Dan Haskins came a long way in his 87 years. Likely farther than he or anyone else could have imagined when he was staring out.
Born in 1929, Haskins graduated from Texarkana's Dunbar High School in 1948. And after college he came back to his hometown to work as a coach at his old high school.
But those were the days when schools were segregated by race. The courts had long upheld the doctrine of "separate but equal" and Jim Crow laws ruled in the South. Everyone knew schools were indeed separate, but by no means equal. Schools that catered to white students had more money and better facilities than schools designated for blacks.
Black educators like Haskins did the best with what they had. And their determination in the face of adversity made a big impact on generations of African-American students.
But thanks to the fight for justice and equality stirring across this land, they would also leave their mark on students of all races.
In 1954 the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out "separate but equal" and segregated schools. Change came slowly to Texarkana and across the South. And Haskins not only lived through it all, he became a part of local education history.
Eventually he rose to become assistant principal and then principal at Texas High School-the first African American to hold those positions. While that's important, his achievements should not be reduced to race alone. He cared about everyone at his school. He was an educator and mentor to all. His hard work, dedication and dignity earned the respect and admiration of students and faculty alike. After his retirement from TISD, he remained committed to education and to students, serving for years on the Liberty-Eylau Independent School District Board of Trustees.
Haskins died Sunday. He was a role model to many teachers and administrators. We are sure his example will serve as a guiding light for new educators in the years to come.
Dan Haskins. We cherish his memory. We respect his accomplishments. And we honor his legacy.
