Fifth Avenue School
Site of Alabama's First Public School Integration
Opened in 1944, the Fifth Avenue School became the focal point for major educational change on September 9, 1963, when Sonnie Hereford IV became the first African-American student to integrate public schools in Alabama. Following a lengthy court battle, Dr. Sonnie Hereford III enrolled his son in the first grade at the school. Veronica Pearson (Rison School), David (Piggee) Osman (Terry Heights School) and John Anthony Brewton (East Clinton School) enrolled in other Huntsville City Schools later that day. Other Alabama school systems began desegregation in the weeks that followed. The school was razed in 2003. Sponsored by Huntsville Public School, College and University Foundations & Friends 2004
Marker is at the intersection of Gallatin Street Southwest and Governors Drive Southwest, on the right when traveling south on Gallatin Street Southwest.
Courtesy hmdb.org
