F.O. Birmingham remembered

(Photo from left: F.O. Birmingham Memorial Land Trust Executive Director Jon Lewis, WHS Principal Gary Brown, WEHS Principal Mike Williams and  Mayor Eric Hogue participate in the flower presentation at the grave of Frank Ovid Birmingham.)

Students of Wylie East High School and Wylie High School’s Biology and AP Biology classes remembered and paid respects at the grave of Frank Ovid Birmingham.  As part of an annual ceremony, students of Wylie ISD visit the gravesite to clean it up and place flowers according to the requests of Mr. Birmingham’s parents, T.F and Hattie A. Birmingham.

Frank Ovid Birmingham passed away in 1911, at the age of 20 from influenza.  In 1940, T.F and Hattie Birmingham established the F.O. Birmingham Memorial Land Trust in his memory. A few years later they provided funding for Wylie’s first high school and, in 1950, funded yet another trust in their son’s memory. 

Wylie Mayor Eric Hogue was present to provide the students a history lesson on the Birmingham family.  He emphasized that education was important to them and how  they have enhanced the experience for all Wylie students.

“Because of the Birmingham family’s vision, Wylie ISD has be able to provide unique opportunities for its students including the Culinary Arts program, industrial trades training and technological enhancements,” said Mr. Hogue.  

The mayor and a representative from the Methodist, Baptist, Catholic and Christian Churches in the city of Wylie serve on the trust board, guided by the trust’s Executive Director, Jon Lewis.   Through astute investments by the board, the original trust, valued at approximately $200,000, has grown to more than $18,000,000.

“To date, the trust has given Wylie ISD approximately $10,000,000; which is an average of $300,000 to $500,000 annually for twenty years,” stated Mr. Lewis.  “The board works very hard to ensure the trust will continue to impact the lives of Wylie students for generations to come.”