History of Deady Middle School
On November 3, 1927, dignitaries met at the Milby cafeteria. The occasion marked the beginning of one thing and the end of another. Taking stock of the moment one finds the following: The assets of the Harrisburg Independent School District were turned over to the Houston Independent School District. As part of the deal a new junior high school would be built. That school was to be named James S. Deady Junior High.
The history of Deady Junior High is very much about the history of Harrisburg and the changes that occurred as Houston grew and inevitably incorporated the area. Here are the facts:
James S. Deady was Harrisburg’s first and only mayor. He served as President of the Harrisburg School Board. Before that he served as Justice of the Peace and was known for his sense of justice for all people regardless of race, color or creed.
He was so highly loved and respected that when the time came to name the new school, James S. Deady was given the honor. Most new district schools were named after famousleaders who were already deceased. But in this case, Mr. Deady had given so much and fought so hard for the people of Harrisburg and for the schools, there was no question that he deserved this honor.
“Other schools were named after warriors, colonizers, statesmen, educators, etc., in this instance; we sought to recognize the worth of an average dedicated citizen.”
Searcey Bracewell, prominent Houston attorney and founder of the powerful Bracewell & Giuliani Law Firm, quoted his father, J. S. Bracewell, who was the attorney handling the Harrisburg/Houston District merger in 1927: “Other schools were named after warriors, colonizers, statesmen, educators, etc., in this instance; we sought to recognize the worth of an average, dedicated citizen.”
For all his tireless effort, it might be surprising to know that James S. Deady was severely handicapped most of his life. Despite his physical frailty and the difficulty of getting about, he worked unselfishly for the people of Harrisburg, many times without compensation, to make sure children received a good education. On January 28, 1929, James S. Deady Junior High opened its doors with 326 students and 14 teachers. The school has stood for almost 80 years, at this writing, as a tribute to a man who cared about children. Here, at Deady Middle School, his legacy resides.
{Thanks to Mr. Searcey Bracewell for sharing a copy of his father’s writings.}
Photo Gallery
National Junior Honor Society ceremony. Click on a picture to enlarge.