Myrtle Hightower, one of Plano’s educational trailblazers, died last week at the age of 101.

Known for her lifelong commitment to education, Hightower was an advocate for diversity in the Plano Independent School District and hosted the district’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration nearly 40 years ago. He founded the Diversity Celebration.

For more than half a century, he served students and community members through his work as an educator, donations, and encouragement. He encouraged former Plano mayor Harry LaRosiliere to run for office.

LaRosiliere called Hightower a “Plano grandma” and presented her with the key to the city in 2020. LaRosiliere, the city’s first Black mayor, said Hightower was an important figure in terms of diversity and inclusion in the city.

“I have always viewed him as the moral compass of our community. He stood up for what was right,” LaRosiliere said. “He knew education opened doors. “So he was steadfast in his support of the school district…and made sure that the African American community was definitely seen and heard.”

Hightower’s longevity

Hightower grew up picking cotton on his family’s farm in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. He was born there on March 11, 1923, and was the middle of five children.

Bessie Coffer, 76, is Hightower’s niece and a retired educator from Richardson ISD. Hightower said she raised Coffer as her daughter after Coffer’s biological mother died in childbirth.

Coffer said Hightower was known as a “resounding voice” in Plano, especially in the school community. The word “can’t” wasn’t in his vocabulary.

“He had the ambition, self-motivation and motivation that he always wanted to do better. Coffer took that drive and tried to instill it in his students, he said. “It’s not where you come from, it’s where you’re going. That was always his motto.

Coffer said Hightower grew up during segregation, attending a one-room schoolhouse that housed students in first through sixth grades.

A highly intelligent student, she began college at age 15 at Langston University, Oklahoma’s only Historically Black College and University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English and was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. He later earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and a doctorate from Northeastern State University. from the University of Cincinnati.

Coffer said Hightower started teaching in a poor area of ​​Oklahoma and would warm his classroom by putting coal on the stove at the start of the school day. She became Dean of Women at Langston in the late 70s.

Beginning in 1970, he took a group of 75 students and staff abroad to study humanities in Europe for a month and continued to take students on annual trips for 15 years; This was the most important turning point in his career as an educator.

It is stated that Hightower has lived in Plano since 1982. previous reportingIn 1987, he became the district’s first diversity consultant. Established the district’s first diversity committee.

Hightower is a counselor at Williams High School for the district’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, according to a statement from the district. She founded the Celebration of Diversity, which grew into a region-wide celebration for more than three decades.

Coffer said the event celebrates cultures from around the world, and Hightower has chaired the event for decades.

“He left a legacy of diversity,” Coffer said. “He left a legacy of believing in people, helping people, being an important part of the community and wanting everyone to feel like they belonged.”

Myrtle married John Hightower around 1985, Coffer said. John and Myrtle Hightower Elementary School is named for the couple who are both educators and counselors in Plano ISD. John Hightower taught science at the then-segregated Douglass High School and later became principal. He died in 2005.

In the ’90s, the couple began offering scholarships for Collin College students.

Myrtle and John Hightower were also generous to students in their personal lives. Coffer said the couple would send what they call “hamburger money” to students at the college and help pay for their books. They would also host students in their homes so they could go to school.

Myrtle Hightower retired from teaching in 1997, but Coffer said she “never retired from anything.” Coffer said he continued to work in the community into his 90s and was involved in a number of organizations.

A dedicated leader

Hightower was involved with the Plano Community Forum, a group that provides scholarships to minority students in Plano. She was also a founding member of Plano North Metroplex Links, a nonprofit volunteer group of black women with chapters across the country, and led youth programs in Plano. He was a founding member of Tulsa Links in Oklahoma.

He launched the first Black history program for the Rotary Club of Plano and the annual MLK breakfast for the Plano Community Forum. According to his obituary, he was a committee member of the Plano Library Foundation, the Plano Housing Board and the Plano Board of Adjustment.

Hightower has been an educator for more than 50 years, spending about 25 years as a counselor and teacher in Plano, Coffer said.

“Dr. “Hightower’s passing leaves a void in our community, but his spirit of service, dedication, education and commitment to diversity will continue to inspire future generations,” he said. “Plano ISD will be forever grateful for Dr. Hightower’s service and commitment to our district.”

Myrtle was honored with many awards throughout her life, including Plano’s 100 Heroes Award, the Collin College Living Legend award, the Texas Children’s Hero Award presented in Austin, and the Plano Chamber of Commerce 2013 Citizen of the Year Award.

Plano ISD, according to a statement from the district. He dedicated the Myrtle Hightower Diversity Leadership Award in her honor to “support the work and leadership that individuals provide to society.”

A more inclusive vision for Plano

LaRosiliere served as Plano’s mayor from 2013 to 2021 and first met Hightower through the Rotary Club in the ’90s. LaRosiliere remembers Myrtle telling him more than a decade before he ran for the seat that he would one day be mayor of Plano.

“It was pretty humbling that someone of his caliber could at least see that in me and have that vision for me,” LaRosiliere said.

LaRosiliere said Myrtle did important work in Plano, teaching Black history and celebrating diversity. When he ran for mayor, the city’s population was about 7% black. census data shows.

“It was easy for us to be a marginalized community, percentage-wise, but it allowed us to be there and have our voices heard,” LaRosiliere said. “It made Plano more inclusive.”

Myrtle died on Tuesday, October 29, at the age of 101. According to his obituary, Hightower is survived by two children, Bessie Coffer and stepdaughter Johnnie Burns, nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.