William Charles AKINS

1932 - 2017

AKINS, William Charles
(1932-2017)

William Charles Akins was born in Austin, Texas on November 9, 1932 to Elmer and Mattie Lee Akins.

He was a lifelong resident of east Austin, attending Blackshear Elementary, Kealing Jr. High and the Original L.C. Anderson High School located on Pennsylvania Street. After graduating from Anderson in 1950, Charles pursued higher education at Huston-Tillotson College (now University), majoring in history and minoring in English. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1954, and later received a master's degree from Prairie View A&M University and his Administrative Certification from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State). In 1982, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from his college alma mater, Huston-Tillotson University.

Charles began his career as an educator in 1956 at Booker T. Washington High School in Marlin, Texas, where he taught history, civics and economics. In 1959, he started teaching in Austin at L.C. Anderson High School located at 900 Thompson St. and was selected as Teacher of the Year in 1962, just three years after he started working at Anderson.
In 1964, Austin ISD decided to integrate the schools. Ready to meet the challenge, Charles was transferred to Johnston High School (now Eastside Memorial) as the first cross-over teacher in the district. At Johnston, he taught social studies and sponsored the Boys Service Club. He was promoted to Dean of Boys in 1968.

He returned to Anderson as assistant principal in 1969, two years before the district decided to close the school in 1971 as a result of a court desegregation order. He then served at Lanier High School as an assistant principal. In 1973, the school district wanted to make further in-roads toward integration and decided to build a new high school in northwest Austin. Charles was selected as principal of L.C. Anderson High School, located at 8403 Mesa Drive.

Charles felt being principal at Anderson was a tremendous challenge, as well as a significant opportunity. He always pushed for inclusion and wanted to make sure that students could participate in any activity of their choice. During his nine-year tenure as principal, the school excelled in academics and in other areas such as performing arts.
Charles was promoted to assistant superintendent and later to Associate Superintendent for Community Relations in 1994. When he retired in 2000, he had served a total of 44 years in the field of education.

In recognition of his significant contributions to the profession, the Austin ISD school board voted in 1998 to name the district's newest high school in his honor. The new school, W. Charles Akins High School, opened its doors in August 2000.

After retirement, Charles remained connected to the education field, serving on the board of directors for Region 13 Education Service Center, Westminster Manor, Stillwell Retirement Home for Teachers, UIL Waiver Board and the UIL Foundation.

Although known for his pioneering efforts in education, he was also a trailblazer in the media, becoming the first African-American sportscaster on television in Austin at KLRU.

Charles had a strong faith in God, which was nurtured by both of his parents. He held many positions at Wesley United Methodist Church, including church announcing clerk, church steward, lay speaker, Sunday School superintendent, district lay leader, and delegate to the General and Jurisdictional Conferences for the United Methodist Church.

A family man, he loved to take his family on cross-county trips driving to California to visit his relatives, and to historical places such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York.

Charles embodied the meaning of servant leadership and was dutiful to many in the community: charter member and former president of the Capital City Lions Club, former chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, bond issues committees for Austin ISD and Travis County, football official for all high school divisions, Texas Relays, Carver Museum Ambassadors, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Huston-Tillotson University Alumni.

He received numerous awards during his lifetime, including Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award; Heman Marion Sweatt Legacy Award; Legacy Changer Award; and Tower of Light Community Service Award from Huston-Tillotson University. Most recently, he was recognized for 60 years of service to Huston-Tillotson, and also received a Lifetime Membership in the United Methodist Men.

He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife Estella R. Akins; daughters Dianne Akins Iglehart and Joyce Akins; grandson Justin Charles Iglehart; granddaughter Rena Olivia Iglehart; granddaughter-in-law Dr. Elena Iglehart; a host of cousins and other relatives across the state and country; numerous friends; neighbors; and the Austin education community.

Celebration of Life services will be on Friday, April 7, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1164 San Bernard Street, Austin, TX 78702. Visitation on Thursday, April 6, 2017, 4:00-6:00 p.m., followed by Wake/Program, 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, you are invited to give to the Austin Community Foundation-W. Charles Akins Scholarship; American Cancer Society; Huston-Tillotson University; Wesley United Methodist Church, and M.D. Anderson Moon Shots Program.