Landers, Louis Jr.

Interview 180b : In this interview with Jonathan Gerland, Louis Landers reminisces about integration at Diboll High School. A member of the first integrated football, basketball, and track teams, Louis recalls the first football practices, life at school and in classes, and other daily school events surrounding desegregation at Diboll High School. He was good friends with many of the former H.G. Temple High School players, especially sports standout Johnny Jones. Louis also remembers Coach Jim Simmons and Coach Billy Bert as instrumental in helping that first step of the integration process go smoothly. He mentions several instances where Diboll's early integration caused problems as the teams traveled around East Texas, particularly at a basketball game in Groveton and a restaurant in Nacogdoches.