Purvey Lee (P.L.) Chism

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Purvey Lee Chism, a man Anderson County hasn't forgotten. Now, some people are born into a calling. P.L.

Chism was born on August 27, 1893, in Covin, Alabama, to James W. Chism — a school teacher himself — and his wife, Lela Dickinson Chism. You could say education was already in the house before P.L. ever walked through a classroom door.

But I won't say that, because that's your conclusion to draw. What I will tell you is this: from his youth onward, that man never stopped challengin' himself and others when it came to learning. Not once.

Before he ever stood at the front of a classroom, though, P.L. Chism stood in the fields of England and France, serving in World War I with the 127th Field Artillery. He came home with numerous awards in marksmanship, which tells you something about a man who later spent his life insisting on precision of a different kind — the kind you find in a well-taught lesson.

After his return from the war in 1919, he went back to Alabama. Let him catch his breath. He'd earned it.

Then, in 1922, P.L. made his move to Lamar County, Texas, and began teaching in the rural communities of Ballinger and Caviness. He later taught in Powderly. And Powderly didn't just keep him as a teacher — they made him principal of the Powderly school.

That was not the ceiling. In 1935, P.L. Chism was selected superintendent of Lamar County schools.

He held that post until 1939. Nineteen thirty-nine was a busy year for the man. He married Bess Carroll Moomaw that same year.

And then — just to make sure nobody thought he was slowin' down — the very next year he earned his master's degree in education from Texas A&M. He had also begun pursuing his doctorate at the University of Texas. The man was a superintendent with a new wife, a fresh master's degree, and doctoral coursework underway.

Some folks relax into a title. P.L. Chism treated every title as a starting line.

In 1940, he and Bess moved to Palestine when P.L. was appointed Deputy State Superintendent of Schools — first covering six counties, a responsibility that later grew to thirteen counties. That's not a small patch of Texas. That's a lot of schools, a lot of teachers, a lot of children whose futures were partly in this man's hands.

In 1949, he accepted the position of Anderson County Supervisor of Schools. And here's what set P.L. Chism apart from a man who merely administrates: he visited schools every single day.

Every day. He didn't just help shape rural schools and curriculum from behind a desk — he walked in, he talked directly with teachers, he talked directly with students, and he made an impact on their educational development in a way that a memo never could. He held that position of county supervisor until his retirement in 1963.

He served on numerous boards and received many accolades along the way. But you know how it is with certain people — the titles and the awards aren't what linger. What lingers is the devotion.

A school teacher's son from Covin, Alabama, who carried that devotion through a world war, through the rural communities of Lamar County, through thirteen counties of Texas, all the way to Anderson County — never once stopping, never once coasting, never once deciding that the students in front of him deserved anything less than everything he had. That's how P.L. Chism will be remembered.

As a devoted and inspirational educator. The marker says so. And out here on the road, that's more than enough.

What the marker says

P.L. Chism’s devotion to education was unsurpassed. From the time of his youth, through his many years as a teacher, principal, superintendent and supervisor, he never stopped challenging himself and others for education. Purvey Lee Chism was born on August 27, 1893, in Covin, Alabama, to James W. Chism, a school teacher, and his wife, Lela Dickinson Chism. P.L. served in World War I with the 127th field artillery in England and France, and received numerous awards in marksmanship. After his return from the war in 1919, P.L. returned to Alabama. In 1922, he moved to Lamar County, Texas, and began a teaching career in the rural communities of Ballinger and Caviness. He later taught in Powderly and was the principal of Powderly school before being selected superintendent of Lamar County schools in 1935, a position he held until 1939. P.L. married Bess Carroll Moomaw in 1939 and, the next year, he earned his master’s degree in education from Texas A&M. He had also begun pursuing his doctorate at the University of Texas. In 1940, P.L. and Bess moved to Palestine when he was appointed Deputy State Superintendent of Schools for six counties, which later became 13 counties. In 1949, he accepted the position of Anderson County Supervisor of Schools. Chism not only helped with rural schools and curriculum, but he also visited schools every day and directly communicated with teachers and students, impacting their educational development. He held the position of county supervisor until his retirement in 1963. He served on numerous boards and received many accolades but P.L. Chism will be remembered as a devoted and inspirational educator. (2013)