Baylor Family Legacy To Live On
Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025
The Crowley ISD Board of Trustees approved naming its newest school in honor of the historic Baylor family — the first African American family to integrate Crowley ISD.
The last surviving Baylor sibling, 74-year-old Billy Baylor, was on hand at the Feb. 13, 2025 school board meeting when the board approved naming the new campus Baylor Elementary School. The approval was met with applause and tears.
“I hope they’re up there watching everything,” Baylor told the board of his family members who have passed. “I surely appreciate this. I’m glad it happened before I left this world.”
Superintendent Dr. Michael McFarland recommended to trustees that they name the campus in honor of the entire Baylor family.
“Billy Baylor is a living legend, and I’m thrilled that we are able to recognize the sacrifice and contribution that he and his family made in Crowley,” McFarland said. “They are trailblazers who paved the way for Crowley ISD to be a unified school district in a diverse community.”
The new school, previously known as Elementary No. 17, will be located near Richard Allie Middle School in The Bridges neighborhood and opens in fall 2025.
Billy Baylor recalls beginning his ninth-grade year in 1965 at the only school Crowley had at the time, which housed first through tenth grades. Prior to that, he attended James E. Guinn School and Morningside Junior High in Fort Worth during segregation.
Crowley ISD opened its second campus — Crowley High School — on Sept. 6, 1966, and Baylor remembers earning extra money by helping with the construction of that new school.
The oldest of the Baylor children, Alton Baylor, Sr., graduated from Crowley High School in 1968. Billy Baylor graduated in 1969, Linda Baylor graduated in 1971 and Jackie Baylor graduated in 1973.
While Linda cheered in the Pep Squad, Alton, Billy and Jackie were well known in Crowley as “the Baylor boys” and played record-setting roles in building the Crowley High School Football program under the direction of Coach Jerry Sanders.
In Billy’s senior year, the team won its first district championship.
“I had the best game in the world, rushed for 263 yards in one game,” he said. “I thought that was going to stand for a while, but little brother came along and shattered it. My older brother had the record in the beginning. We kept it in the family.”
Billy Baylor served as a custodian in Crowley ISD for nine years — at Crowley High School and Deer Creek Elementary. He has worked at Russell Feed & Supply for more than 35 years and continues to work there today.
The Baylor siblings are the children of Alton Baylor Sr. and Elizabeth “Babe” Hamilton Baylor.
Billy Baylor has four daughters, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Two of his daughters, Kimberly Brown and Deborah Baylor, spoke Thursday in favor of the board naming the school in honor of the Baylor family, describing the family’s actions during integration courageous and inspiring.
“Back then, my uncles, my aunt and my dad … I don’t think they realized they were planting a seed,” Deborah said. “When I look at Crowley, I see fruit. I see the harvest … I just want to acknowledge the courage and the resilience of my family, and that’s the legacy I pray they leave here in this town.”
Others speaking in favor of the naming in honor of Billy Baylor and family included Fort Worth City Councilman Dr. Jared Williams, longtime friend Melissa Stiles, Russell Feed customer Joy Loften as well as Leon Polk, community outreach coordinator in the Office of Tarrant County Commissioner Roderick Miles Jr.
“Billy Gene Baylor’s legacy is one of resilience, excellence and leadership,” Polk said. “As one of the first black students to integrate Crowley ISD, he paved the way for countless students who followed. His success as a standout athlete, scholar and community leader reflects the values we instill in our students today — determination, perseverance and a commitment to excellence.
“Naming the school in his honor is more than a tribute — it is a powerful statement that Crowley ISD values its history and the pioneers who shaped it. It also serves as inspiration for future generations, reminding students that their success stands on the shoulders of those who came before them.”
