town hall.
Post to Friends of Oil City, Louisiana Facebook Group; 21-Sep-2017
Who knows if the story of the near 100 year-old school over? Will it one day find a new purpose? Stay tuned, as we will be watching and reporting if/when any changes to its now indeterminate status take place.
Special thanks to my assistant, Young Arthur, for his help in putting this together.
See Also:
Oil City School History Part I - Early Days And High School Years
Oil City School History Part II - Junior High Years 1955-1970
Oil City Football Field
School Days - Teachers
School Days - Bus Drivers, Cafeteria Workers, And Custodians
Appendix
It would be hard to identify/list all individuals in some categories, but the point here is to recognize the collective remarkable achievement of the former students of the Oil City school. Through the halls of these buildings have passed:
Academia
A college dean (Milton Ferguson), university professors (Delbert Chumley, Marsha Little Matthews), research scholars (Lewis Watts), and school teachers (too many to name) who have impacted many locally and around the country
Business/Entrepreneurship
Corporate executives (John "Rusty" Shafer, Virgil L.. Pittman, David Smith); one who provides tailoring services to celebrities and professional athletes (Larry J. Cooper), and another who is CEO of his own tequila company (Jesse Carrigan)
Folk Art
A member of the Louisiana Folklife Center - Hall of Master Artists (Virginia Crawford Thacker)
Journalism
A film journalist who rode in the motorcade a few cars behind President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on 22-Nov-1963, and took some of the iconic footage shown over the years (Jimmy Darnell)
Medical/Dental
Physicians and dentists, including one recognized nationally who also served on the Harvard Medical School faculty. (Physicians: Terry Harrist (former HMS faculty) , Dennis Whitfield, Jim Thacker, Mike Sanders, Andrew F. Jobe, Wynton Howard Carroll, Stan Tunstall; Dentists: William H. Ferguson, Jack Newton)
Military
A U.S. Air Force major general and test pilot (Doug Pearson), colonels Donald Cook (U. S. Army) and Clyde Sanders (USAF), a U. S. Naval Academy graduate (Charles Coates Alexander), many career military veterans, and true war heroes.
The following died in service to our country: Jake Allborty; Varnie James Denton, Jr., William Arthur "Billy" Greer, Jr.; Roger William Milford; Woodrow Page, Clarence Peters, Jr.; William Walter Southerland (Silver Star); Herve Wilson (Silver Star); William James Wise
Music
Professional musicians who have performed with Country Music Hall-Of-Fame members and in legendary venues (Auby Lynn "Roy" Aldridge (bass) - Jim Reeves; and Jack Green (guitar) - Webb Pierce, Floyd Tillman, Grand Ole Opry, Louisiana Hayride); GMA Dove Award winning Contemporary Christian performer and recording artist (Shawn Craig)
Sports
Sports
Theater/Film
A true movie star - having had a successful stage, screen, and television career spanning over 50 years (Earl Holliman)
Other
NASA engineers/technicians (Ralph Fowler, Noah Blizzard)
Numerous ministers, some who have traveled to foreign lands to spread the gospel (Again, too many to name all)
Even the one-time "Voice of the LSU Tigers" attended while his father was OC school principal (John Ferguson)
Literally thousands of good, decent, hard-working folks like you and me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Special thanks to my assistant, Young Arthur, for his help in putting this together.
 |
| Young Arthur - OCJHS First Grade 1958-59 |
 |
| Huh?! |
See Also:
Oil City School History Part I - Early Days And High School Years
Oil City School History Part II - Junior High Years 1955-1970
Oil City Football Field
School Days - Teachers
School Days - Bus Drivers, Cafeteria Workers, And Custodians
No comments:
Post a Comment