Ross Avenue was named for Henry Clay Ross (1871-1945). Born near Thibodaux, Louisiana, he came to Crowley in 1899 and set up a school for blacks. By 1908, the school was known as the “Ross School.” This well-respected man was known as “the local Booker T. Washington.”
Reference: On the Streets of Crowley and Around Town by Ann Mire
(Re-printed from the Crowley Post Signal July 22, 2012)
The earliest reference to Negro children being afforded education mentioned a one-room school in 1899 with an enrollment of 18 pupils. Located on Avenue C, between Fifth Street and Hutchinson Avenue, this facility was used until 1906. Henry Clay Ross had arrived in Crowley in 1899 and was instrumental in furthering the educational opportunities for Negroes in Crowley. A new two-story frame building was constructed on Hutchinson Avenue in 1908. Records show 256 students in grades 1-7 for that year. As the school population continued to grow, a new building was added in 1915 and the entire block was purchased in 1917 with the help of fundraising by Professor Ross. Grades 8-11 were added in 1923 with the first high school graduating class in 1929. With the successful passing of the first bond issue specifically for Negro education, a brick building was constructed in 1931. Known as the Crowley Industrial Training Institute, it served black public school students until 1954. A new brick high school built at that time on north Western Avenue served grades 7-12 and was named Ross High School. The school on Hutchinson continued to serve the elementary grades until 1963 when Ross Elementary was constructed a few blocks further west on Hutchinson.
Reference: Building Blocks of Education by Ann Mire
(Re-printed from the Crowley Post Signal August 19, 2012)
With a name that is still recognizable in Crowley, Henry Clay Ross (1871-1945) was noted as both an educator and a minister. This strong proponent of education for African Americans was born near Thibodaux, Louisiana in 1871. Upon his coming to Crowley around 1899, he began his education career as a teacher. Establishing a one room school on Avenue C, he had eighteen students and one teacher and later moved to West Hutchinson Avenue. By 1908, he had secured a new school building. Officially called the Crowley Industrial School, he was principal for over 40 years at the “Ross School” as it came to be known. Well respected in both the white and black communities, Ross had a street, Ross Avenue, named for him while he was still living. By 1911 whenever his name appeared in the newspaper, he was listed as Professor Ross. Because of his dedication to civic activities, he was described as “a man of high character…and recognized and appreciated by all who know him.” The local citizenry often referred to him as “the local Booker T. Washington.” As a matter of fact, his pursuit of educational opportunities for blacks was a major reason that Booker T. Washington visited Crowley. Washington came to Crowley for four hours on April 14, 1915. Besides his role in education, Professor Ross was pastor of the Morning Star Baptist Church from 1910 until his death in 1945.
Reference: The History of Crowley’s Black Community by Ann Mire
(Re-printed from the Crowley Post Signal February 17, 2013)
Joseph “Joe” Pete (1912-2005) and David L. May (1899-1987) were elected to the Crowley City Council (Ward 3) in 1954. They were Louisiana’s first black councilmen since Reconstruction. Mr. Pete served from 1954-1982. He was instrumental in the construction of the West Crowley Community Center (now known as the Martin Luther King Center). A barber for 50 years, Pete opened his shop in 1936. In an interview with Mary Alice Fontenot, he stated, “I think I’m a better person for having served in public office. Most of all I learned what can be accomplished by teamwork and cooperation.” Although he served for a shorter time, from 1954-1962, May is also remembered as a teacher and principal for over 40 years. He also served on the Acadia Parish Library Board from 1976 until his death in 1987. He and his wife Jeanette Ross May (1902-1997) were named outstanding Crowley citizens in 1980 for their leadership in the areas of education, civic, and church. Wadie Helen Bias (1921-2008) was the first black woman to serve on the Acadia Parish School Board, where she served with distinction from 1975 until 2002.
Reference: The History of Crowley’s Black Community by Ann Mire
(Re-printed from the Crowley Post Signal February 17, 2013)
Henry Clay Ross (1871-1945) was instrumental in education for blacks in Crowley. Born near Thibodaux, he began teaching in Acadia Parish in 1899. Serving as principal-teacher in a one-room school, he crusaded for funding for a better school house for blacks. Known as the “Ross School,” enrollment reached an extraordinary 256 pupils in 1908. Cited in the Crowley newspaper as Professor Ross, he was well respected in both the black and white communities. An editorial in 1919 praised Ross with the following “we lose sight of the color in this instance, because the man is laboring hard in a worthy endeavor and the respect he receives is due.” His efforts in education were instrumental in noted black educator Booker T. Washington’s visit to Crowley in 1915. Besides his role in education, he also served as pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church from 1910 until his death. In 1902, he was a charter member of the People’s Investment Company, a business set up as a lending company for blacks. In recognition of his life, a street, a high school, and an elementary school have been named for him. (January 22, 2014)
Reference: Rice Capital Founders by Ann Mire
(Biographies of Crowley’s pioneers re-printed from the Crowley Post Signal January 22, 2014)
Ross, Henry Clay (1871-1945)
With a name that is still recognizable in Crowley, he was noted as both an educator and a minister. A strong proponent of education for African Americans, he was born near Thibodaux, Louisiana in 1871 to Charles and Rebecca Ross. Upon his coming to Crowley around 1899, he began his education career as a teacher. Establishing a one room school on Avenue C, he had eighteen students and one teacher and later moved to West Hutchinson Avenue. By 1908, he had secured a new school building. Officially called the Crowley Industrial Training School, he was principal for over 40 years at the “Ross School” as it came to be known. He was remembered as a strict educator.
Well respected in both the white and black communities, Ross had a street, Ross Avenue, named for him while he was still living. By 1911 whenever his name appeared in the newspaper, he was listed as Professor Ross. Because of his dedication to civic activities, he was described as “a man of high character…and recognized and appreciated by all who know him.” The local citizenry often referred to him as “the local Booker T. Washington.” As a matter of fact, his pursuit of educational opportunities for blacks was a major reason that Booker T. Washington visited Crowley. Washington came to Crowley for four hours on April 14, 1915. Besides his role in education, Professor Ross was pastor of the Morning Star Baptist Church from 1910 until his death in 1945. He and his first wife Eliza Castello (1875-1932) had two children Dr. Theodore C.W. Ross and Jeanette May Ross (Mrs. David May). In 1936, Ross married Louise Burrell (born 1906).
David (1899-1987) & Jeanette Ross (1902-1997) May
David L. May (1899-1987) along with Joseph Pete was elected to the Crowley City Council (Ward 3) in 1954. The two were Louisiana’s first black councilmen since Reconstruction. Although he served for a shorter time, from 1954-1962, May is also remembered as a teacher and principal for over 40 years. He also served on the Acadia Parish Library Board from 1976 until his death in 1987.
His wife Jeanette Ross May (1902-1997) was also involved in education. When she retired in 1967 after 43 years in the Acadia Parish School system, she had been a teacher, girls’ basketball coach, librarian, and director of music at Ross High. The daughter of Henry C. Ross, Jeanette had performed a piano piece as part of the program in April of 1915 when Booker T. Washington visited Crowley.
In business affairs, he served as President of the People’s Investment Company, while she was a Board Member of that organization. Both were recognized in 1980 by the Crowley Chamber of Commerce when they were named outstanding Crowley citizens for their leadership in the areas of education, civic, and church. Both were active members of the Morning Star Baptist Church. He was Superintendent of the Sunday School beginning in 1926.
With the establishment of the Negro Legion Club (known as the Benjamin O. Davis Post No. 506) sponsored by the Acadia Post No. 15, American Legion, in November of 1946, May served as the first Commander of the Post.
Black History Series to focus on local Black Pioneers by Ann Mire
Reprinted from Crowley Post Signal February, 2016 daily feature
Reference: On the Streets of Crowley and Around Town by Ann Mire
(Re-printed from the Crowley Post Signal July 22, 2012)
The earliest reference to Negro children being afforded education mentioned a one-room school in 1899 with an enrollment of 18 pupils. Located on Avenue C, between Fifth Street and Hutchinson Avenue, this facility was used until 1906. Henry Clay Ross had arrived in Crowley in 1899 and was instrumental in furthering the educational opportunities for Negroes in Crowley. A new two-story frame building was constructed on Hutchinson Avenue in 1908. Records show 256 students in grades 1-7 for that year. As the school population continued to grow, a new building was added in 1915 and the entire block was purchased in 1917 with the help of fundraising by Professor Ross. Grades 8-11 were added in 1923 with the first high school graduating class in 1929. With the successful passing of the first bond issue specifically for Negro education, a brick building was constructed in 1931. Known as the Crowley Industrial Training Institute, it served black public school students until 1954. A new brick high school built at that time on north Western Avenue served grades 7-12 and was named Ross High School. The school on Hutchinson continued to serve the elementary grades until 1963 when Ross Elementary was constructed a few blocks further west on Hutchinson.
Reference: Building Blocks of Education by Ann Mire
(Re-printed from the Crowley Post Signal August 19, 2012)
With a name that is still recognizable in Crowley, Henry Clay Ross (1871-1945) was noted as both an educator and a minister. This strong proponent of education for African Americans was born near Thibodaux, Louisiana in 1871. Upon his coming to Crowley around 1899, he began his education career as a teacher. Establishing a one room school on Avenue C, he had eighteen students and one teacher and later moved to West Hutchinson Avenue. By 1908, he had secured a new school building. Officially called the Crowley Industrial School, he was principal for over 40 years at the “Ross School” as it came to be known. Well respected in both the white and black communities, Ross had a street, Ross Avenue, named for him while he was still living. By 1911 whenever his name appeared in the newspaper, he was listed as Professor Ross. Because of his dedication to civic activities, he was described as “a man of high character…and recognized and appreciated by all who know him.” The local citizenry often referred to him as “the local Booker T. Washington.” As a matter of fact, his pursuit of educational opportunities for blacks was a major reason that Booker T. Washington visited Crowley. Washington came to Crowley for four hours on April 14, 1915. Besides his role in education, Professor Ross was pastor of the Morning Star Baptist Church from 1910 until his death in 1945.
Reference: The History of Crowley’s Black Community by Ann Mire
(Re-printed from the Crowley Post Signal February 17, 2013)
Joseph “Joe” Pete (1912-2005) and David L. May (1899-1987) were elected to the Crowley City Council (Ward 3) in 1954. They were Louisiana’s first black councilmen since Reconstruction. Mr. Pete served from 1954-1982. He was instrumental in the construction of the West Crowley Community Center (now known as the Martin Luther King Center). A barber for 50 years, Pete opened his shop in 1936. In an interview with Mary Alice Fontenot, he stated, “I think I’m a better person for having served in public office. Most of all I learned what can be accomplished by teamwork and cooperation.” Although he served for a shorter time, from 1954-1962, May is also remembered as a teacher and principal for over 40 years. He also served on the Acadia Parish Library Board from 1976 until his death in 1987. He and his wife Jeanette Ross May (1902-1997) were named outstanding Crowley citizens in 1980 for their leadership in the areas of education, civic, and church. Wadie Helen Bias (1921-2008) was the first black woman to serve on the Acadia Parish School Board, where she served with distinction from 1975 until 2002.
Reference: The History of Crowley’s Black Community by Ann Mire
(Re-printed from the Crowley Post Signal February 17, 2013)
Henry Clay Ross (1871-1945) was instrumental in education for blacks in Crowley. Born near Thibodaux, he began teaching in Acadia Parish in 1899. Serving as principal-teacher in a one-room school, he crusaded for funding for a better school house for blacks. Known as the “Ross School,” enrollment reached an extraordinary 256 pupils in 1908. Cited in the Crowley newspaper as Professor Ross, he was well respected in both the black and white communities. An editorial in 1919 praised Ross with the following “we lose sight of the color in this instance, because the man is laboring hard in a worthy endeavor and the respect he receives is due.” His efforts in education were instrumental in noted black educator Booker T. Washington’s visit to Crowley in 1915. Besides his role in education, he also served as pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church from 1910 until his death. In 1902, he was a charter member of the People’s Investment Company, a business set up as a lending company for blacks. In recognition of his life, a street, a high school, and an elementary school have been named for him. (January 22, 2014)
Reference: Rice Capital Founders by Ann Mire
(Biographies of Crowley’s pioneers re-printed from the Crowley Post Signal January 22, 2014)
Ross, Henry Clay (1871-1945)
With a name that is still recognizable in Crowley, he was noted as both an educator and a minister. A strong proponent of education for African Americans, he was born near Thibodaux, Louisiana in 1871 to Charles and Rebecca Ross. Upon his coming to Crowley around 1899, he began his education career as a teacher. Establishing a one room school on Avenue C, he had eighteen students and one teacher and later moved to West Hutchinson Avenue. By 1908, he had secured a new school building. Officially called the Crowley Industrial Training School, he was principal for over 40 years at the “Ross School” as it came to be known. He was remembered as a strict educator.
Well respected in both the white and black communities, Ross had a street, Ross Avenue, named for him while he was still living. By 1911 whenever his name appeared in the newspaper, he was listed as Professor Ross. Because of his dedication to civic activities, he was described as “a man of high character…and recognized and appreciated by all who know him.” The local citizenry often referred to him as “the local Booker T. Washington.” As a matter of fact, his pursuit of educational opportunities for blacks was a major reason that Booker T. Washington visited Crowley. Washington came to Crowley for four hours on April 14, 1915. Besides his role in education, Professor Ross was pastor of the Morning Star Baptist Church from 1910 until his death in 1945. He and his first wife Eliza Castello (1875-1932) had two children Dr. Theodore C.W. Ross and Jeanette May Ross (Mrs. David May). In 1936, Ross married Louise Burrell (born 1906).
David (1899-1987) & Jeanette Ross (1902-1997) May
David L. May (1899-1987) along with Joseph Pete was elected to the Crowley City Council (Ward 3) in 1954. The two were Louisiana’s first black councilmen since Reconstruction. Although he served for a shorter time, from 1954-1962, May is also remembered as a teacher and principal for over 40 years. He also served on the Acadia Parish Library Board from 1976 until his death in 1987.
His wife Jeanette Ross May (1902-1997) was also involved in education. When she retired in 1967 after 43 years in the Acadia Parish School system, she had been a teacher, girls’ basketball coach, librarian, and director of music at Ross High. The daughter of Henry C. Ross, Jeanette had performed a piano piece as part of the program in April of 1915 when Booker T. Washington visited Crowley.
In business affairs, he served as President of the People’s Investment Company, while she was a Board Member of that organization. Both were recognized in 1980 by the Crowley Chamber of Commerce when they were named outstanding Crowley citizens for their leadership in the areas of education, civic, and church. Both were active members of the Morning Star Baptist Church. He was Superintendent of the Sunday School beginning in 1926.
With the establishment of the Negro Legion Club (known as the Benjamin O. Davis Post No. 506) sponsored by the Acadia Post No. 15, American Legion, in November of 1946, May served as the first Commander of the Post.
Black History Series to focus on local Black Pioneers by Ann Mire
Reprinted from Crowley Post Signal February, 2016 daily feature