Transition From Lee to Legacy High School Has Begun

Last year the Midland Independent School District approved the change of Robert E. Lee High School to Legacy High School to begin with the 2021-22 school year and with only 3 weeks until school starts, the façade change has begun.

As you can see in the above photo, changing the lettering on the school has begun so that the school can open for the new school year on August 2, 2021 as Legacy High School.

The Youth Center next to the school has also had "Lee" removed from the front and the sign on the football field is already showing signs that it is the next to have things changed.

The huge "LEE" that was on the outside of the band hall, pictured above, has also been removed with only the dirt and dust that was trapped behind the letters remaining, which will probably be power washed off at some point.

The infamous Lee logo, pictured above, will be repurposed with the two E's changed to "H" and "S" and the mascot will remain the Rebels but changed from Confederate Rebels to Revolutionary Rebels.

The change has caused much controversy with alumni of the school. I am a former student of Lee High School but once I found out the reason behind the naming of the school, I am all for them changing the name.

The reason, coming from those who are descendants of Midland School Board members in the late 50's and early 60's, was the board members were not happy with having to integrate the schools in Midland after the Supreme Court decided that segregation was unconstitutional in 1954. The school board members then decided on the name Robert E. Lee High School so black students would have to go to a school named after a Confederate General who owned slaves and fought the war to keep them.

The history of the school is not being erased, the school is just moving forward into a new era.

Get our free mobile app