DOWNING SCHOOL

   A  school was built in the Downing community in 1898 and was constructed in either an “L’ or “T” shape. 

   In 1907, the residents voted to construct a new building and the 1898 school was sold to the Downing Baptist Church.

   In August 1915 construction was started on a third school building.   Land was purchased from G. H. Loudermilk. Tip Ross drew up the plans which were exact copies of the Hasse school.  Hamp Bragg supervised the construction with Joe Smith, Adolf Boswell and Henry Beaty helping him construct the building.  Several local men provided voluntary labor.  They included A.F. Hafford, Jim Whitlock, John Malone, and Henry Gamar (?).  The school was ready for use in September.

    In 1936 a 70’ x 90’ stone auditorium was constructed on the campus.  Furnished with a new piano, the auditorium had been used only four years when a severe storm came through.  Lightening struck the building setting it on fire and the high winds blew in the weakened walls.

     The school grew steadily from four teachers and around 60 students in 1903 to 77 students in 1929 to its peak of around 150 students when the the Buffalo students began coming to Downing in 1933.  The following year, the high school students began attending De Leon High.  At the time Downing was one of only a few independent school districts in Comanche County.  But, in 1937 Buffalo consolidated into De Leon leaving Downing with only enough money to employ three teachers.  The following year the school had to cut another teacher. The school closed after the 1943-1944 term and consolidated into De Leon.  The building was torn down in the late 60s.

      Downing teachers included: Oma Loudermilk, R.V. Lesley, Mr. and Mrs. P.B. Rann, Jewell Hardin, Limon Batton, Nola Gaines Batton, Oma Ellis Wyatt, Faye Stewart, Mrs. A.C. Cathey, Lottie McCamey, Carrie Knudson (Mrs. Robert Eaton), Mrs. Elzo Brinson, George Goosby, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Puvis, and Adolph Boswell.

     Boswell was remembered as perhaps the most outstanding teacher.  He handled history, science, shop and carpentry.  He was one of the men hired to build the school.

De Leon Free Press Mar 25, 1927 and paper of Jerry Parr for Al Strasner’s Texas History class May 14, 1965.  Parr interviewed A.T. Hafford, R.V. Lesley, Oma Loudemilk, and the unnamed County School Superintendent.

The second Downing school built in 1907.

DOWNING STUDENT BODY

1935~36

Bottom Row (L-R):  Patsy McGuire, unknown, Juanita Hulsey, unknown, unknown, Betty Sue Whitlock.  Row Two: Harold Belyew, Kenneth Lankster, Quint Evans, Joe Johnson, Jamie Peters, Edward Hulen Scott, unknown. Row Three: Jimmie Rex Scott, Bill Johnson, Billy Wayne Scott, Wart Isabell, _______ Lankster, Billy Jack Cottrell.  Row Four:  Alvin Wilson, Oma May Loudermilk, unknown, unknown, unknown, _______ Usabell, unknown, unknown, unknown.  Row Five:  Billy Jack Scott, Herman Brooks, Belyn Hornsby, unknown, Buck Hulsey, Jack Lankster.  Row Six:  Tuffy Johnson, unknown, Fay Henson, Dee Wright, Christell Morrison, Treva Vineyard.  Row Seven: Toppie Morrison, Roy Lee Loudermilk, Ted Loudermilk, unknown, Balanche Wilkerson, Ennis Loudermilk, Estell Mosley.  Row Eight:  Ailene Loudermilk, unknown, Bonnie Jean Evans, Janett Grissom, Dorene Schott, Opal Howard.  Top Row:  Unknown, Ezra Anderson, Peck Belyew, Dorothy Cottrell, unknown, unknown.  Photo provided to De Leon’s Monitor by Peggy Pierce.

Superintendents

1929 H. Grady Dowdey