Welhausen School
Cotulla, La Salle County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Designed by Austin architect Charles H. Page, this brick schoolhouse was completed in 1926 and named for County Judge G. A. Welhausen (1862-1944). Twenty-year-old Lyndon B. Johnson came to Cotulla in 1928-29 and served as teacher and principal at the school, which served the city's Hispanic students for many years. Built in a classically inspired plan with a central block flanked by two low wings, the building features decorative tile panels. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1990
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Designed by Austin architect Charles H. Page and completed in 1926, this classically inspired brick schoolhouse was named for County Judge G. A. Welhausen and served Cotulla's Hispanic students for many years. In 1928–29 a twenty-year-old Lyndon B. Johnson taught and served as principal here, an experience among poor Mexican American children that he later credited with shaping his commitment to education and civil rights. The building's central block, flanking wings, and decorative tile panels earned it recognition as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1990.
Why it matters
The school is a touchstone in the life of a future president, linking a segregated South Texas classroom to the national civil rights and anti-poverty programs Johnson would one day champion.
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Related people
- · Lyndon B. Johnson
- · Charles H. Page
- · G. A. Welhausen
Themes & tags
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