One of 12 new schools opened to students for the 2006-2007 school year, C.A. Tatum Jr. Elementary School in east Dallas is a 91,000-square-foot facility designed to accommodate about 800 students in 37 classrooms.
Biography of Clarence Albert Tatum Jr.
The school is named for Clarence Albert Tatum Jr., a community leader who contributed to the peaceful desegregation of Dallas schools and public accommodations in the early 1960s.
Tatum was born in Dallas on June 25, 1907, attended Dallas schools and earned a physics degree from Southern Methodist University in 1928. He forged a lifelong connection with SMU, serving on its Board of Trustees and Board of Governors and receiving its Distinguished Alumnus Award. After college, Tatum joined Dallas Power and Light in the Commercial Department. Some 25 years later, the company named him President and Chief Executive Officer, a post he held until he advanced to CEO of Texas Utilities Company in 1967. After retiring in 1975, he continued as a consultant until his death in 1986.
In 1936, Tatum married Caroline King of Dallas. They had two sons. Tatum contributed in many ways to equality and cultural relations, and his efforts for Dallas were so valuable that he received the prestigious Linz Award for outstanding public service during the 1960s. Tatum led the fledgling Dallas Citizens Council in 1960 and was instrumental in desegregating Dallas schools.
He also served on the Kennedy Citizens Memorial Committee. Following the death of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, dozens of influential Dallas citizens almost immediately began work to develop a fitting memorial. In these efforts, Tatum worked alongside other legendary Dallas names like Robert Cullum, John Stemmons, Jim Chambers, Stanley Marcus, and Sam Bloom.
In 1971, Tatum became the first volunteer leader of the newly formed North Texas Commission. As chairman, he gained agreement among civic leaders across north Texas to set up a regional marketing organization that became critical to the creation and marketing of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
C.A. Tatum Jr. was active up to his death on Oct. 1, 1986. Tatum often said, "Our strength is the spirit and unity of the people of our region."
