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Lewis takes reins as new GISD Athletic Director

Longtime Gladewater ISD educator and coach Jermaine Lewis became the school’s athletic director and head football coach Monday night – ready to hit the ground running Tuesday morning.

GISD trustees unanimously-approved Lewis’ promotion March 17 following their second round of closed door interviews and deliberations.
“He was approved tonight, so he will start officially tomorrow,” Superintendent Rae Ann Patty confirmed.
Patty underscored the 45-year-old educator and coach’s deep understanding of athletes and what they need to succeed, highlighting Lewis’ commitment not just to athletic performance but to the development of the athletes, particularly focused on building strong character.
“He is dedicated to helping students understand that overcoming adversity is a crucial skill that extends beyond sports and into their everyday lives,” she added. “His approach is not only about improving athletic skills but about shaping young people into resilient individuals who will be able to face challenges with confidence and determination.”

One of multiple applicants being considered to succeed four-year AD Jonny Louvier following his Feb. 4 resignation, Lewis issued a statement Monday evening, “honored and extremely excited” to step into his new role at Gladewater High School.
“This is a tremendous opportunity, and I look forward to working alongside our dedicated coaches, student-athletes, and the entire Gladewater community,” he said. “Gladewater has a rich tradition of athletic excellence, and I am committed to building on that legacy. My focus will be on helping our student-athletes grow not only as competitors but also as young men and women of character, discipline, and resilience.
“I can’t wait to get started and continue fostering a positive and winning culture here at Gladewater High.”
Lewis’ wife, Keshia Green-Lewis, is a Special Education teacher at Weldon Elementary School. They have a son, Kollin, a Bear alum now attending University of North Texas, and daughter, Lankstyn, who currently attends Gladewater High School.

Patty said Lewis believes in the idea that every experience – whether a triumph or a challenge – is a teachable moment.
“A key part of his leadership style is modeling the values he expects from the athletes and coaches. By setting the example in his own behavior, he ensures that athletes understand what traits like trust, discipline, and perseverance look like in practice,” she continued. “His belief that trust is central to a successful program is particularly important, as it fosters an environment where athletes feel secure in their development, both as players and as people.
“The athletes’ confidence in his ability to lead speaks volumes about the kind of relationship he’s building with them, one rooted in mutual respect and shared goals.”

A member of the Gladewater community for 20 years, Lewis has spent a combined 18 years coaching here and elsewhere along with 14 years as an educator at GISD.

In addition to his leadership qualities, “Jermaine is determined to make necessary changes to elevate the program, ensuring it not only thrives now but also provides the foundation for long-term success,” Patty said. “His efforts will go beyond immediate victories on the field or court; they are about setting up these young men and women for success both during their time at Gladewater ISD and after they graduate.”

Gladewater ISD’s Jermaine Lewis (pictured with wife, Keshia Green-Lewis; son, Kollin; and daughter, Lankstyn) was unanimously-appointed GISD Athletic Director & Head Football Coach Monday, March 17. (Courtesy photo)

Farewell our Friend and faithful Servant

ISAAC T. BRYANT
Phillis Wheatley Graduating Class of 1955
Educator, Attorney, Tenor Soloist, and Community Servant

Isaac T. Bryant and his twin sister, Elizabeth, were the 11th and 12th of 13 siblings born to the late Rev. Ananniss and Mrs. Beatrice Maynard Bryant in
Montgomery, TX. The family relocated to Houston in September of 1937 where they settled in the historic Fifth Ward. His father was the longstanding
Assistant Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Houston’s Fourth Ward, and his mother was a homemaker. Isaac and his twin sister attended the public
schools in the community: B. K. Bruce Elementary School, E. O. Smith Junior High/Middle School, and Phillis Wheatley High School. Always recognized for
his superior intellect, excellent memory, gifted music and oratory ability, and commitment to excellence in all of his endeavors, Isaac was the Salutatorian
of his E. O. Smith graduating class and was the highest ranking boy in the Wheatley graduating class of 1955.

All of Isaac’s widely recognized inherent abilities were highlighted brightly when he attended Phillis Wheatley High School. He participated in a number of organizations where he functioned in leadership positions: Beau Brummel Club (Vice President), Christian Student Union (President), Book Lovers Club
(President), Honor Society (President), and Texas Statewide Student Council where he served as Wheatley’s representative. He competed in the Prairie View Interscholastic League on behalf of the school where he was declared Top Debater and Top Extemporaneous Speaker in competition. In graduating with
highest honors and as the highest ranking boy in the Wheatley Class of 1955, Isaac was awarded an E. E. Worthing Scholarship, the top scholarship at the time, for college. In fact, both the faculty and principal of Wheatley back then, Dr. John E. Codwell, were so impressed with him that he was announced first as a scholarship winner at the 1955 graduation exercises when it had been customary to introduce the girl/female winners first. During his stay at Wheatley, Isaac admits that Dr. Codwell had a major influence on his desire to become a lawyer and to select an undergraduate college major that would enhance his
chances for admission to law school after completing his undergraduate studies. With a Worthing Scholarship and additional academic scholarships from his chosen undergraduate university, Isaac Bryant entered Howard University in Washington, D. C. during the fall of 1955. His quest
for excellence followed him from Wheatley to Howard where he pursued an undergraduate major in Government and Economics, was consistently on the Dean’s List, was elected to the Freshman Steering Committee, served as the Vice President of the Howard University Chapter of the NAACP, was voted to
appear in “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges,” was inducted into Pi Alpha Theta Historical Honor Society, and was inducted into Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society. He also joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. where he has maintained an active affiliation for more than 50 years.
During his studies at Howard, he received further inspiration to study law after hearing a speech delivered by Belfort V. Lawson who, at the time, was the National President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Thus, during his junior year, Isaac applied to and was accepted at the Rutgers University Law School in New
Jersey for entry in the fall of 1959. This complemented his graduation in the spring of 1959, cum laude, from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Economics.

Thus, in September of 1959, Isaac Bryant entered the Law School at Rutgers University where he was only able to complete one semester. The sudden critical illness of his twin sister Elizabeth necessitated his return home to Houston to assist his family through the crisis. Elizabeth’s illness was enduring and painful;
and, while Isaac was there to help monitor her condition, it became obvious that the family also needed his help financially. These circumstances led to his acceptance of a position as a secondary school teacher in the Houston Independent School District (HISD), hence, changing his professional focus from law to education at this point in his life. Isaac entered the teaching profession quite by accident. One day while standing at the transit stop nearest
E. O. Smith Junior High/Middle School in order to ride the bus to the hospital to visit his sister, the then principal of the school (Theodore Chatham) recognized him from a distance and went out to greet him. In doing so, Mr. Chatham came to realize the plight of the Bryant Family and invited Isaac to his office for a talk. Although Isaac expressed his desire to complete his law studies eventually, Mr. Chatham further or counter expressed that he had openings for teachers at E. O. Smith, one of which was for a teacher of history and world geography and for which Isaac had the educational background. Mr. Chatham further offered his help if Isaac would apply. After some consideration and with the help of Mr. Chatham in the application and certification process, Isaac accepted his first professional job in 1961 as a history and world geography teacher at E. O. Smith Junior High/Middle School in HISD. This assignment lasted until 1966. In 1966, Isaac continued in the teaching profession while still desiring to complete his law studies, but this time around he transitioned to his alma mater, Phillis Wheatley High School, where he began teaching government and economics primarily to seniors. This assignment lasted until 1970 when the integration of schools in Houston forced HISD to diversify teaching faculties through a process that was referred to as “crossover.” As a result of this process, Isaac was re-assigned to Stephen F. Austin High School where he continued to teach government and economics until his retirement from HISD in 2002. Throughout his teaching career, his students, in general, excelled in debate and both extemporaneous speaking and writing. During the early part of Isaac Bryant’s professional life as a teacher or educator, he never lost sight of his goal of becoming a lawyer. During the 1970s, after the passing of his twin sister, he did manage to gain entrance to the South Texas College of Law in downtown Houston where he did, in fact, earn a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1977 while he continued to teach. He may have left the teaching profession in order to practice as a lawyer full-time if he had not met with an obstacle in conducting his first court case. The first and only criminal case that Attorney Isaac Bryant argued was lost in court due to the reality of the impact of the many years of segregation on the thinking of many non-minority Houstonians prior to the 1960s. While representing a client whom he believed to be innocent, Bryant produced a methodical and well argued case for the client’s innocence even though the jury voted for conviction. After the court proceedings, a White female juror approached Attorney Bryant to compliment him on his excellent presentation and delivery while, at the same time, indicating that she would never consider voting for a Black defendant against a White lawyer who, in this case, was the prosecutor. With this incident, Attorney Bryant confronted the reality of a future law practice; and he decided that his future handling of other criminal cases would, in all likelihood, end up pretty much with the same results. He was already an experienced teacher by this time, and he enjoyed the work. Thus, he realized that he had arrived at a point in his life where he had fulfilled a life-long goal; but it hadn’t led him to a fulfilling and rewarding profession as he had hoped. Thankfully, along the way, he had found another profession that provided him with a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.

Isaac’s ability as a gifted tenor soloist has been recognized throughout his life. He often performs in public for various occasions like funerals and weddings. In fact, the entire Bryant Family has been known for its gospel singing as a group in the past. In the 1970s, then well known radio personality and producer Skipper Lee Frazier produced a family gospel album that was entitled “They That Wait” from The Bryant Singers with Henry La La Wilson. It is noted that Wilson is a Bryant family cousin who, at the time, had already become an internationally recognized bassist who started as one of the original history-making Jazz Crusaders. To his credit, La La also graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School and is the recipient of multiple Grammys and an Emmy for his work. On the resulting family album, Isaac performed two gospel solos: “One Thousand Angels” and “Ain’t That Good News.” Isaac T. Bryant has been active in the Houston community for many years. His ardent support of Phillis Wheatley High School, as well as his fraternity (Alpha Phi Alpha), is well known. He is also a long standing member of Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church in the Fifth Ward, the second oldest African American Church in Houston. There he has served as the youngest lay leader ever in the Church’s long history, has performed as a soloist in the Church Choir since childhood, has chaired the Church Council, and has either chaired or co-chaired many of the various church anniversary celebrations. He has been an active member of the Phillis WheatleyS Metropolitan Alumni and Ex-Students Association for over 30 years. In the past, he has been active in the MacGregor Civic Club where he has helped with precinct voting. In 2012, he joined the Phillis Wheatley High School Alumni Wall of Fame Committee where he continues to serve. Finally, one thing that is apparent to many observers is the fact that if some community event of importance to Phillis Wheatley High School is being held, Isaac T. Bryant will certainly be there in support. Like most Wheatley alumni, he is very concerned about preserving the school’s legacy as well as its overall image as a significant contributor to the education of minority students in Houston for almost 100 years. This biography was written and formatted in August of 2015 by Etta F. Walker from information provided by Isaac T. Bryant for use with the Phillis Wheatley High School Alumni Wall of Fame project.

2024 PWMAA SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON

Ladder 67 Apparatus Dedication – Freddie Jackson

Join Us!

Annual Awards & Scholarship Luncheon

Join us on November 23, 2024, at 1:00 PM at the Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel.

Celebrate achievements and support scholarships while enjoying a memorable afternoon with fellow alumni and friends.

Turkey Day Classic

Homecoming Parade

Awards & Scholarship Banquet