Complex sentence: In 1881, Abner helped establish Bishop College, and served as one of its first trustees; in 1884, his son David Abner, Jr. became the first black man to graduate from a Texas college.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1881, Abner helped establish Bishop College, and served as one of its first trustees. In 1884, his son David Abner, Jr. became the first black man to graduate from a Texas college.