50s pictures of Pewitt
Congressional Record concerning Pewitt consolidation

Items from The Naples Monitor and The Omaha Breeze about Pewitt CISD Consolidation:

Open Letter to the Naples and Omaha communities
from Paul H. Pewitt

From The Naples Monitor, from March 2, 1950, and The Omaha Breeze, from March 2, 1950

I wish to take this opportunity to say to you that I am aware of your present community school problems. I know that your children are dear to you and their future is your greatest concern. I know that your school facilities have been inadequate, and that due to the recent storm which damaged the Omaha School building, the situation has come to a climax--something now must be done.

Last week I requested that I be allowed to sit in a joint meeting of your school boards so that I could get a better understanding of your problems. The urgent need for school facilities and the financial picture painted by your Board Members in this meeting was very discouraging to all. It was plainly brought out at this meeting that even by consolidating your two school districts, it would still be impossible to finance the construction of a school that would meet the needs that exist in the community. At this meeting I was convinced that consolidation of the two districts, together with private financial assistance, would be the only way you could solve your problem of providing adequate educational opportunities for your children.

In order that the proposed plan of consolidation may be effected, and your community school needs may be realized, I am willing to make a substantial contribution to this worthy cause. I will purchase 100 acres of land located on U. S. highway 67 approximately mid-way between Naples and Omaha, and will donate this land to the new school district for school plant site and an agricultural experimental farm. Also, I agree to donate the use of my equipment for the preparation of the site for the school plant. In addition to this, I will make the new consolidated school district an outright gift of $100,000.00 with no strings attached, other than that the money shall be used for the construction of a modern school, which we all know will be an incentive for the youth of your community to apply themselves and thereby enable them to be better citizens. We all know that our youth of today are our citizens of tomorrow and it is our responsibility to afford them every opportunity to make the best of their lives.

I wish to also make it known that without the faithful and loyal cooperation of my employees over a long period of years, I would not be able to make this contribution to what I consider a very worthy cause.

It is my sincere hope that in this way I may be able to help you provide for you children the finest of public school facilities.

Yours very truly

Paul H. Pewitt

To the People Of Omaha and Naples Independent School Districts

From The Omaha Breeze,
March 2, 1950

Have you stopped to think what Mr. Pewitt's offer to our school really means?

We often read in the papers or hear of a similar case, but when it happens to us it is hard to grasp the real meaning.

Simply put, to me it means now our children will be able to receive the very best in public school education. Without Mr. Pewitt's generosity this would have been impossible.

Do we thank Mr. Pewitt? Sure we do. Your vote for the consolidation of the Omaha and Naples School District on March 21 will not only be a vote for the best school in the whole Northeast Texas area, but will also be a vote of thanks and appreciation to Mr. Pewitt. This is the very least that any of us can do.

Jack Vaughan, mayor
City of Omaha, Texas 

From The Omaha Breeze,
March 2, 1950

March 21st 1950 CIRCLE THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR

VOTE FOR SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

Just remember one thing...all legally qualified voters in Omaha and Naples Independent School districts should vote YES on March 21st for consolidation.

By voting YES...You assure your children of the finest educational opportunities in N. E. Texas.

You certainly can express you appreciation to Mr. Paul H. Pewitt for his very generous, financial assistance towards the creation of our new school facilities by voting YES for consolidation.

Don't forget March 21st. Be at the polls and exercise your American rights.

Naples and Omaha
Vote To Consolidate Schools 1,084 to 8

From The Naples Monitor, March 24, 1950

Consolidation A Huge Success; 1,084 People Voted For Consolidation, Only 8 Votes Cast Against

This past Tuesday March 21st, the fine people of Omaha, Naples, Dalton, Lone Oak, Rocky Point, Plainview and Bryans Mill certainly expressed their desire to provide our children with first class school facilities.
    The voters also expressed their appreciation and thanks to Mr. Paul H. Pewitt for his generous gifts towards our new CONSOLIDATED school buildings.
    All the people in the new CONSOLIDATED school district should be mighty proud of this great opportunity of providing our children with new modern educational means.
    Watch your local newspaper for further announcements and dates for voting a bond issue, bond assumption and a new school trustee election. Show you renewed faith in our school's future by voting for each of the above very important programs as you expressed yourselves in the CONSOLIDATION election.
    The blue prints and plans for our new school buildings will be completed within a few days.
    Mr. Pewitt's organization has the school site leveled and ready for the building contractor. As soon as the Bond Issue is voted the building of our new school facilities will begin on a full scale basis.

For Against
Naples 457 0
Omaha 536 6
Bryans Mill 64 1
Dalton 27 1
Total 1,084 8
 

 
The History of Pewitt Consolidated Independent School District

Taken from actual board minutes of February 24, 1950 through May 11, 1995

The Board of Trustees of the Naples Independent School District met in a joint meeting with the trustees of the Omaha Independent School District at the State Bank of Omaha at seven o’clock, P.M. on February 24, 1950, for the purpose of further considering the proposition of consolidating the two districts.

Mr. Paul H. Pewitt, and several of his associates, from Longview, and other interested parties from Omaha and Naples, were present at the meeting, at which W. C. Stevens, president of the Omaha School Board, presided.

The needs and general financial condition of the two districts were gone into in detail from which it was determined that in order to provide the facilities actually needed it would require something like $90,000 more than the consolidated districts could hope to raise from a bond issue.

At this point, Mr. Pewitt was introduced and he told of his interest in the school children and his desire to secure necessary school facilities for them, and proposed, if the two districts would consolidate and work together, to buy and pay for 100 acres of land on the highway half way between Omaha and Naples, and grade and prepare the grounds for the buildings and general use of the school, and to donate an additional $100,000.00 in cash to help with the construction of the necessary buildings and equipment.

The two boards then held separate meetings, and the board unanimously adopted a resolution accepting Mr. Pewitt’s proposition, and agreed to join the Omaha board in calling an election at the earliest possible date for the purpose of effecting the consolidation.

A joint committee, which was agreed to by the Omaha board, consisting of Bun Hall, R.E. Moore, Leon Coker, John Whitaker and W.C. Stevens, was appointed to agree on and arrange for the 100 acre site and to serve as a general committee toward the consolidation.

The following resolution was also adopted: "Be it Resolved That, the Board of Trustees, as far as it lies within our power, accept Mr. Pewitt’s very generous offer to donate the Omaha and Naples school districts, if consolidated, $100,000 in cash, 100 acres of land for school purposes on the highway between the two towns, and other assistance, and that this board does hereby extend to Mr. Pewitt its heart-felt thanks for so generous an offer, and that as a token of our appreciation, and that of the people of our district, we recommend that the High School to be constructed on said grounds to be known as the ‘Paul H. Pewitt High School.’"

On April 3, 1950, the first Board of Trustees were elected: W.G. Granberry, J.M. Hampton, Jamie Brabham, B.B. Brown, Dr. C.J. Wise, R.E. Moore, W.C. Stevens. Granberry was elected Vice President and Secretary; Stevens was elected President.

On April 6, 1950, Mr. Frank C. Bean was hired as first superintendent.

On January 9, 1961, the board hired H.R. Hamilton as superintendent, Pewitt’s second.

On June 3, 1974, A.T. Brian was hired as Pewitt’s third superintendent.

On November 25, 1980, Dr. Jack Trammell was hired as Pewitt’s fourth superintendent.

On January 24, 1985, Howard Carver was hired as Pewitt’s fifth superintendent.

On January 23, 1991, James Pate was hired as Pewitt’s sixth superintendent.

On April 16, 1991, Richard Kitchens was hired as Pewitt’s seventh superintendent.

The History of Pewitt Consolidated Independent School District

Taken from actual board minutes of February 24, 1950 through May 11, 1995

The Board of Trustees of the Naples Independent School District met in a joint meeting with the trustees of the Omaha Independent School District at the State Bank of Omaha at seven o’clock, P.M. on February 24, 1950, for the purpose of further considering the proposition of consolidating the two districts.

Mr. Paul H. Pewitt, and several of his associates, from Longview, and other interested parties from Omaha and Naples, were present at the meeting, at which W. C. Stevens, president of the Omaha School Board, presided.

The needs and general financial condition of the two districts were gone into in detail from which it was determined that in order to provide the facilities actually needed it would require something like $90,000 more than the consolidated districts could hope to raise from a bond issue.

At this point, Mr. Pewitt was introduced and he told of his interest in the school children and his desire to secure necessary school facilities for them, and proposed, if the two districts would consolidate and work together, to buy and pay for 100 acres of land on the highway half way between Omaha and Naples, and grade and prepare the grounds for the buildings and general use of the school, and to donate an additional $100,000.00 in cash to help with the construction of the necessary buildings and equipment.

The two boards then held separate meetings, and the board unanimously adopted a resolution accepting Mr. Pewitt’s proposition, and agreed to join the Omaha board in calling an election at the earliest possible date for the purpose of effecting the consolidation.

A joint committee, which was agreed to by the Omaha board, consisting of Bun Hall, R.E. Moore, Leon Coker, John Whitaker and W.C. Stevens, was appointed to agree on and arrange for the 100 acre site and to serve as a general committee toward the consolidation.

The following resolution was also adopted: "Be it Resolved That, the Board of Trustees, as far as it lies within our power, accept Mr. Pewitt’s very generous offer to donate the Omaha and Naples school districts, if consolidated, $100,000 in cash, 100 acres of land for school purposes on the highway between the two towns, and other assistance, and that this board does hereby extend to Mr. Pewitt its heart-felt thanks for so generous an offer, and that as a token of our appreciation, and that of the people of our district, we recommend that the High School to be constructed on said grounds to be known as the ‘Paul H. Pewitt High School.’"

On April 3, 1950, the first Board of Trustees were elected: W.G. Granberry, J.M. Hampton, Jamie Brabham, B.B. Brown, Dr. C.J. Wise, R.E. Moore, W.C. Stevens. Granberry was elected Vice President and Secretary; Stevens was elected President.

On April 6, 1950, Mr. Frank C. Bean was hired as first superintendent.

On January 9, 1961, the board hired H.R. Hamilton as superintendent, Pewitt’s second.

On June 3, 1974, A.T. Brian was hired as Pewitt’s third superintendent.

On November 25, 1980, Dr. Jack Trammell was hired as Pewitt’s fourth superintendent.

On January 24, 1985, Howard Carver was hired as Pewitt’s fifth superintendent.

On January 23, 1991, James Pate was hired as Pewitt’s sixth superintendent.

On April 16, 1991, Richard Kitchens was hired as Pewitt’s seventh superintendent.

In April, 2004, David Fitts was hired as Pewitt's eighth superintendent.