Rufus Conley

• High school attended: Camden High School - Camden, Texas
• Athletic participation: Football and basketball
• Colleges attended: Tillotson College - Austin, Texas Bachelor of Arts in Social Science and Physical Education Degree, 1939
• Athletic participation: Football
• Other schools attended and degrees: Mary Allen Junior College - Crockett, Texas 1937; Teachers College, Columbia University - New York; Master of Science Degree in Administration, 1950; University of Southern California -Administration, 1950; Texas Southern University - Administration and Supervision, 1952; University of Tennessee - workshop - State Scholarship, 1972; Vocational Guidance Workshop at Wayne State University - Detroit, Michigan, 1975; Two workshops at State Department on Foreign Affairs in Washington, D.C.
• Schools coached and dates: Aldine Independent School District School, Carver High School 1941; 1945-1950 established athletic program and was football coach. Classroom teacher and secondary principal, 1957-78.

Contributions to the field of athletics: In the Fall of 1945, I was re-employed as a teacher and volunteer coach as Aldine Carver High School. During that same year, I established an athletic program including football, basketball, and baseball that was non-existent at the time. Upon accepting the challenge to start an athletic program, we had to overcome the obstacles thrown in our path. Voyde Caraway volunteered to be my assistant coach and also agreed to sign a promissory note to buy second hand football equipment. Realizing that in order to play our football games at night and knowing that there were no other fields available to use, we asked the community to unite and help finance the cost of installing lights on a football field to make it a reality. The athletic program motivated the participants to continue their college education and were later employed as assistant coaches: Earl Harris, Emmitt Hill (school board member), Ozay Rogers (radio and television instructor), Wendell Raye McFadden (teacher in Dallas I.S.D.), Raymond Radford (military), Joseph Arceneaux (businessman), and Lee Arthur Brewer (attorney). In 1955, the District built a new school with a lighted football field, swimming pool, and gymnasium.

Honors: Man of the Year - Houston Negro Chamber of Commerce, 1958; Aldine Independent School District school naming: "R. C. Conley Elementary School," 1982; Legend in Education - Bank of America, 1995; First minority president of TASSP - Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, 1979-80; First vice-president of Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, 1977-78; President-elect of Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, 1978-79; President, Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, 1979-80.

Community and related activities: Saint John Baptist Church; Board member of March of Dimes; Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, polemarch, 1958-59; Phi Delta Kappa; Served as member for State Committee of Southern Association; Served as District XIII Chairman, 1976-95, commission 7 years; Elected as member of Trustee Board of Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1977-81

Professional organizations: Harris County Principals Organization, founder, 1950; Texas Principals Association, president, 1966; Texas Association of Secondary School Principals; Texas State Teachers Association; Board of Directors of Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, 1977-78; First

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