Trailblazers

Rev. John L. Russell Sr. was a staunch supporter of public education, an advocate for equality, and leaves a rich legacy of encouraging and empowering others to run for elective office.  He started his career as a teacher at Alto High, then Mangham High School, where he worked to ease integration tensions.  More

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Dr. Isam Morris Berry “Dr. Isam Morris Berry (aka_Mr. Berry) was my tenth-grade Civics teacher and the boys’ basketball coach during my time at Alto High School. Mr. Berry was special at Alto. He was able to keep his head above the fray and never seemed to participate in the “Peyton place” part of Alto.  More

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Mrs. Eula Dunnings Britton was a community leader and the first black principal (female) at Rayville Rosenwald High School. The school was later named after her. The Alto High School 1964 yearbook  was dedicated to her.  More

Fredrick D. Perkins In January 1955, the Richland Parish School Board appointed Professor Fredrick Douglas Perkins as the new principal of Alto High School...Alto High continued to grow and prosper under his administration and became a leading academic institution in the area.  More

Marie Lyons Hill took on the task of conducting protests and petitions to bring about a change to integrate the school’s system. Her actions were not always accepted and created a hostile work and social environment;   More

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Johnny Lee Natt  What can we learn from the life of Johnny Lee Natt?  You can get to do more of what you love to do in life when you simply do it from your heart.  Read more about  the life of "Coach Natt," -- this educator, elected public servant, devoted family man, and Christian, who exemplifies the 60's song title, "All You Need Is Love," by the Beatles.  

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