E. O. Douglas High School served African American students during segregation in Sebring, Florida, United States. It was the only high school available to African Americans in Highlands County, Florida. Samuel C. Nixon was its principal from 1946 until it closed in 1970. The school was named for bank president and trustee Eugene Oren Douglas. It became an elementary school in 1967 and closed was closed with desegregation in 1970.[1]
Tigers were the school's mascot. Professional baseball player and coach Hal McRae is an alumnus.[citation needed] The school's band marched in the Sebring Christmas Parade in 1952.[2] An Aircraft Flash call was made from the school and photographed.[3]
Claud C. Marion served as principal of the school. He was the first African American principal in the county. His home is a historic site.[4]
The school buildings became administration buildings and a plaque commemorates its history. Reunions are held annually.[5]
References
edit- ^ "EO Douglas reunion in Sebring. Mentions the hamlet of Alpine". The Tampa Tribune. August 23, 1992. p. 165 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ MacDonald, Susan Priest; MacDonald, Randall M. (July 26, 2008). Sebring. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738553016 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Aircraft Flash". Air Defense Command. July 26, 1953. p. 9 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Guide to African-American Heritage Landmarks and Historic Sites in Florida". Visit Florida. December 8, 2020.
- ^ McCarthy, Kevin M. (July 24, 2019). African American Sites in Florida. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781561649518 – via Google Books.
27°30′04″N 81°25′13″W / 27.5012°N 81.4204°W
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