2020 BLACK HISTORY SERIES: PART III
Growing up in a small town like Rockdale, invaluable lessons on friendship, teamwork, confidence, perseverance, and accomplishment are available for anyone who wishes to succeed.
For 42 years, my grandmother, Susie E. Sansom Piper sought to highlight the history and importance of African Americans from Rockdale during the February Black History Month Celebrations.
These stories not only served to educate others regarding the history that is very often missing from mainstream education; but, sow seeds of hope in everyone regardless of race or background.
With the passing of the Voters Right Act in 1965 and the full integration of the Aycock School in 1967, African Americans in the Rockdale Community were on a trajectory to fully integrate and participate in the RISD system.
Generations who were fully integrated would have opportunities that their parents and grandparents were challenged to achieve.
The history and accomplishments of African Americans in the Rockdale area are vast. Although my grandmother was extremely proud to be apprised of the accomplishments of all her former students, she was especially proud to highlight accolades in the African American Community to broaden the perspective of everyone.
OVERCOMER—One accomplished overcomer is Dr. Tommye “Apple” Austin., who attended the Rockdale public school system graduating in 1982.
She is the daughter of the late Mae Joyce Jackson Cashaw and Tommy Cashaw Sr. Her mother, Mae Joyce was valedictorian of her class at the former Aycock High School and a gentle yet firm encourager of education and excellence.
She raised Tommye and her brother Charles encouraging their participation from elementary through graduation.
She was especially proud of Tommye and her perseverance in the face of adversity. During her Rock-dale days, Tommye was the first African American to hold the soloist spot in the junior-high Christmas Pageant (“Oh Holy Night”) and part of a quartet (“Tell Me the Story of Jesus”), during the same pageant with me. We learned this information decades later from my grandmother, not understanding that in prior years, African American participation was limited to the choir due to the votes required to obtain key roles.
Tommye and I were also the first African Americans to attend and win honors in the University Scholastic League (UIL) Spelling Bee for the junior high.
A stellar student, Tommye always worked hard to exceed in everything she did. As a leader of her section in the band (tenor saxophone), a National Honor Society Scholar, leader in the Student Council, a member of One-Act plays, a singer, and a member of Texas Association for Minority Engineers.
Tommye could be seen active throughout the school. It was ironic that with all her obvious talents, one school counselor told her she could be a “maid” when discussing career choices.
UPBRINGING—While Tommye was working to succeed in school, unfortunately, her father took a different path, landing him in prison for some time, during her formative years.
“I am not ashamed of where and who I come from,” remarked Dr. Austin. “Everyone makes their choices, and my father made peace before he passed away. I am okay with that. I am not my father and I loved him for giving me life.”
When discussing our upbringing and reminiscing over our school days, Dr. Austin mentioned a truly hurtful day where she had excitedly made the “A Honor Roll”.
On that day, she was very proud and happy to receive this milestone accomplishment. Tommye was recognized in the paper for making straight A’s, and on the same page was an article of her father’s arrest for marijuana possession.
Today, she looked pained as she revealed that childhood memory and tears welled in my eyes as I thought of how hurtful that would have been for a child.
It was a hard day that only served to challenge her to continue to excel in everything she did in a positive way.
Dr. Austin graduated in the Top 10% of her class at Rockdale High School with mere tenths of points between her and the Valedictorian/Salutatorian and went on to the University of Texas at Austin.
She ultimately graduated from the University of Texas Health School of Nursing (Houston) with a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing.
She also achieved a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix before obtaining her PhD in Nursing from the UT Health School of Nursing. This was far from the “maid” she was predicted to be in the early 80’s.
NURSE—Dr. Austin is currently the Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at University Health System, A position coveted by many and rarely held by an African American female.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Austin was the Chief Nursing Executive for Baptist Health System in San Antonio, Brownsville, New Braunfels and Harlingen, where she had oversight of professional nursing practice and nursing strategic planning.
Dr. Austin has been instrumental in several initiatives and received numerous awards. She developed the stroke care program for San Antonio, beginning with the Baptist Health System.
This work helped BHS to come a primary stroke center to prevent debilitating symptoms after a stroke. Tommye has developed many quality initiatives to improve the outcomes of patients residing in Bexar County and surrounding areas.
She has also patented a Female receptacle to prevent infections in bed-ridden or limited mobility patients.
In 2018, Tommye was name Top 10 Minority Executives to Watch by Modern Healthcare. In 2019, Modern Healthcare named Tommye as the 38th Most Influential Clinical Executive.
GIVER—An ultimate giver, Dr. Austin can often be found assisting others in philanthropic or healthcare events designed to show compassion and care to those who are ill.
She took on the responsibility for nursing her hero, her mother, for 7 years prior to her death in 2017. Subsequently in 2019, she lost her beloved husband, Fermon Austin, her father, Tommy Sr., and her favorite aunt, Jimmie.
Despite the losses and tragedies, Dr. Austin continues to inspire healthcare workers and everyone she encounters daily. She takes a special interest in molding the future for her nephew Charles, who is her heart. She is a published singer/song-writer, inheriting her lovely voice from her mother.
As a result, she recently released her CD, “My Inheritance, “in honor of her beloved mother in 2018. I believe that the foundational strength, pride, and perseverance instilled in the Aycock students and community long ago, allowed our ancestors to sow those same seeds of greatness into our lives.
As a people, the choice is ours to take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to us, no matter what our background or circumstances.
Today, Dr. Austin continues to pay it forward. Tommye is the 2020 Chair for the March of Dimes March for Babies, which funds research to discover unknown causes of premature birth and find new ways to stop it.
On Feb. 12, 2020, she was designated as the chair for the AHA Go Red for Women Lunch Fundraiser in San Antonio.
The lesson is not in the background but in the future. It is up to all of us to rise to the challenge and triumph over adversity. Dr. Tommye Austin is a credit to her family, the Rockdale Community, and all who have the pleasure of knowing her.
She continues to exhibit that legacy of excellence and triumph every day.
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