Annual Report - 2001
Legacy Story - James C. Pitts, Jr.

James C. Pitts, Jr. was the child of a family of educators, and teaching would become his life’s work.

He was born in Jefferson, Texas and graduated from Central High School, where his father served as principal for 60 years. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Prairie View College in 1940 and a master’s from University of Southern California. He was a veteran of the Second World War’s battles in North Africa and Italy, and remained devoted to veterans’ causes throughout his lifetime.

James began teaching when public schools were racially segregated. For many years he taught science and coached track at his alma mater, Central High. During summers he would serve as a public relations representative for the Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association conducting seminars for teachers of Black colleges about the oil and gas industry. After moving to Midland, he taught at Carver High in southeast Midland. At the time of his retirement in 1981, James was teaching science at Lee Freshman High School in Midland, where he introduced thousands of children to the wonders of science and the great value of learning.

James placed the highest importance on education at home, too. He and Thelma, his wife for 58 years, were the proud parents of three children, Anita Williams of Dallas, Merial Sweet of Houston, and James C. Pitts, III of Atlanta. They also considered Forrest Allen of Midland their son. Each of their children has earned at least one college degree.

“Education for everyone was his great passion,” said Forrest Allen, who was also one of Mr. Pitts’ former students. “He was an ideal role model, a great teacher, and a wonderful man.”

The Pitts family and their friends created the James C. Pitts, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund as a permanent tribute to a gifted man who devoted his life to education. This fund will provide need-based academic scholarships to college-bound African American graduates of Midland public schools.