Tyler Legacy High School

Tyler Legacy High School, previously known as Robert E. Lee High School, is one of four Tyler Independent School District high school campuses in the city of Tyler, Texas, the others being Tyler High School, Tyler ISD Early College High School, and RISE Academy. The school has served the East Texas community since 1958 and was renamed Tyler Legacy High School in 2020. It is classified as a 6A school by the UIL. In 2013, the school was rated "Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agency. History In the 1960s, when Lee's mascot was the Rebel, the school was famous for its working cannon and oversized Confederate flag. A group of seniors called the Rebel Guard tended the replica cannon at games, firing it when the Rebel football team scored a touchdown. The cannon, retired in 1986, is now the property of Brook Hill School in Bullard, Texas. The football team entered Rose Stadium by running under the flag, reputed to be the second largest Confederate flag in the world (second only to one owned by the University of Mississippi). By 1972, the flag was retired and its whereabouts are unknown. The flag was retired shortly after four African-American players refused to run under the flag and ran around it instead, causing some local controversy. Name change Robert E. Lee High School was given its name upon opening in 1958 as an all-white school. After unsuccessful efforts to rename the school at the time of its racial integration in 1970 and various times after, there was a debate in the Tyler community in 2017–2018 on whether the school's name should change. In 2018, the district's board decided not to vote on a possible renaming, so the school kept its name. In June 2020, Trude Lamb, a Ghanaian-born student and top athlete in running, made national news when she refused to wear the jersey for her school Robert E. Lee High School unless the name is changed. On July 16, 2020, the school board voted unanimously to initiate changing the name of both Robert E. Lee High School and John Tyler High School. Demographics As of the 2023–24 school year, the student body consisted of: 37.0% White (Non-Hispanic) 29.4% Hispanic 25.4% African American 3.2% Asian 0.3% Native American 0.1% Pacific Islander 4.5% Two or More Races Education Tyler Legacy High School offers a variety of pre-AP, AP-level courses, Tyler Junior College Dual-Credit courses, as well as career technology education programs and fine arts electives. The school implemented an international baccalaureate program in the fall of 2008. The IB program has been canceled. Athletics As of 2024, Tyler Legacy High School is classified as a 6A school in District 10 along with many East Dallas schools such as Rockwall and Forney. Tyler Legacy Red Raiders compete in a variety of sports including baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, softball, volleyball, tennis, powerlifting, track, swimming, cross country and is most well known for the Tyler football team. State titles Football 2004(5A/D1) - Defeated Spring Westfield 28–21 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas Boys Golf 1959(3A) Team Tennis 1987(5A), 1988(5A) Notable alumni Steve Breedlove, Anglican bishop Sandy Duncan, Class of 1965, actress Holland Lee Hendrix, Class of 1966, biblical scholar and late president of Union Theological Seminary (New York City) Alex Finlayson, Class of 1969, playwright and journalist Dale Dudley, Class of 1979, radio personality (Dudley and Bob) at KLBJ-FM Austin, Texas, Film Actor, Magazine Columnist. Corey Mayfield, Class of 1988, 3yr Starter at Oklahoma, San Fran 49r's, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Fred Coleman, wide receiver for the New England Patriots Joffrey Reynolds, Class of 1997, running back for the Calgary Stampeders Matt Flynn, Class of 2003, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers Brandon Pettigrew, Class of 2004, tight end for the Detroit Lions Ciron Black, Class of 2005, former tackle for the Louisiana State University Tigers Beaux Limmer, Class of 2019, center for the Los Angeles Rams Burch Smith, Major League Baseball player for the San Francisco Giants References External links Robert E. Lee High School Archived July 26, 2020, at the Wayback Machine