In 1910 Africatown’s School, Mobile County Training School, was certified by the State of Alabama as the first training school in the state of Alabama and was the only black school in Mobile County to graduate students thru the 12th grade. In 1911 Mobile County Training School graduated its first graduating class of students with Isiah J. Whitley as its principle, thus making this years reunion the 114th reunion celebration one of the longest active reunion celebration of any Historically Black High School in the state of Alabama.
The 2025 theme, “The Way We Were, The Way We Are. Keeping the Past and Present Connected: How you like me now?” truly captures the heart of our gathering. The theme reminds us of the importance of honoring our roots while embracing who we’ve become, ensuring the spirt and legacy of our school remain alive for all alumni.
This year’s reunion Master of Ceremony was James “Butch” Hill from the class of 1966. If a survey was taken from students graduating between 1965 & 1970 from M.C.T.S. concerning the smartest graduating class, the class of 1966 would probably win that survey. Some of the smart ones I can remember that graduated and received their Masters Degree and later were very successful in their life’s work were, James Hill, Hurley Davis, Carl Brown, Charles Holloway, Jimmy Edwards, Anquanita Reiss, Joyce Roberson and many more. As a matter of fact, Jimmy Edwards recently donated $1 Million to his HBCU alma mater Dillard University in New Orleans, La.
The mission of the Mobile County Training School Alumni Association is dedicated to protecting, preserving and promoting the history and achievements of the MCTS family, and its descendants, by documenting and recording the accomplishments and experiences of its family by awarding scholarships and publishing the Alumni experience to encourage others. The goal is to share the Whippets story with the world. Since 2005, the Mobile County Training School (MCTS) Scholarship Fund has invested in the lives of more than 95 students. The Scholarship Committee is greatly appreciative of your generosity in support of our efforts to support others over the years.
Dr. Major Joe Womack USMCR(ret)
Executive Director of africatown-chess.org
251-404-9558 & jnwomack1@yahoo.com