Dr. Ralph Poteet Oral History
Back
Dr. Ralph Poteet Oral History
Videotaped oral history interview with Dr. Ralph Poteet. An award-winning educator and school administrator, Poteet served as superintendent of the Mesquite Independent School District in Dallas County from 1964 to 1986. During that time, he oversaw the desegregation of Mesquite schools. He was assistant superintendent of the MISD at the time of the assassination.Interview conducted at Dr. Poteet's home on March 10, 2006 by Stephen Fagin. The interview is thirty-four minutes long.
Dr. Ralph Poteet Oral History
03/10/2006
Hi-8 videotape
Duration: 34 Minutes
Oral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
2006.001.0015
Growing up in Mesquite, I always knew of Ralph Poteet as something of a legendary figure. After more than two decades as school superintendent, upon his retirement in 1986, the city's fourth high school was named in his honor. Poteet High School, whose mascot, Patch the Pirate, can be seen in the background of this interview, was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1999-2000. When I contacted Dr. Poteet for an oral history in 2006, it was my understanding that since he seldom gave interviews about his career, a conversation was probably unlikely. I was surprised and thrilled when he agreed to an interview. During my visit to his home in Mesquite, he told me that he only agreed because I was a "native son" who had attended Mesquite public schools! Dr. Poteet passed away on September 23, 2012. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator
Dr. Ralph Poteet Oral History
Videotaped oral history interview with Dr. Ralph Poteet. An award-winning educator and school administrator, Poteet served as superintendent of the Mesquite Independent School District in Dallas County from 1964 to 1986. During that time, he oversaw the desegregation of Mesquite schools. He was assistant superintendent of the MISD at the time of the assassination.Interview conducted at Dr. Poteet's home on March 10, 2006 by Stephen Fagin. The interview is thirty-four minutes long.
Dr. Ralph Poteet Oral History
03/10/2006
Desegregation
Oral histories
Poteet, Dr. Ralph
Dallas County
Civil Rights and Social Activism (OHC)
Community Leaders (OHC)
Dallas and 1960s History and Culture (OHC)
Hi-8 videotape
Duration: 34 Minutes
Oral History Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
2006.001.0015
Growing up in Mesquite, I always knew of Ralph Poteet as something of a legendary figure. After more than two decades as school superintendent, upon his retirement in 1986, the city's fourth high school was named in his honor. Poteet High School, whose mascot, Patch the Pirate, can be seen in the background of this interview, was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1999-2000. When I contacted Dr. Poteet for an oral history in 2006, it was my understanding that since he seldom gave interviews about his career, a conversation was probably unlikely. I was surprised and thrilled when he agreed to an interview. During my visit to his home in Mesquite, he told me that he only agreed because I was a "native son" who had attended Mesquite public schools! Dr. Poteet passed away on September 23, 2012. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator
Related objects
