In 1910 Professor A.M. Strange visualized a training school for black students in Tangipahoa Parish. Tangipahoa Parish Colored Training School opened its doors in 1911, it was the first training school for black students in the entire south and the first school that provided secondary education for black students in the nation.

The concept of the parish training schools was made possible through the efforts of four philanthropic foundations interested in the education of African American youth.

Professor Strange wrote to Dr. James H. Dillard, a general agent for the John F. Slater Fund (a philanthropic fund for the advancement of Negro education), soliciting aid for an African American school that would be located in Kentwood. His proposed plan for the boys to be taught agriculture, dairy farming and horticulture. The girls would learn how to cook, sew, and learn about home economics.

Professor Strange proposal impressed A. C. Lewis, Superintendent of the Schools of Tangipahoa so much that the Superintendent took advantage of the opportunity to provide training for the teachers who would staff the parish’s rural black schools.

According to the African-­‐American Heritage Education Statement of Significance, the school started out with 10 acres of land that were cleared and fenced in. The school grounds consist of a total of 104 acres. The school went through three phases in its development. From 1911 to 1955 the school was known as Tangipahoa Parish Training School and was under the leadership of Oliver Wendell Dillon. From 1955 until 1969, the school was named the O.W. Dillon Memorial School. In 1969, during integration, it became Kentwood Elementary School.

After genealogist Antoinette Harrell interviewed some of the school’s alumni, Harrell was told that both Mahalia Jackson and gospel singer Joe May, from the 50s, performed at the school.

Some of the alumni reminisced about their school days when Professor Oliver Wendell Dillon was the principal in charge. Professor Dillon came to Kentwood to take charge of the one-­‐room, one teacher school. That same year he received one thousand dollars from the Brooks Scanion Lumber Co. and the Natalbany Lumber Co. in order to hire three other teachers and extend the school term to a full nine months for two hundred students. In 1919 the school board appropriated one thousand dollars to construct a two story, five classroom building at the school. Another one thousand and two hundred dollars was spent to purchase eighty-­‐five acres adjoining the school. The school for black students in Kentwood was recognized as a state approved high school by 1930.

Professor Dillon worked hard to raise money and get people in the community to supply labor to make 40,000 cement blocks to build a school to educate black children from several parishes and counties in Louisiana and Mississippi. Building a dormitory was necessary for the students who could not live at home while attending the school. Since so many came from distance away and the walk was too long.

Annette Vernon Brumfield graduated in the class of 1951 and didn’t hesitate to too inform Harrell how stern Mr. Dillon was. He would tell the students to form a line outside before entering into the building for class. Then, he would spend time talking to them about life and the challenges ahead.

Most of the students who attended the school came from sharecroppers and were the grandchildren of former slaves. Dillon knew that most of them were the first generation of children to attend school in their family. The school drew students from Washington, St. Tammany, St. Helena, East and West Feliciana, and southern Mississippi. Dillon expected the best from the students and wanted them to excel. His hopes were to push this generation and the next beyond the cotton fields.

Professor Dillon was one of eight children born to Thomas and Angaline Vaughn Dillon. Professor Dillon was born in 1882 in Pike County, Mississippi. Later in life he married Verdie Powell.

In 1952 Professor Dillon retired and Mr. Collis B. Temple, Sr. became the new principal in charge. In 1952 the name of the school was changed to O.W. Dillon Memorial High School to honor Professor Dillon.

Harrell spoke with the daughter of Collis Temple, Sr. His daughter, Colleen, recalled that her father brought Mahaila Jackson to the school for a concert in the school auditorium. She also recalled how hard her father worked to bring the fair to the school. “My father didn’t want my sibling and I to go to the local fair in town,” said Collen. “Saturday’s were known as “nigger day” and my father wouldn’t allow us to go. He worked hard to bring a fair to the school campus for African American students.”

O.W. Dillon Preservation Organization mission is to preserve the history and legacy of the school. For more information please visit the website at www.owdillonpreservation.org