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The History of Big Sandy I.S.D.

 During the 1920's, schools were one or two room schoolhouses and they were located within walking distances of the students, since there was no transportation except for mules and wagons.  The mules were needed on the farms and were not available to provide transportation.  Some of these school were located in Midway, Camp Ruby, Segno, Holly Grove, Indian Springs and Dallardsville.  

In Dallardsville in the 1930's a 2 room school was built at the present school site near where our cafeteria is located.  A well was present where the old oak tree now stands near the cafeteria.  The superintendent was Practar Galloway and there were two other teachers.  The school grew and in 1939 the present Jr. High building was built by the W.P.A.  The wings on both ends of the building were added in 1941.  In the early 40's the first Gym was built near where our present new gym stands.  Some smaller schools  were near Big Sandy; there was a black school near Camp Seale which was a logging town.  

In 1951 when Mr. Thomas Foster came here  to teach and is still  teaching here in 2002.  All of the students were located in the present Jr. High building.  A cafeteria was also built in 1951 and was located behind the present Jr. High building.  Mr. I.V. Burkett was the Superintendent and Mr. W. Ford King was the High School Principal.  Big Sandy was famous for basketball and we won the boys Class B Championships for the first time in 1952.  Starters by this team were Lester Battise, Hobby Williams, Red Williams, Al Adams and Glenn Fields.  

A new gym was built in 1953 and is still standing today.  Today we call it the "old gym."  The new gym build in 1953 was one of the finest in south east Texas.  Many play-off games were held in the gym.  The basketball team in Big Sandy was outstanding and we played such teams as Milby of Houston, Smiley of South Houston, Silsbee and many teams for Louisiana.  The Big Sandy boys team usually advanced to the state meet in Austin, but never won the state championships.  Until 1957 the starters of this team were W. Ford King Jr., Oscar Williams, and Mickey Battise.  The girls basketball team played in regional meets during the late 1950's and 1960's.  The team advanced to the state meet in 1961 and won third place. 

 Mr. W. Ford King, the boys coach, quit coaching due to ill health and the team did not make it to the state meet until 1986.  Mr. I.V. Burkett retired as Supt. in 1986 and principal Edward Holder replaced him.  Mr. Thomas Foster replaced Mr. Holder as high school principal in 1968.  The new superintendent had the Jr. High school building air conditioned and heated.  The units were located on the top building and were efficient.  During the 1970's and agriculture building and a new cafeteria was built.  

In 1982 we opened the present high school and grades 8-12 were located in the building.  The 1980's  saw a return of glory for the boys basketball program.  Big Sandy hired a coach named Tommy Jackson.  Big Sandy went to the regional meet in 1984 and 1985.  Both times they were defeated by our arch rival the Bluejays.  In 1986 the boys finally beat the Bluejays in the finals of the regional tournament.  The 1987 team advanced to the regional meet and defeated the Moulton Bobcats in the finals.  They made a strong showing at the state meet, but were defeated by the Padacuh Dragons.  Kevin Foster, was named All-State.  Kevin returned to his alma mater  in 2001 as the boys basketball coach.  Kevin Foster is Mr. Thomas Foster's son.  Mr. Thomas Foster was awarded by TEA for 50 years of service in 2002.  We are looking for great things from him.  

The 1988 team again advanced to the state meet and was again defeated by the Padacuh Dragons in the state finals.  Mr. Holder retired in 1988 and Mr. Foster became superintendent, when Mr. Foster became superintendent the school was having financial problems.  Through cost saving methods the school again regained financial stability.  Big Sandy has always relied on the oil industry as part of its financial well being.  Gulf Oil Company and Humble Oil Company hold camps in the Segno area.  Our enrollment grew during the 1980's and an early 1990's and we were in need for more space for out students.  Mr. Foster retired from being the superintendent in 1993 and later returned to teaching. 

 Mr. Vernis Rogers became superintendent in 1993 and due to increases in taxes the new elementary was built in the 1990's and the old Jr. High building was redone.  A new state of the art gym was built and other improvements were made.  Mr. Darrell Myers is now our superintendent and were glad to have him here.

Old gym built in 1953	New gym built in 1998
	New Cafeteria
Student life in the 1950's	New School
	Mr. Foster in his 50th yr. of teaching.

A hand drawing of Big Sandy by one of our former students, Charles Lawless.