DR, JOHN E. CODWELL, SR., a native Houstonian was perhaps the greatest educator in HISD’s history, since he was so valuable an asset to our children’s education until the district waived its retirement age policy so that he could continue to serve the community for over another decade. Dr. Codwell left a legacy of service that was passed on to his grandson, Dr. John Codwell, III, who was raised in Michigan where his father remained after becoming the first African-American from Houston to play basketball in The Big Ten conference. Thus, it was disheartening to learn that there are so many unenlightened native Houstonians, esp. Phillis Wheatley ex-students and graduates, who have little, or absolutely no knowledge of who the great educator was, or the contributions he made toward producing great politicians, professionals and productive citizens endowed with that “Good Old Wheatley Spirit.” Inasmuch as the upcoming 75th Anniversary of Phillis Wheatley is being planned for Nov. 14-17, 2002, as we speak, African-American News&Issues, Texas’ widest circulated newspaper with a Black perspective and African American’s strongest editorial voice would be remiss to not edify our readers.

Since Fiesta’s Black History 24-7-365 validates the salient fact that history is recorded with every tick of the clock, a recent public disagreement about Codwell’s history as a coach, assistant principal and principal at Wheatley (on KCOH’s Person-to-Person radio talk show), between circa 1940s contemporaries, affords AAN&I an unique and timely opportunity to set history straight. And there is no better way to immortalize history than to begin at the beginning, therefore let it be recorded that Wheatley’s roots are historically intertwined with the Houston Independent School District, which owes its existence to Mrs. E.A. Andrews, who opened the city’s first school in October 1837.

History only identified Mrs. Andrews as a citizen who realized a need for a school to educate the city’s rapidly growing city. However, by 1858, municipal and civic organization expanded on her idea and raised funds to open the first public schoolhouse (segregated of course) that was called the Houston Academy. However, we’re more concerned about HISD in general and Wheatley in particular, thus let’s fast forward to 1923 when the Texas Legislature separated the public schools from the municipal government and established HISD. By 1930, enrollment had grown to 57,000 at 101 campuses. Meanwhile Black Houstonians, who were about 26 percent of the population, were being educated in Freeman Bureau schools that were abolished in 1872.
Although history is spotty, Black teachers had replaced all of the White teachers by 1874, after the city took over existing (Black and White) schools. Rev. Jack Yates was prominently involved in Blacks’ education and by 1883 construction was begun on the City of Houston’s first Black High School, which was original called Colored High. Charles H. Atherton, a native Jamaican, became the first principal of the school that is now called Booker T. Washington. Nevertheless, James D. Ryan had become principal of the school when a young Fifth Ward native named John Codwell, became a star athlete at “Colored High,” playing on a team that actually beat Prairie View A&M College, 6-0.

Space won’t allow a full chronology, but suffice it to say that history definitely records that on October 23, 1927 the first Wheatley-Yates game ended with the Third Ward based Lions on the long end of a 19-6 victory over the mighty Fifth Ward Wildcats - coached by John E. Codwell, Sr. The bitter rivalry (that evolved into the legendary “Turkey Day” clash), grew into a nationally heralded Thanksgiving Day Classic. Unfortunately, that era of Black history has long been reduced to folklore to future generations that had no idea that a grievous blow HISD was struck against Wheatley and Yates alumni. Conversely, one would have to be a living historian to recall when HISD’s hierarchy summarily dispatched Dr. Codwell to Jack Yates High School in 1958. Codwell, had coached all sports at Wheatley for over 15 years before replacing Prof. J.C. Sanderson as assistant principal, who had become the principal at Bruce Elementary School. When E.O. Smith retired in 1945, Codwell became principal of Wheatley located on the corner of Greggs Street and Lyons Avenue. Codwell’s coaches were Rutherford Countee, the grandson of Rev. Jack Yates, who coached football and Coach Collins “Scamp” Briggs, who starred at Wheatley and later at Tuskegee Institute.

Few recall that O.B. Williams became Wheatley’s interim football coach until Countee took over in 1945, and became the school’s greatest track and field coach. Although Frank Walker, the Wheatley grad and Southern University All-American quarterback, became the first Texas high school football coach to win 100 games, he was not only an assistant football coach under Countee, but is credited with starting and coaching Wheatley’s first baseball team in 1951. As reiterated earlier, HISD dishonored Black Houstonians greatly when they literally gutted Wheatley to staff Jack Yates. It was an obvious vendetta to punish the very outspoken William Holland, who persistently demanded better resources, including books for his students and fell into disfavor with the district’s officials.  Codwell was given the new ultra modern Jack Yates High School, rather than allowing Holland to remain as principal of the school he had headed from 1941-58. Holland remained principal at the old building which became Ryan Middle School. The Black community rose up in righteous indignation to no avail. Some Wheatley and/or Yates old timers are still angry about the inconsiderate actions that HISD took against a beloved educator, with total disregard for Black Houstonians tradition and community pride. Surely, that will be one of the hottest topics discussed during Phillis Wheatley’s 75th Anniversary that will be held at Sheraton Brookhollow Hotel, 3000 North Loop West, Nov. 14-17, 2002. Call 281/449-7409 for more information.