Blackshear/O.L. Price Ex-Student’s reunion draws dozens of alumni from the classes of 1945-1965
A vibrant all-Black school that thrived during a time of segregation and racial discrimination was celebrated this past weekend.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, the Blackshear/O.L. Price School Ex-Student Association hosted a popular reunion at The Venue Taylor, 115 W. 2nd St, where former students from the classes of 1945 to 1965 mingled, traded old memories, and gave honor to the school that laid a solid foundation for generations of African-American residents until integration in 1969.
“We want to make sure people don’t forget that we had another school in Taylor that was very successful,” said co-organizer David Williams, class of 1970, whose father and mother both also attended the school. “We’ve had doctors, lawyers, and business men. People from all walks of life have walked through its doors. They are proof of the education of O.L Price.”
As D. J. Bill 1 Tyme spun old-school R&B hits, including Eddie Holman’s 1969 “Hey There Lonely Girl,” about 170 people, dressed to the nines, packed the cozy space to enjoy fellowship, music, libations and a dinner from Caesar’s Catering of chicken fettuccine alfredo with a vegetable medley.
During the event, the association honored 97-year-old Ernest Rector, class of 1945, with a plaque recognizing him for being the oldest living alumnus of O.L. Price/Blackshear School.
“Mr. Rector and my father were classmates,” said Williams, who has volunteered for the association for more than two decades. “He has a good mind. He is sharp. I hope the good Lord blesses me like that.”
Dr. Samuel Ross, who went to O.L. Price during his early childhood years, was also honored for his numerous professional and academic achievements, including serving as an executive vice president & chief medical officer at Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas and becoming the first African-American valedictorian of Taylor High School in 1972, Williams said.
In addition, former Taylor Mayor Don Hill, class of 1956, was honored for his contributions to the community and for his civic service.
“He is a blessing for all of Taylor, not just us,” Williams said. “He is kind of like my mentor. I’ve been learning from him for years.”
Round Rock resident Lynda Harrison, whose aunt taught at O.L. Price, said she was thrilled to be able to attend the event.
“It makes me feel so good to see people from my childhood; we played together,” she said. “It’s a blessing.”
Though Harrison said she only had the opportunity to attend the elementary school from 1966 to ‘68, her time at O.L. Price impacted her greatly.
“It gave me something I did not have at other schools,” Harrison said. “We had our own traditions. It was nice being with relatives, people I grew up with, people I (even) picked cotton with.”
Co-organizer Nelson Alexander attended the festivities with his custom purple-and-gold football jacket embroidered with his nickname “Alex” and copies of his 1961 and 1965 Panther yearbooks.
“We were the last class to graduate,” Nelson said. “We made history. It was a great time. We had great teachers, great programs. We didn’t know how great it was until we graduated. They were hard on us, but they taught us well.”
