The Randolph County Training School (RCTS) opened in 1919 and closed in 1970 in response to a federal court school desegregation order.

In 1965, RCTS principal Herman Shaw traveled to Washington, D.C. to urge action by the federal government (then the Department of Health, Education and Welfare) to desegregate public education in the county.

Mr. C. D. Camp was the principal of RCTS between 1926 and 1937. In January of 1935, Professor George Washington Carver, chairman of the Chemistry Department at Tuskegee University, spoke at Handley High School to a large crowd. At the time, public school education in the city and county was segregated based on race.

The Leader Newspaper covered the event, highlighting Dr. Carver's status as one of America's most noted and accomplished scientists. Of special note was the fact that a group of RCTS students was permitted to attend Dr. Carver's speech but had to sit in the gallery section of the auditorium.

Thirty-years would pass before students would be permitted to sit together in the auditorium unseparated by race and gallery and main floor designations.

The segregated seating arrangement in the auditorium separated the RCTS African American students from the essence of Dr. Carver's life of which they were a part. In the attached photo collage, I added Dr. Carver's picture to the article.

Behind These Silent Walls. History that should be taught.

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Dr. Clarence Lee and his wife are among the most consistent contributors to the RCTS scholarship Fund. They recently made another very generous contribution. The Fund is achieving its twin goal of supporting the educational aspirations of Randolph County, Alabama students, and institutionalizing the RCTS tradition and legacy.

RCTS was a Rosenwald descendant School that served the educational needs of African Americans students for 51 years (1919-1970). We are thankful for Dr. Lee generosity as a son of Alabama, Tuskegee University, and distinguished Howard University professor and Dean.

We are encouraged by the recognition that the RCTS Fund has received from Randolph County’s four high schools in Roanoke, Woodland, Wadley and Wedowee, Alabama. Terry O’Bryan and Kieauna Strickland are 2013 and 2015 RCTS scholarship recipients and Tuskegee University graduates.

Since 2005, we have annually awarded scholarships to students in Randolph County, Alabama to support their college aspirations. We have awarded 105 scholarships!

We hope RCTS alumni and friends will continue to support the RCTS Scholarship Fund and the educational aspirations of students in Randolph County, Alabama. Current updates about the RCTS Scholarship Fund are available at www.rctsfoundation.org. We also have an active Facebook Group (RCTS Legacy and Reunion) where scholarship information is posted. All donated funds continue to be awarded annually as scholarships. No funds are used for administrative or other purposes.

The Randolph County Training School (RCTS), a Rosenwald descendant school, existed between 1919 and 1970 in Roanoke, Alabama on Highway 431 before it was closed pursuit to a federal court desegregation order. RCTS was one of more than 5,000 schools constructed throughout the southern states to support the education of African American children.

Since 2005, with the generous financial support of RCTS alumni and friends, the RCTS Scholarship Fund has awarded 101 scholarships to RCTS descendant students at Handley High School, Wadley High School, Woodland High School, and the Randolph County High School. Fifty-four years since it was closed, the RCTS legacy continues to unfold in the collegiate and career achievements of its scholarship recipients.

Last night at the annual Handley High School awards ceremony, RCTS scholarships were awarded to the following RCTS descendant students: D'Niya Winston, Ta'Kara Houston, Trinity Nolan, William D. Dean, Talajhia Winston, Shaniah G. Foster, Zanautika Smith, Jestiny Z. Williams, Azorria Higgins, Raquel Joiner, Shareif Thompson, Takeira S. Tucker, Akia A. Brown, Takeriauna Mosley, and T'Marion Phillips.

The Handley High School scholarship recipients are pictured here receiving their awards from Gene A. Thornton ("62). Last week, Talee Sims and Liberty Jade McLain received RCTS scholarships at the Randolph County High School and Wadley High School, respectively.

Additional information about the historic RCTS Rosenwald School is available at: www.rctsfoundation.org. It is an honor to serve as chair of the RCTS Fund. Behind These Silent Walls - Remember and Grow Stronger. (Hattie Peters Clark, beloved RCTS 5th grade teacher).