James (Jim) Crow began first grade at Rockdale Elementary School when his family moved to the area to work at Alcoa. Upon graduation, his class voted him “Most Likely to Succeed” and “Most Service to School.” He attended the University of Texas where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in government. He worked in public information for the Austin ISD and worked on lobbying efforts to further public education. Crow served more than 25 years as executive director of the Texas Association of School Boards, helping public education leaders across Texas guide their districts with beneficial policies in times of rapid change and through challenges such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Coronavirus pandemic. He retired in March 2023, and TASB established the James B. Crow Innovation in Governance Award in his honor, to be awarded annually. In January 2024, Crow was selected as a recipient of the Golden Deeds for Education Award, presented by the Texas Association of School Administrators.
Susie Sansom-Piper Aycock High School Class of 1937
Susie E. Moultry Sansom- Piper was born the only child of Julius (Bose) Moultry and Eula Bell Crayton Moultry, and was raised in Rockdale and attended Aycock High School, graduating in 1937. She received an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from St. Phillips College in San Antonio, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and Business from Samuel Huston College (now Huston-Tillotson University) in Austin. She later received a Master of Science Degree in Education and a certificate in Counseling from Prairie View A&M College. Sansom- Piper began her education career at Aycock High School in 1943, serving in various capacities, from bookkeeper to music instructor, until she was named Principal in 1965. Through her teaching, she led many students to achieve district and state awards at UIL events. Sansom- Piper helped bridge integrat ion of Aycock School and Rockdale ISD. She taught Texas History at Rockdale Junior High for 19 years. She was a prolific writer of poetry and edited her church newsletter at St. James Baptist Church. She profiled Rockdale’s Black community leaders in her “Ebony Etchings” column for 42 years in The Rockdale Reporter.
George Sessions Perry Rockdale High School Class of 1927
At one point, George Sessions Perry was one of the most popular (and highest paid) writers in America. His stories for the Saturday Evening Post featured regular folk and he often penned tales about his hometown of Rockdale. Also a novelist, Perry won the National Book Award in 1941 for his “Hold Autumn in Your Hand,” drawing comparisons to John Steinbeck. As a college student, he studied at Southwestern University, Purdue and University of Houston. At Southwestern, Perry met his future wife, Claire Hodges, who played an important role in editing his work. He returned from traveling abroad and took up residence in Rockdale. After the Saturday Evening Post published his first work in 1937, Perry was contracted by Double Day to publish his first novel “Walls Rise Up,” about tenant farmers living along the Brazos River. During World War II, he was declared medically unfit to serve, but wrangled an assignment as a war correspondent in Italy in 1943. Perry penned six novels and more than 50 short stories for various publications while living in Rockdale, earning a place in the pantheon of talented Texas writers. Perry died in December 1956 near his second home in Guilford, Connecticut.
Michael (Mike) Brown Rockdale High School Class of 1968
Michael Edward Brown began work as a part-time reporter at The Rockdale Reporter in 1974 and over the next 46 years became a leading editor in the community journalism industry in Texas and the nation. Brown attended The University of Texas where he graduated in 1972 with dual degrees in Early Western Civilization and English. His work at The Reporter found him writing sports, profiling residents and covering news. He was known as “the man behind the camera” and captured memorable sports moments and important town events. He won many regional and state press awards, twice named Editor of the Year by the South Texas Press Association. Brown regularly won awards for news writing, photography, columns and editorials. He was an avid reader and history buff, and he also had a deep love of baseball and volunteered locally as a coach for baseball and softball teams. He was profiled in National Review magazine, heralded for his commitment to journalism and service to his community. Brown loved traveling with his wife and children, studying astronomy and celebrating Fourth of July picnics where he gave speeches on patriotism and The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Lawrence Anderson Rockdale High School Class of 1960
RHS graduate Lawrence Anderson’s career was “plugged in” like no other. He served for 25 years for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as Director of Electric Power Regulation, Director of Hydroelectric Power Regulation and Deputy Executive Director for budget and contracts. Anderson entered Rockdale ISD as a fifth grader in 1953, receiving encouragement and support from his teachers and school staff. He graduated from The University of Texas in 1965 with a degree in electrical engineering and received two master’s degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973 in nuclear engineering and an MBA in finance. Anderson served in the U.S. Navy from 19621971, serving primarily on a ballistic missile nuclear submarine, the USS Nathan Hale. During his time in the Naval Reserves, he was involved in planning and war exercises with NATO allies. In 1992, he retired after 30 years in military service with the rank of Captain. Anderson was placed in charge of a study of operations at all 102 nuclear plants, resulting in creation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Clayton Wolf Rockdale High School Class of 1982
Clayton Wolf was destined for a career involving the outdoors. As a child growing up in Rockdale, he enjoyed regular camping, fishing, and hunting trips with his parents and sisters. Wolf spent much time learning about the outdoors on family land settled by his German immigrant great grandparents in nearby Lee County. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin University with a degree in Forestry and concentration in forest wildlife management, and later earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M University. Wolf worked for five years for Temple-Inland, then Wolf joined Texas Parks and Wildlife in 1993 as a wildlife biologist, wanting to contribute to the work done by TPWD to conserve the natural resources of Texas. He later became TPWD’s Pineywoods District leader, enforcing humane changes to hunting regulations, then became statewide leader of the White-tailed Deer Program in 2001. In 2003, Wolf was named Big Game Program Director, overseeing management of whitetails, mules, bighorn sheep. In 2023, Wolf was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Texas Parks and Wildlife, overseeing operation of the department that managed more than 770,000 acres of wildlife management areas and 600,000 acres of state parks, natural areas, and state historic sites.
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