The E.J. Campbell Alumni Association placed a sign in honor of former Black educator E.J. Campbell at the NISD annex still bearing his name. The group received permission from NISD trustees last month, and with the assistance of the district’s plant services staff, placed the sign in honor of and to recognize Campbell’s contributions to public education in Nacogdoches.
E.J. Campbell came to Nacogdoches in 1910, appointed principal of Nacogdoches Colored School. For the next 27 years, Campbell oversaw a growing school and expanded opportunities in public education offered to Black Nacogdoches students.
The E.J. Campbell Annex located at 420 S. Shawnee St. is still used by the district, including as the location for meetings of the Board of Trustees. The annex opened in 1954 as E.J. Campbell High School, to replace an aging structure across the street and to serve the growing population of students