Finding Aids: PVAMU Special Collections and Archives : Raymond Carreathers Papers

Creator:: Raymond Carreathers

Title of Collection: Raymond Carreathers Papers

Dates:1979-1982

Extent: 0.25 linear ft. (5 folders)

Abstract: Raymond Eugene Carreathers was a teacher and administrator of Prairie View A&M University from 1976 to 1986, and he served as the mayor of Prairie View from 1998-2002. The Raymond Carreathers Papers contains materials related to his career in education including a dissertation, awards, programs, and newspaper clipping, from 1979 to 1982.

Biographical Note: Raymond Eugene Carreathers was a teacher and administrator of Prairie View A&M University from 1976 to 1986, and he served as the mayor of Prairie View from 1998-2002. Born to Henry and Maggie Smith Carreathers of Clarksville, Red River County, Texas, on May 28, 1921, he grew up on farms in Red River and Lamar counties. He attended public schools in both of those counties and graduated from Detroit High School in western Red River County in 1939 as valedictorian of his class. Carreathers graduated with a degree in agricultural education from Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College, where he pledged to the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Carreathers was drafted into the United States Army as one of the 103 members of the Prairie View Enlisted Reserve Corps, and he served with the 777th Field Artillery Batallion, which arrived in France in September 1944 and participated in many important movements against German lines. In March 1945, the 777th crossed the Rhine River into Germany—it was one of the first black units to do so. By the end of the war, he rose from private to the rank of major.

Carreathers returned to Northeast Texas after WWII, and he married Ernestine Thurston in Grayson County in 1946. The couple had two children, daughter Denise and son Kevin--each of whom went on to attend PVAMU. Carreathers also taught agriculture and served as principal at Booker T. Washington High School in Bonham. He sponsored the New Farmers of America chapter in Washington, supported the New Homemakers of America chapter, and guided many of his students to college. While principal at Washington, Carreathers pursued graduate work during the summer. He attended the University of California-Berkley and the University of Colorado and finally earned his master’s degree in education in 1956 from Southeastern State University in Durant, Oklahoma.

In 1966, Booker T. Washington High School closed due to integration, and Carreathers served as assistant superintendent of the Bonham school district. He also taught in Gilmer and Paris, but in 1970, he returned to his alma mater, PVAMU, as a professor of educational administration. In 1967, President A.I. Thomas announced the appointment of Raymond Carreathers to the position of Head Senior Fellow. He was also named “Head of Resident and Student Life” of Alexander Hall, which was a freshman’s men's dorm.

In 1969, he was named “Sophomore Class Sponsor” for the Class of 1972 by President Thomas. During that time, he contributed full uniforms to the Band Fund Drive as well as, assisting the Asst. VP of Student Affairs and Faculty Representative with the project of performing formal examinations for the student applications for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship. He also served as an advising officer on the Pan-Hellenic council and became the Vice-President of the Southwest Region of Alpha chapter.

In 1976, Carreathers became the first vice president of student affairs at PVAMU. In 1981, Carreathers earned his Ph.D. in Education from East Texas State University. His dissertation, “A Study of the Critical Requirements of the Chief Student Personnel Officer in the Public Senior Colleges of Texas,” reflected years of research and personal experience as PVAMU Vice President for Student Affairs, a position he held from 1976 until his retirement in 1986.

After retirement, Dr. Carreathers managed the Amistad II University Book place in the city of Prairie View. He shared this business interest with his wife and daughter, and he also became active in local politics. He served on the Prairie View City Council from 1987 to 1995. After proving instrumental in acquiring a grant to pay for a water treatment plant, he won an election for mayor and served one term from 1998 to 2002.

Raymond Carreathers died July 14, 2003, after a lengthy battle with lung cancer, and is buried in Prairie View Memorial Garden Cemetery.

Arrangement: The collection is arranged in one series by format and further arranged by date.

                        Series 1: Printed Materials

Identification: UA 0004

Repository: Special Collections/Archives Department, John B. Coleman Library, Prairie View A&M University