I always called D.G. McLaurin Mr. McLaurin.

He was the superintendent of Natchez-Adams public school system, and in the year 1967, I was granted the distinction of being the first of my race to serve on the school board. My tenure extended for 29 years, initiated with me appearing in Jet Magazine in 1967 and ending with me serving as chairman of the school board. What an honor it was.

Walk with me now, 1967 to 2009, race wise, things have gotten better.

Mr. McLaurin was an educational sergeant. He believed what he believed and things had to be a certain way. He stuck to his educational guns.

He knew what to say, who to put in charge. He knew what it took in the educational arena to make things go well, and contrary to popular belief, the school system, absent the race issue, ranked as one of if not the model school system in the state of Mississippi talking about academia.

D.G. McLaurin was old school. He would talk to me often. In fact, in 1967 when I was appointed to the school board, it was in name only. I was at Ole Miss law school, and I received the minutes, the briefings, everything but the $20 per meeting paycheck. He told me once that we would disagree on nine out of 10 matters, but when we agreed it would be monumental.

He was a great leader.

But I cannot close this letter without thinking about all of the other school board members who labored and worked so hard to make this great school system what it is today.

Mr. McLaurin lived during a different time.

I have lived through a different time too, and not matter what faults or blame is cast, look at the brilliant minds and accomplishments that have graced the Natchez-Adams school system and made something of themselves. They have done us proud.

The teachers of history, whose names may have been forgotten like the sands of time, will never be forgotten for what they did for each of us, the students, the educators.

George F. West Jr. was a school board member for 29 years.