The Indians at Tensas Rosenwald High School knew the value of having a long term plan to accomplish a goal. After years of fund-raising drives the student body along with its community purchased a school bus known fondly by the name, Geronimo. This was accomplished in 1965 and as the story is relayed, the bus was not delivered to the campus, instead the bus was picked up from the factory and driven to St. Joseph, LA. This was the beginning of the story of Geronimo and it is forever present in the hearts of the community.
The Tensasan,1965, documents the arrival of Geronimo to the Tensas Rosenwald High School campus. Geronimo did the talking, just by being present. It was imposing to all competitors. Principal Bilberry was one of the individuals who went to the factory to accept the bus.
In his 1965 message to the student body, Mr. Bilberry felt the need to explain the importance of having a school year book. The Tensasan, he prophetically exclaimed, “will nevertheless be a tonic to lift spirits where they tend to sink”.
The following year, 1967, Mr. Bilberry addressed the role of graduation with his message in the Tensasan. He presented to the students that by graduating “you have been preparing yourselves to keep an inevitable date with destiny”. Geronimo is folklore, but memories linger about how great it was as a motivator for the community. Get on the bus!
African American High Schools in Louisiana Before 1970 