1935 – 1968
submitted by Sandra McIlveen Goolsby
The history of Dogan High School began in 1926 with the name of Fairfield Colored School. The Fairfield Colored School was located in what was known as “The Flat” on a small one (1) acre plot, east and adjacent to the First Baptist Church.
Prior to 1935, there was no high school in Fairfield for colored (black) children to attend. In order for black children to receive a high school diploma their only option was to leave home and attend a high school designated for black children.
Only a few colored families could afford the cost of sending their children away from home and one was the family of Billie Lorenzo McIlveen (pictured at left).
Billie Lorenzo McIlveen was a progressive colored businessman in Fairfield and the originator who set into motion the establishment of Dogan High School for colored (black) children.
The reason he wanted a high school for the colored (black) children in the Fairfield community was that his son wanted to pursue a high school diploma, and the Fairfield Colored School only went to the ninth (9th) grade.
In order for his son to achieve his ambition for receiving a high school diploma, he would have to leave Fairfield, his dream was to attend the Asset College.
The nearest high school was located in Palestine approximately 36 miles from Fairfield. Due to the travel distance on dirt roads from Fairfield to Palestine and the extremely costly investments of room and board for attending school away from home, this concept and practice were practically unheard of at the time.
Billie inquired and obtained room and board in Palestine, Texas at the cost of $50 per month (average monthly income was $22 per month) so that his son could pursue his high school diploma by attending school in Palestine for the next three years.
Billie’s strong determination to equip his son with a high school education became the motivation behind his belief which was that “a kid that young should not have to leave home to finish high school.”
Billie went to the white leadership and told them that due to the population growth within the colored (black) community, coloreds (blacks) needed a high school in their community for their children to attend.
Subsequently, Billie conferred with Willie Solomon (a highly-respected individual in the community) regarding Billie’s idea of establishing a high school for the colored (blacks) and Willie (pictured at left) was in agreement.
Billie and Willie participated in the early tradition of operating food and drink stands in “the Flat” (a section where coloreds (blacks) convened during the summer months of the Associations and Conventions for the purpose of raising monies for the down payment to begin purchasing the land for the colored (black) high school in Fairfield, Texas.
The idea of establishing a colored (black) high school was presented to the black community who met and agreed with the concept.
Billie Lorenzo and Mr. Solomon began working to seek land for the location of the school for colored (black) children of Fairfield.
The first location they considered was the same as where the Fairfield ISD Bus Barn is currently located.
Billie also met with William “Bill Nolan” Noland (also a highly respected individual in the community) and informed him that he had discussed the idea of establishing a high school and its location for coloreds (blacks) with Willie Solomon. However, Bill Nolan (pictured at left) stated that the location of the bus barn was too close to town and that ultimately, the Caucasians (whites) would not allow the black school to be located so closely to town.
Undeterred, they nevertheless, pursued investigating the land of the current location back in the early 1930’s which was called the “Poor Farm,” where Dogan is currently established.
As a result of the collective determination of Billie Lorenzo McIlveen, Willie Solomon and Bill Nolan, the Fairfield Colored School was relocated in 1934 to its present site with the same four (4) faculty members and the nine-grade system.
Minutes dated June 25, 1935, by the Board of trustees of the Fairfield Consolidated Independent School District stated that the land for the colored school at its new location was purchased from J. M. Willard.
It was initially discussed at a community meeting that the school should be named Lorenzo High School after Billie Lorenzo McIlveen. However, Principal Mae V. Donahue during that time stated that she thought the school should be named after an educator, Dr. Matthew Dogan, President of Wiley College.
Mrs. Mae V. Donahue met with Superintendent P.D. Brown and afterwards called a faculty meeting.
Names including those of Washington, Banks, Carver, and Dogan were suggested in naming the high school.
The name “Dogan” was unanimously chosen and presented to the Board of Education for approval. It was officially approved and recorded with the local and state boards as Dogan High School.
It was named after Dr. Matthew Dogan, Sr., who at that time was President of Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.
Matthew Dogan was one of the first to be elected to the Wiley College National Alumni Association Hall of Fame.
Official document presented to and approved by Texas Historical Commission, August 30, 2016.
Please Note: Following publication, The “Times” Editor was informed by Dogan Alumni Association President – Joyce Bennett that this article was not submitted on behalf of their organization.
