x
Breaking News
More () »

'The Tyler Rose' Earl Campbell backs vote on Robert E. Lee High School name as action gains support

Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford believes there will be a vote whether to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School.
Credit: Pro Football Hall of Fame

TYLER, Texas — Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford believes there will be a vote whether to change the name of Robert E. Lee High School. 

At a meeting Tuesday night at St. James CME Church in Tyler, Dr. Crawford and community leaders talked about the process. He also said there was other support — from Earl Campbell.

RELATED: Earl Campbell comes in at No. 7 on ESPN's Top 150 College Football Players of All Time list

RELATED: Earl Campbell presents JT Valedictorian Emmanuel Daniels with academic scholarship

The Tyler native and NFL and college football hall of famer was one of many community leaders who gave Dr. Crawford permission to share they are supportive of the issues brought up at the meeting Tuesday. According to Dr. Crawford, Campbell said he also supported this as, "a future agenda item that could be considered by our board."

"If it gets put on the agenda, it’s not just going to be one name, it's going to be both (Robert E. Lee and John Tyler High) and quite frankly it needs to be both," said Fredonia Baptist Church Pastor Kilton McCracken Sr. "I don't want to send my son to any school named after someone with ties to the Confederacy."

Read more from CBS19's newspaper partner, the Tyler Morning Telegraph.

RELATED: Tyler ISD investigating racist comments directed at Robert E. Lee athlete

RELATED: East Texas school district to paint over Confederate imagery, change fight song

RELATED: Tyler Metro Chamber of Commerce working with students to change Robert E Lee High School name

RELATED: Protesters demand Tyler ISD to change name of Robert E. Lee High School during board meeting

RELATED: Star athlete says she won't wear Robert E. Lee name on jersey

RELATED: Petition to remove Confederate statue from Gregg County courthouse gaining support

Before You Leave, Check This Out