Van Alstyne Leader
22 February 2001
Page 6

BLACK CITIZENS PIONEERS IN AREA DEVELOPMENT

From the railroad to city government, Lynwood McKinney is one of the African-American pioneers of
Van Alstyne.

He was born on Dec. 20, 1910, to Henry "Chick" McKinney and Katherine "Mutt" McKinney in Van Alstyne, marking his entrance into one of the oldest African-American families in the city.

Lynwood was the valedictorian of his class at Booker T. Washington in Van Alstyne. He also attended Terrell High School in Denison.

While he was a mail carrier on the Interurban Railroad and worked at the Cotton Cleaners - now known
as Reeves Cleaners - for 27 years, his biggest accomplishment came when he began service as the first black city councilman.

He is a member of Eastside Church of Christ.

Kermit Jeannette Stinnett Murphy figures into Van Alstyne's educational annals as the first black teacher's aide at Van Alstyne Elementary.

She also wrote an educational program for kindergarten students that was used in Howe, Tioga, Whitewright, Collinsville, Whitesboro, Gunter, Tom Bean, Savoy, and Denison.

Murphy was born on Nov 11, 1931, and was educated at Van Alstyne, Booker T. Washington and Grayson College.

She was also a substitute teacher in Van Alstyne schools and worked for the county superintendent in the Sherman courthouse for three years.

She is a member of Morning Chapel CME.