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John Thomas Black
Oct 21, 1877 - Jan 30, 1959
Tehuacana Rites Conducted Sunday For John T. Black
A large number of Blooming Grove citizens were present at the Tehuacana
Methodist Church at 2 p.m. Sunday to attend funeral services for John Thomas
Black, former superintendent of schools here. Those of this community, and
others where he had lived and taught, were saddened Friday when word was
received that he had been killed in a tractor mishap. Mr. and Mrs. Black had
retired to their home in their native Tehuacana. He was 71.
Mr. Black was crushed by the tractor as it overturned, pinning him beneath. He
was attempting to pull a stalled moving van which had delivered household
effects of a daughter and son-in-law to the Black residence.
Conducting the service was Rev. Ted Spencer, native son and student under Mr.
Black, who now lives at Corsicana. Rev. Spencer told an overflow assemblage that
Mr. Black had left his mark on each of the communities in which he had lived.
"He made each community better and the people in each community better," the
minister said.
Dr. D.L. McCree, Corsicana Methodist district superintendent, read scripture and
directed prayer. Dr. Maggart B. Howell, superintendent of the Waxahachie
district of Methodism and former Blooming Grove pastor, led the closing prayer.
Mr. Black headed the local school district for 13 years, beginning in July of
1942 and retiring July 1, 1955. His untiring work with young people in various
ways and in several communities was widely known and admired. At one time he was
president of Tehuacana's Westminster College.
At the time of his death, Mr. Black continued to be a member of the Blooming
Grove Lions Club and the local Masonic Lodge. Fellow lodge members conducted
graveside services.
Surviving are his wife, two daughters, Mrs. L. L. Dorsett, Dallas; Mrs. Roger
Ennis, Pasadena; a son, J. P. Black, Wortham; a brother, Clarence Black, El
Paso; three sisters, Mrs. Zona Thompson, Lake Creek; Mrs. Joe Milburn and Mrs.
Ellie Rowell, both of Mexia; eight grandchildren, one great grandchild and other
relatives.
Notes:
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In Memory
The community that shares more than one-seventh of a man's life, when it is an
existence such as that recorded by John Black, is indeed fortunate. Considering
the fact that citizens of this entire area benefited from 13 of Mr. Black's most
mature and productive years, the proportionment would seem doubly generous.
John Black was a rare individual-uncompromising with hate, prejudice, idleness,
resentment and all like things that make life meaningless.
John Black respected and cherished others. He was intensely interested in their
spiritual development and well being. John Black was attentive to the tedious
task of administrator to a school district, but he was more preoccupied with
what a young person stored in his heart and mind as he walked from a
commencement platform.
John Black did not fail his students...until his death he did not desert his
older associates, his church, his community. Indeed, John Black was rare among
men. Rare to the extent that no transformation, no matter how tragic or final,
could remove his ennobling influence from among those who knew him.
The beauty of John Black was mirrored in his countenance, vitalized in his
actions, and is etched in the minds of numbers unknown.
Notes:
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 VETERAN
BLOOMING GROVE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR GETS SURPRISE TRIBUTE WEDNESDAY
By Bonnie Wright Binford - Daily Sun Staff
John T. Black of Blooming Grove, retiring after 38 years of service to the
public schools of three Texas communities, was a surprised and honored guest
Wednesday evening, when Navarro County school Administrators staged a program
tribute in the Frost school gymnasium. Approximately 175 were present.
A bright patina of humour covered the deep sentiment and affection which marked
the program, staged after the pattern of Ralph Edwards' show, "This Is Your
Life," with Joe Parks, principal of James Bowie school and president of the
county organization, acting as master of ceremonies.
Folder Provides Guide
A leather folder, lettered in gold, "This Is Your Life, J. T. Black: provided
the guide lines for the show. Manuscript had been provided by Mrs. G. E. Ramsey,
Blooming Grove teacher, with Mrs. Wanda Gillen acknowledged as typist for the
considerable material.
Mr. Parks emceed the gym show in front of the stage curtain, while Mrs. G. E.
Ramsey, Blooming Grove teacher, guided the intricate arrangements backstage.
The administrators' group was seated in a section to the emcee's right, while
those guests appearing in the show took their places in a section to his left.
Still others filled gym bleachers to watch.
Sharing in the occasion were only a part of the "hundreds of teachers" and
"thousands of pupils: who have felt the influence of the retiring educator.
As the pattern of the show developed, the audience was informed of both major
and minor events in the life of a man who was described as a "builder of
(school) buildings and a builder of boys and girls."
Wife Shares Honor
Sharing in the occasion were Mr. Black's wife, who informed the audience that
the educator proposed to another girl the same night they were married but
alarified the statement by revealing that the proposal was made in a school
play; a school girl who missed her target - (a teasing boy) - and bounced an
eraser off Mr. Black's noggin; a teacher who tore off the educator's shirt
collar while suffering a reprimand from him; and a banker who believed in Mr.
Black to the extent of authorizing him to write any necessary checks agains tthe
banker without prior notice.
During his career Mr. Black has built school buildings in Tehuacana and Ferris.
In Blooming Grove, during his administration, these additions and improvements
have been made to the campus; an agriculture shop, remodeled gymnasium, addition
to the homemaking cottage, lunch room, bleachers on the athletic field and an
all-weather road around the school building.
Background
John T. Black was born near Union High to the Rev. and Mrs. W. E. Black. His
father was a Methodist minister.
He attended Westminster Colege at Tehuacana, when it was a Senior Collgege,
receiving a BS degree there and later receiving a BS from SMU in 1928 with an MA
following in 1930.
He began his career, not as a teacher, but as a book keeper in Greeman's
Wholesale Grocery in Mexia. He farmed for a few years and was owner of a grocery
store in Tehuacana.
A beautiful student who enrolled in the Tehuacana college in 1906, Verona Pierce
of Lake Creek, delta County, was his bride in 1910.
On the eve of entering service, John T. Black saw the conclusion of World War I
and made a big decision to enter the teaching profession. He began that career
in Tehuacana in 1917.
His 38 years of service in education have been benefits to three communities;
Tehuacana, Ferris and Blooming Grove.
Other Educators
Truman Newsome, Supt. of Frost Public Schools, was the first to speak, followed
by Bryant Merrell, Supt. of dawson Public School and a former student under Mr.
Black when the latter taught at Westminster College, Tehuacana; J. C. Watson,
Navarro County Superintendent; Ray Waller, President of Navarro Junior College,
and C. M. Darnell and W. A. Haden, Blooming Grove's two principals and Mr.
Black's car companions to all meetings of the Navarro County administrators.
Tehuacana
Friends from Tehuacana recalled that John T. Black began his teaching career in
a three-room frame schoolhouse, movng when that building burned to the college
where space was provided until construction of another school could be effected.
Acknowledged as among his first pupils in Tehuacana was Mrs. Harry Smith, now a
member of the Corsicana Public Schools faculty.
It was pointed out that the honored administrator built the present brick
building for the community of Tehuacana. Amont those present was Mrs. John
Pierson, Tehuacana, described as "one of his favorite teachers" in this
building.
Also present to represent Tehuacana were J. R. Hawkins, former Superintendent of
groesbeck and now editor of the Goresbeck Journal; Supt. H. O. Whitehurst of the
Groesbeck schools, and Miss Ollie Campbell, Blooming Grove teacher.
Ferris
D. H. Moyers' 32 years a school board member and president of the Farmers and
Merchants State Bank, helped to tell of the 16 years Mr. Black served as
superintendent at Ferris. In that time he worked to bukld a new school and
gymnasium.
Mrs. Moyers, wife of the banker, who formerly taught in the Ferris schools; Mrs.
Jim Adams, another former school teacher; Miss Drewise Davis who carried with
ther the first annual of the Ferris School authorized by Mr. Black and sponsored
by Miss Davis; Ralph Evans, an ex-student who now served in the Navarro County
Superintendent's office; Mrs. A. R. Evans, Miss Muriel Hamack, were among others
representing this period.
Representing Ferris also were Mr. Black's children: Mrs. R. A. Enis of Pasadena,
Mrs. L. L. Dorsett of Tyler and J. Pierce Black of Wortham, all graduates of
Ferris High School
Blooming Grove
Miss Hammack was credited with introducing John T. Black to the Blooming Grove
community. He was elected in 1942 to head the Blooming Grove Public School.
Among those representing this community were three from one family: W. A.
Crawford, former school board member who served 23 years and editor of the
Blooming Grove Times: Miss Jean Crawford, teacher in the Corsicana High School
and a former teacher at Blooming Grove, and Jimmy Crawford, a graduate of BGHS.
Tribute was paid Mr. Black for strengthening the school's financial position.
Sharing in the Blooming Grove tribute were Ditt McCormick, president of the
school board; Sam Carroll, Mayor of Blooming Grove; R. C. Smith, president of
First State BAnk; D. W. Springer, Postmaster and president of the Lions' Club;
Judge James Sewell.
Other Tributes
Miss Beatrice Price was spokesman for the Blooming Grove faculty, which also
includes Mrs. Lula Westbrook, Mrs. J. U. Page, Mrs. Carl Darnell, Mrs. Betty
Allison, Mrs. Hollis Pitts, W. A. Haden, Miss Ollie Campbell, Mrs. Wanda Gillen,
Ralph Vinson, Ralph Page, Miss Opel Allmon, Mrs. G. E. Ramsey and Carl Darnell.
Ex-students and graduates who appeared were Mrs. O. D. Lively, Mrs. Don Leach,
Harold Tiping, Ted Spencer, now associate pastor of the Englewood Heights
Methodist Church, and Miss Therma Ann Neal, teacher in the Corsicana Public
Schools.
Members of the Senior Class included Lonnie Almond, Wanda Barham, Cosia Burke,
Ray Loren Dunaway, Billie Weing, Tillman Ferrell, Glenda Franklin, Janis French,
Margaret Garner, Joe Haden, Hollis Hinkle, J. K. Melton, Lewis Moore, Mary Bess
Spencer, Charles Walker and Dean Wooten.
Earl Hollingsworth, school bus driver who "borrowed the bus without permission"
to transport BG guests to the program, also was present.
Following the event the BG faculty and seniors entertained with a party in the
BG school building for all guests, their escorts and families.
Preceding it, the Navarro County administrators, including a heavy
representation from Corsicana, met for a dinner served by the Frost homemaking
students and a routine business session with Mr. Parks presiding. A group of
girls provided vocal numbers at its close.
Other officers of the county organization are Jake Allen, Barry principal,
vice-president, and Mrs. C. D. Pevehouse, Petty's Chapel, secretary-treasurer.
Notes:
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Veteran Teacher Retiring This Year
John T. Black of Blooming Grove, retiring after 38 years of service to the
public schools of three Texas communities, was a surprised and honored guest
Wednesday evening, (April 15th), when Navarro County School Administrators
staged a program tribute in the Frost school gymnasium. Approximately 175 were
present.
A bright patina of humour covered the deep sentiment and affection which marked
the program, staged after the pattern of Ralph Edwards' show, "This Is Your
Life," with Joe Parks, principal of James Bowie School and president of the
county organization, acting as master of ceremonies.
A leather folder, lettered in gold, "This Is Your Life, J. T. Black: provided
the guide lines for the show. Manuscript had been provided by Mrs. G. E. Ramsey,
Blooming Grove teacher.
The above information is from an article in the Corsicana Daily Sun written by
Bonnie Wright Binford.
Mr. and Mrs. Black plan to return to Tehuacana at the end of the present school
year where they have rebuilt their old homeplace.
Notes:
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The Coolidge
Herald - Friday, April 29, 1955
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Submitted by
Karen Rost
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From the
collection of the Blooming Grove Historical Society
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Son of
William Edward Black (1857-1950) & Ida Amanda (Best) Black (1862-1937)
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Tehuacana
Cemetery, Mexia, Limestone Co., TX
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Navarro County TXGenWeb