Teal, Leonard Jr.

Interview 197a : In this interview with Patsy Colbert, long-time Diboll resident and Vietnam Veteran Leonard Teal reminisces about growing up in the African-American community in Diboll in the years just prior to school integration. He recalls his years at H.G. Temple School with Mr. Massey, Mrs. Wallace, Mr. Kenyon, and Coach Ross and remembers playing basketball and football. He also recalls his Sundays spent watching the Diboll Eagles baseball team and the business owners he used to interact with, including the Tanners, Arty Dewberry, and Papp Mathiss. Mr. Teal does not remember any racial problems in Diboll and tells the interviewer that integration was a gradual, but smooth process.