Before 1888, the only facility for
African-Americans in Longview was a one-room, one-teacher school located in the north
section of town.
In 1888, the Longview School Board purchased a
site on East Marshall Avenue and erected a four-room frame building, which was the first
"recognized" school for African-American youth in Longview. From this four-room
structure grew a two-story frame building which was called the Colored High School and
later North Ward. In 1908, the first student graduated from this high school under the
principalship of W. M. Daniels and a staff of four teachers.
The discovery of oil in the early 1930s brought
an increase in population in the Longview area, and consequently, a new school. A site was
purchased adjacent to the Colored Southside School on Gum Street to build a 14-room brick
structure to serve as a secondary school.
The Longview Negro High School, under the
principalship of Leslie J. White (1930-1945) with a staff of ten teachers, was fully
accredited by the state education department. There were more than 200 students enrolled
in the high school.
In 1945, J.L. Everhart assumed the high school
principalship, replacing L.J. White who resigned to accept another position.
Three years later, a new 16-room modern high
school building was constructed to replace the 1930 structure destroyed by fire in
1946. 
It was named Mary C. Womack High School in 1959/60 in honor of
teacher Mary C. Womack. This school, accredited by the Texas Education Agency and Southern
Association of Secondary Colleges and Schools, had a staff of 20 teachers, one full-time
principal, and an enrollment of 486 students in grades 9-12.
Following total integration of the schools in
1970, the Womack High School building was eventually closed. It was later torn down.
In 1978, an alumni reunion was held for classes
of the Longview Negro High School and Mary C. Womack High School (1908-1970). It was
sponsored by the Eta Chi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.