African-American alumnus of North Texas State College. Memories of childhood in “Near North” Dallas and South Dallas, Texas, including bombing of African-Americans’ homes in newly desegregated South Dallas; early education in all-black schools, including Lincoln High School, in Dallas; experience at Texas Southern University; two years’ service in U.S. Army; decision to enroll at North Texas State College in 1957; experience of boarding with African-American families in the “Shack Town” neighborhood of Denton; courting of Jessalyn Gray (now Jessalyn Gray Johnson); experience of attending North Dallas as a member of minority race; graduation from North Texas in 1959; comparison of experience at North Texas vs. experience as doctoral student at Nova University; career with Dallas Independent School District.