School Board Ditches 'Legacy' and Returns School Name to "Midland Lee"

MIDLAND, TX — In a contentious 4-3 decision late Tuesday evening, the Midland Independent School District (ISD) Board of Trustees voted to revert the name of Legacy High School back to Midland Lee High School, honoring the Confederate general Robert E. Lee. The move reverses a 2020 renaming aimed at distancing the institution from its controversial ties to the Civil War era, and it will also apply to the associated freshman campus and a future high school site.

The special meeting, held at Bowie Fine Arts Academy and starting at 5:30 p.m. on August 12, featured a single agenda item focused on the renaming. The changes are set to take effect at the start of the 2026-2027 school year, affecting the current high school at 3500 Neely Avenue, the freshman high school at 1400 East Oak Street, and a forthcoming campus described legally as 121.915 acres in the northwest quarter of Section 48, Block 40, T1S.

Board members Matt Friez, Josh Guinn, Angel Hernandez, and Brandon Hodges supported the resolution, while Tommy Bishop, Michael Booker, and Sara Burleson opposed it. The vote followed over four hours of heated public testimony from more than 50 residents, including parents, alumni, teachers, and community advocates. The session drew hundreds of attendees, with emotions running high—some waving flags bearing the old "Lee" inscription, others pleading for unity and progress.

A Push Rooted in Tradition

The initiative gained momentum from District 7 Trustee Josh Guinn, who on July 4, 2025, posted on Facebook calling for the agenda item. In his patriotic-themed message, Guinn emphasized preserving West Texas traditions, describing the name as a "symbol of our shared pride" and a "beacon of our West Texas spirit." He argued that the restoration was about community unity and gratitude to generations of Midlanders who built the school's legacy, not division.

Supporters echoed this sentiment during the meeting. Alumna Carie McNeil, who spoke in favor, clarified that her advocacy was for family and history rather than the historical figure himself. "This is not a Confederacy thing or race; it's about family. This is about history, 61 years of tradition, athletes, and academics," she said. Others, like McNeil, suggested alternatives like "Legacy for Equality and Excellence" (L.E.E.) in 2020 but now prioritized reclaiming the original name to honor decades of achievements.

Board member Matt Friez, a vocal proponent, decried "toxic political correctness" in his statement, claiming that institutions with Confederate names had "outgrown" their origins. He viewed efforts to remove such symbols as attacks on the nation's heritage, distracting from core educational priorities.

Opposition Highlights Pain and Practical Concerns

Critics, however, argued that reinstating the name revives painful associations with segregation and slavery. The school, originally opened in 1961 as a whites-only institution, was named after Lee in apparent defiance of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling that ended legal school segregation. Residents like Sue Roseberry, whose family attended the school for generations, recounted discomfort with past practices, such as students flying Confederate flags and playing "Dixie" at events. "I want you to know that you have an opportunity to associate the school with something that uplifts all of our students," Roseberry urged the board.

Retired teacher Barbara Hanley, with 28 years in the district, called the reversal a "waste of money" that "only serves to divide the community further." She implored, "Let the old name die." Ebony Coleman, founder of the education advocacy group Jumpstart Midland, expressed frustration that the board seemed predetermined in its decision, urging a focus on student academic outcomes instead. "This is a distraction from what really matters right now," Coleman said.

Financial implications added fuel to the opposition. Superintendent Stephanie Howard estimated the change could cost up to $62,000 for signage, uniforms, and other updates. Critics like Midland resident Jeremy Pitts pointed to the district's $41 million budget deficit and recent staffing cuts. "This is not where the money needs to go," Pitts said. "I would like the board members to explain to the teachers they let go why this is more important than their position."

Historical Context and National Precedent

This decision marks a rare reversal in the ongoing national reckoning with Confederate symbols. Midland ISD becomes the first Texas district to rename a Confederate-linked school to a neutral one and then back again. Nationally, it's only the second such instance; in Virginia, the Shenandoah County School Board renamed Stonewall Jackson High School to Mountain View High in 2020, only to restore the original name four years later in a 5-1 vote.

The 2020 renaming to "Legacy" stemmed from widespread protests against racial injustice, prompted by events like the death of George Floyd. At the time, concerns over Lee's role as commander of the Confederate Army—which fought to maintain slavery—led to the change, though it remained divisive.

Despite the polarization, a shared affection for the school's academic and athletic excellence united many speakers. Legacy High (formerly Lee) boasts award-winning programs, and both sides expressed a desire to prioritize student success amid the debate.

As Midland ISD moves forward, the name change underscores broader tensions between preserving local heritage and addressing historical inequities. The board repeatedly called for decorum during the meeting, as applause and admonishments interrupted testimonies. With the vote now final, the community faces the task of preparing for the 2026 transition.

In 2020, we traveled to Midland and talked to alumni and business leaders who opposed the name change. This is what they said back then in a very emotional tribute to Midland Lee High: