Reby Cary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reby Cary
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Reby Cary, Associate Dean of Student Life at the University of Texas at Arlington, circa 1970
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| Member of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas |
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| In office 1979–1985 |
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| Constituency | District 95 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 9, 1920 Fort Worth, Texas U.S. |
| Died | December 7, 2018 (aged 98) Fort Worth, Texas U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic, Republican |
| Alma mater | Prairie View A&M University |
| Profession | educator, politician |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
Reby Cary (born September 9, 1920 – died December 7, 2018) was an important American teacher, politician, and historian. He lived in the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas. He made history by becoming the first Black school board member in Fort Worth. He also served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1979 to 1985. Reby Cary wrote many books about the history of African Americans in North Texas.
Contents
Reby Cary's Life Story
Growing Up and School
Reby Cary was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 9, 1920. His father, Reverend Smith Cary, started the Rising Star Baptist Church. Reby grew up in a very strict and religious home. He often said his mother was key to his success. She made sure he studied hard instead of playing.
As a child during the Great Depression, Reby earned money by mowing yards. He graduated from Fort Worth's famous I.M. Terrell High School in 1937. In 1941, he earned a bachelor's degree in history and political science. He got this degree from Prairie View A&M University, which is a historically Black college.
Serving His Country
In 1942, Reby Cary was called to serve in the military. He joined the United States Coast Guard. He was one of the first African Americans to finish the Coast Guard's radioman school. This school was in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Cary served on the ship USS Cambria. He fought in the Pacific Theater during World War II. This included important battles like the invasions of Saipan and Okinawa. After leaving the military, Reby finished his master's degree at Prairie View. He also took more classes at North Texas State University and Texas Christian University.
Career in Education
After the war, Reby Cary could not find radio work because of unfair Jim Crow laws in Texas. So, he started a long career in education. At that time, Black men were often denied the same educational chances as white soldiers returning from war. Reby and two friends started the McDonald College of Industrial Arts. This school was later called the Southwestern College of Industrial Arts. Cary worked there as the personnel director until 1948.
After getting his master's degree, Cary taught history. He taught in local public schools and later at colleges. He taught at Fort Worth's Dunbar High School until 1967. Then, he became the first Black teacher at Tarrant County Junior College. In 1969, he became the first Black professor at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).
At UTA, he was an assistant professor and associate dean of student life. Later, he became the director of minority affairs. In the early 1970s, he successfully worked to remove Confederate symbols from the UTA campus. He also helped create a Minorities Cultural Center. This center focused on books and materials about Black history and the Chicano movement.
Political Career
In 1974, Reby Cary began his political journey. He was the first Black school board member elected to the Fort Worth ISD school board. After that, he served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives. There, he worked on committees dealing with county affairs, energy, and government.
During his time as a Texas legislator, Cary was a Democrat. However, he later supported Republican politicians like Bill Clements and Phil Gramm. He then switched to the Republican Party. He explained that the Democratic Party had a poor history with slavery and civil rights. Cary was greatly influenced by William "Gooseneck" McDonald, a local African-American banker and Republican. After his last term in the Texas House in 1985, Cary held leadership roles in the Texas Council of Black Republicans. He also founded the Frederick Douglass Republicans of Tarrant County.
Personal Life and Legacy
Reby Cary married Nadine Lois Spencer on May 19, 1945. They had one child, Faith, in 1963. He was involved in many community groups. These included the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the Boy Scouts of America, and the United Way of Tarrant County. He also worked with the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce.
Cary received the Fort Worth Black Leadership Award in 1976. In 2005, he was given the Congressional Veterans Commendation. Reby Cary passed away on December 7, 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas.
