GISD to honor 1963 State Championship Team During Central Night, Oct. 19

GISD’S Tor football players will pay tribute to the district’s historic Central High School when they don blue and white jerseys during their competition against Waltrip High School beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at Courville Stadium. 

Fans in attendance will have the unique privilege of welcoming players from Central High School's 1963 State Champion Football Team, who will be recognized for the 60th anniversary of their championship title at halftime. 

Central was the first African American high school in Texas when it opened in 1885. The Prairie View Interscholastic League (PVIL) was the governing body of all extra-curricular activities for all-black schools from 1920 to 1969, and in 1963, the Central Bearcat Football Team won the PVIL State Championship. 

The 2023 Teen Miss Juneteenth America winner, Karrington Bourgeois-Wilkins, will also join us as a special guest tonight, as well as Michael Hurd, the author of the book "Thursday Night Lights: The Story of Black High School Football in Texas." 

Hurd will sign copies of his book from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, during a meet and greet at the Nia Cultural Center Juneteenth Legacy Project Headquarters, located at 22nd and Strand Street. 

Tickets for tonight's game are available for purchase online at https://gofan.co/app/school/TX73119. 

GISD is proud to honor the Bearcats of the past while building the Tors of the future.