Lizzie Nell Cundiff McClure graduated from McKinney High School in 1919 and completed her master’s degree at the University of Texas in 1931. She taught at McKinney High School and served as the Social Studies Department Head for many years. She made history interesting to her students with her extensive knowledge.
In 1967, she retired from the McKinney ISD after 36 years of service. McClure Elementary in McKinney was named in her honor. She died in 1974.
Laura Frances “Fanny” Shipe Finch was born in 1866. She earned money for college by teaching in the Cleburne Public Schools. In 1889, she moved from Cleburne to McKinney and became a teacher at the McKinney Collegiate Institute where she was also the principal for primary education.
She was a member of the McKinney School Board for eight years and was the first woman in Texas to serve on a Board of Education. She worked to establish libraries and provide restrooms and playground equipment for the schools. In 1924, the South Ward School was named for her. She and her husband also donated land for Finch Park. She died in 1942.
She was a member of the McKinney School Board for eight years and was the first woman in Texas to serve on a Board of Education. She worked to establish libraries and provide restrooms and playground equipment for the schools. In 1924, the South Ward School was named for her. She and her husband also donated land for Finch Park. She died in 1942.
James Lafayette Greer was born in 1836 and graduated in 1860 from Oglethorpe University in Georgia. He came to Texas in 1866 and helped found the town of Anna. He taught five terms at Mantua and one term at Van Alstyne. He then bought land and devoted himself to agriculture, which made him one of the county's wealthiest citizens.
Greer was elected to the 23rd and 24th Legislatures of Texas and was the leader of prohibition when Collin County banished saloons in 1902. He served as a member of the McKinney School Board for 16 years. Greer Elementary School was named in his honor. He died in 1922.
Greer was elected to the 23rd and 24th Legislatures of Texas and was the leader of prohibition when Collin County banished saloons in 1902. He served as a member of the McKinney School Board for 16 years. Greer Elementary School was named in his honor. He died in 1922.
L. A. Scott Jr. High
Louis Alfred Scott was born in 1852 and grew up on a farm four and a half miles east of Melissa. Scott attended school in a log house on the farm and was taught by his mother. He later attended Carlton College in Bonham.
Scott taught in the rural schools of Collin County for several years before beginning his career in business. He served as the president of the McKinney Ice and Coal Company and was an executive of the Collin County Mill and Elevator Company.
He also served on both the Melissa and McKinney school boards. In 1923, he helped build a junior high school in McKinney, and it was named for him. He died in 1934. Scott Junior High School closed in the 1950s and Caldwell Elementary occupies the same land today.
Scott taught in the rural schools of Collin County for several years before beginning his career in business. He served as the president of the McKinney Ice and Coal Company and was an executive of the Collin County Mill and Elevator Company.
He also served on both the Melissa and McKinney school boards. In 1923, he helped build a junior high school in McKinney, and it was named for him. He died in 1934. Scott Junior High School closed in the 1950s and Caldwell Elementary occupies the same land today.
Loucille Ford Burton was born in 1903. She was the first special education teacher in McKinney. With love and compassion, she taught students with challenges for 34 years, 23 of them in McKinney. She died in 1989.
Nell Lee Burks held a teaching certificate from Texas State Normal College (now UNT) in Denton and started teaching in McKinney in 1916. She attended courses during the summers until she received her BA degree in 1940.
She taught second grade at Central Ward, and began at West Ward when it opened in 1953. She was a second grade teacher in McKinney for forty-three years, and retired in 1960. West Ward school was renamed as Burks Elementary. She died in 1974.
She taught second grade at Central Ward, and began at West Ward when it opened in 1953. She was a second grade teacher in McKinney for forty-three years, and retired in 1960. West Ward school was renamed as Burks Elementary. She died in 1974.
Jesse McGowen, Jr. grew up in McKinney and graduated from Doty High School. He began his teaching career in McKinney in 1963 after graduating from East Texas State University (now TAMU Commerce.)
He taught Social Studies at Doty High and was a coach for football, basketball, and track and field. He also served as a bus driver, and spent countless hours, well into the night, delivering students home from athletic events when they had no other form of transportation.
Following integration, McGowen became a guidance counselor at McKinney High School in 1973 and was there more than 20 years before moving to the LINC Center as a counselor working with at-risk students.
McGowan served as the chief GED examiner for many years. He retired in 2000 after 37 years of service but is still working with the GED testing program part-time. McGowan Elementary was named in his honor.
He taught Social Studies at Doty High and was a coach for football, basketball, and track and field. He also served as a bus driver, and spent countless hours, well into the night, delivering students home from athletic events when they had no other form of transportation.
Following integration, McGowen became a guidance counselor at McKinney High School in 1973 and was there more than 20 years before moving to the LINC Center as a counselor working with at-risk students.
McGowan served as the chief GED examiner for many years. He retired in 2000 after 37 years of service but is still working with the GED testing program part-time. McGowan Elementary was named in his honor.
Jesse McGowen, Jr.
Charles Thurman Eddins grew up on a farm and attended East Texas Normal College (now TAMU Commerce,) where he worked his way through school as a grocery store janitor, a waiter at the college dining hall, and as a farm hand.
He taught for a total of 52 years. He was at Finch Elementary in McKinney for 38 of those years, and retired as the principal in 1961. He died in 1969.
In 1948, a tornado with 100 mph winds killed three people in McKinney, destroyed 100 homes, and also damaged Finch Elementary. Eddins lost part of his finger when a door slammed shut as he helped direct students to stay inside as the bell rang.
He died in 1969. Eddins Elementary was named in his memory in 1998.
He taught for a total of 52 years. He was at Finch Elementary in McKinney for 38 of those years, and retired as the principal in 1961. He died in 1969.
In 1948, a tornado with 100 mph winds killed three people in McKinney, destroyed 100 homes, and also damaged Finch Elementary. Eddins lost part of his finger when a door slammed shut as he helped direct students to stay inside as the bell rang.
He died in 1969. Eddins Elementary was named in his memory in 1998.
James Warren Webb was a prominent business owner of the Hill & Webb Grain Mill Company in McKinney. In 1913, he was an active member of the McKinney Board of Trustees. He donated three acres of land where Webb Elementary is today. The school was originally known as East Ward. He died in 1919.
Known for his kindness, he hired Gibson Caldwell to take a load of chickens to San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake to help feed the people coping with disaster. The Hill & Webb Grain solos were recently painted as part of a McKinney mural project.
