Because of Black educators’ dedication to breaking color barriers and bringing opportunity to all, young students thrived both inside and beyond the classroom in Southwest Louisiana in the early 1900s.

That was the focus of Tuesday’s Black History Month program on namesake schools of Black educators, entrepreneurs and role models presented by SWLA Genealogical & Historical Library’s Joyce Sonnier.

Here is a look at some of Calcasieu Parish’s early forces for equitable education and their place in history today:

William Oscar Boston

Professor “W.O.” Boston, then a Plaquemines Parish educator, was hired by John McNeese in 1892 to oversee the first colored school in Lake Charles, which was located at the corner of Broad Street and Louisiana Avenue. The first floor of the two-story building was used for classrooms and the second floor was considered a “lounge hall.”

“On Saturday nights a ball would be held on the first floor so Mr. Boston would have to get to work an hour early on Mondays just to help put benches back in the school building that had been taken outdoors for the ball,” Sonnier said. “Unfortunately, there was enough complaints and all that stopped.”

The building was later sold to Dennis Foster, who initially made the property his family home before selling it to an oil company to be used as a filling station. The property today is the home of Johnnie’s Paint & Body Shop, Sonnier said.

Boston became principal of First Ward Colored School in 1907. His wife, Mary, also taught at the school.

“I want to make a note that there were two First Ward schools,” Sonnier said. “There was one for white students that was located on Opelousas Street and one for colored students on Blake Street.”

First Ward Colored School had six classrooms, which wasn’t large enough to accommodate all of the students enrolled, so three houses that surrounded the school were also used for learning spaces. The school’s name was changed to Jackson Street Elementary School in 1968, when Blake Street was renamed Jackson Street.

Boston retired from First Ward Colored School in 1940. Miss Mary Belle Williams succeeded him as principal. It was under Miss Williams leadership that First Ward Colored School became known as Jackson St. School in the 1960s.

“W.O. Boston’s legacy here in Lake Charles began when John McNeese hired him to be put in charge of that little school and his legacy here in Lake Charles was solidified after the founding of First Ward Colored School,” Sonnier said. “A statewide tribute to him after 50 years of service to the community said ‘local friends white and colored’ gathered and ‘telegrams and letters read during the formal program indicated the extent to which white educators and civic leaders recognized the work of a negro whose life has been devoted to bringing up children of his race to an appreciation of proper behavior and moral values.’ “

Boston died in 1943 and was buried in Pryce Cemetery.

“That cemetery is right behind a school that would be named after Mr. Boston — W.O. Boston High School — in 1949,” Sonnier said. “An article reads ‘the $250,000 W.O. Boston High School for negro students was praised by white and Black residents who planned, constructed and will pay for the modern two-story structure.’ “

W.O. Boston High would later merge with Lake Charles High School to become Lake Charles-Boston High School. Today that school serves as the Lake Charles-Boston Academy of Learning.

“I also want to note that Mary Boston taught at First Ward Colored School for 30 years and during that time was only absent five days,” Sonnier said. “She died the same year her husband’s namesake school was founded.”

John J. Johnson II

John J. Johnson early career in education began when he taught at First Ward Colored School. (First Ward Colored School was established in 1907). Mr. Johnson later became principal of Second Ward Colored School in 1949. Second Ward Colored School was established in 1893, and the first principal was J. S. Jones.

The two-story, four-classroom building was located on Boulevard but wasn’t sufficient to accommodate the growing student population.

“In 1916, a 12-room building took the place of the old building but, unfortunately, that building did not last through the 1918 storm that hit Southwest Louisiana,” Sonnier said. “In 1920 a new building was built. It first started with a six-room framing and then the building later turned into a high school with 20 classrooms that was named Second Ward High School.”

After his death, Mill Street Elementary was renamed John J. Johnson II Elementary School in 1981.

Eugenia Reynaud 

“Some may people believe that Reynaud Middle School was named after her husband, Ralph C. Reynaud, because he’s known as one of the more prominent early Black educators and his legacy is still celebrated today; however, Reynaud Junior High School was named after his first wife, Eugenia King Reynaud,” Sonnier said.

Reynaud, 52, drowned along with her niece in 1940 after their car swerved off a highway road and plunged into a canal. Ralph Reynaud and his mother were also in the car and survived the crash.

Reynaud taught both math and music and, in fact, taught Nellie Lutcher how to play piano and read music.

Twenty-four years after her death, Reynaud Middle School was named in her honor on Nov. 1, 1964.  The school lasted for 50 years, closing in 2014. The school is now an alternative school, known as Reynaud Middle Alternative School.

Her husband became principal of Second Ward School School in 1914. The school’s name was changed to Mill Street School in 1968 then John J. Johnson II Elementary School in 1981. He went on to become the first principal of W.O. Boston High School.

Ray D. Molo

Ray D. Molo initially served as principal Carver Elementary School, now the site of the Brenda H. Hunter Head Start center.

Molo would also serve as principal of Lincoln Elementary School. The school was renamed Ray D. Molo Middle School after his death in 1973.

Ray D. Molo Middle School is still an existing school today.

Later in his career, he served as director of special services for the Calcasieu Parish School Board, served on the boards of directors for both the Southwest Louisiana Speech and Hearing Center and the Campfire Girls. He was also named a lifetime member of the Louisiana PTA.

Molo died at the age of 37 and in 1973 Lincoln School was renamed the Ray D. Molo Junior High School.

Ralph F. Wilson

Ralph F. Wilson began his teaching career at First Ward Colored School. He became principal of the Sulphur Colored Elementary School in 1958. In 1972, he took over as principal of Opelousas Elementary School, the location of what was then the First Ward School for white students.

Wilson died at age 39 in 1975. Opelousas Elementary School was renamed for Wilson a month after his death.

Doretha Combre

Upon her husband’s death, Doretha Combre found herself as a single mother of six children.

“But Doretha rose to the challenge and succeeded in raising successful children all while running a business,” Sonnier said. “She sold life insurance by day and then taught school at night.”

She would later become the owner of Combre Funeral Home in 1941. She also was a candidate for the Calcasieu Parish School Board in 1953.

“She is believed to be the first member of her race ever to run for public office,” Sonnier quoted a newspaper article as stating. “If you look at this article, not only was she a Black woman, she was the first of her race to enter politics in Calcasieu Parish.”

“Don’t let anyone tell you that the negro is not ready for integration,” Combre said during a rally. “Examine yourself to find if there is any flaw that keeps you from being ready then throw it out and get ready.”

She did not win the race, but did become president of the state chapter of the NAACP.

“This tells you the essence of who this woman was,” Sonnier said.

Combre died in 1962 and in 1981 Riverside Elementary was renamed in her honor.

Jessie D. Clifton

Teacher Jessie D. Clifton became principal of Airport Lake Charles School in 1949.

“She became of the most groundbreaking women in the whole Calcasieu education system,” Sonnier said. “She was a very confident and determined women. She’s quoted as saying, ‘I didn’t go for jobs, they came for me.’ “

Because Airport Lake Charles School was a rural school, school buses were needed to shuttler students to the campus. It would be the first time Black children road school buses in the parish.

When she school closed in 1950, Clifton joined forces with the Washington family to petition the school board to build a new school. Washington High School was build on North Prater Street in 1954 with Clifton as its first principal.

Sonnier said Clifton was the first ever female principal of a local high school and served at the school until 1968.

The Jessie D. Clifton Park and J.D. Clifton Community Center are named in her honor.

Clifton’s namesake school was Jessie D. Clifton Elementary School. Today, her namesake school is known Clifton Learning Center, located on 100 N. Prater.

Rosa W. Fondel

Rosa Williams Fondel was born Aug. 3, 1901. She was founder of Rosa Fondel School of Music, and founder of Rosa Fondel Memorial Chapel Spiritual Radio program, which was a weekly program that aired on the radio station, KAOK, for 27 years.

Her family’s legacy business is Fondel Memorial Chapel, which opened in 1965 and is still operating today.

Eastwood Elementary School was renamed Rosa W. Fondel Elementary School in 1996. The school merged with D. A. Combre Elementary in 2003, making the school’s new name, Combre-Fondel Elementary School.