We waited anxiously with our note pads and pens at the ready. Dr. William Charles Akins came in through the door accompanied by his wife and two ROTC members. He had an exuberant smile with gleaming eyes. As he made way toward us, we were all so very excited to have the privilege of meeting the honorary man this school was named after.

We introduce ourselves; “Hannah, Haleigh, and Cristina.” We shake hands. 

We sit down and before us lay some of the memorabilia of the highlights of his life that he brought to share with us. 

Akins looks at us. “Where should we begin,” he smiles.

 CHILDHOOD

Akins was born on November 9th, 1932 to Mr. and Mrs. Elma Akins. He was an only child.

“They always say that if you’re the only child you’re spoiled.” Akins laughed. “I don’t think that was true in my case.”

Akins grew up with a loving and supporting family who helped push him to achieve his goals, but he certainly didn’t have anything close to a lavish lifestyle.

He looked up to his uncle, who he called “brother” because of his physique; and his aunt, because like everyone in his life, she had faith in him.

Both his parents were very religious and sang gospel music in their church choirs.

“I wasn’t very good at singing but I loved to hear gospel music in my church,” Akins joked. “My father was even a disk jockey for gospel music on KVET before it became a country station.”

His mother worked as a domestic worker in a nursing home. His father was a janitor for the Supreme Court and after 40 years he was promoted to a clerk. Neither of them finished high school.

“My parents believed in hard work. It was their aim that I would go to school and go to college,” Akins said.

With a mother and father who didn’t finish high school, he was at a disadvantage and had to work hard to reach his goals.

“Learning was a challenge,” Akins said seriously. “I wasn’t able to get much help at home so I went to the school library and to teachers after school.”

Though his parents did not finish high school they still tried to push him in his schoolwork.

“My dad challenged me with math,” Akins recalled. “He always tried to help me with my times tables.”

Akins grew up in East Central Austin on Washington Avenue near where the Old Anderson High School was, which is now a part of the Kealing Middle School campus. Since he had no transportation he would walk to school everyday.

It was very important to his parents that he did well in life and finished high school and college.

“I was the first to graduate high school in my family, and I feel very blessed,” Akins said triumphantly.

According to Akins, he’s worked hard for everything he’s achieved and credits it all to his school education and supporting family.

“Finishing high school is the key to any kind of success,” Akins said. “The famous Alexander The Great once said; “Parents give student’s life, but teachers give the eyes to see and mind to understand,” and I really do believe that.”

Enlightened by his words we scribble every quote.

Akins made sure he stayed out of trouble and paid attention in his classes. That type of dedication is what lead him into the next chapter of his life.

The interest inside all of us stirs and we are anxious to hear the rest of the story.

CAREER 

Akins always cared about the educational community and always wanted to become a teacher.

Akins’ first teaching job was at Marlin High School in Marlin, Texas and he always thought of it as a great way to start out his career.

“I always enjoyed my time working at Marlin,” Akins reminisced. “It was a great three years of teaching.”

After spending only three years at Marlin, Akins was offered a job at his old high school: L.C. Anderson or “Old Anderson” High School.

“I was ecstatic about getting the chance to work at “Old” Anderson, but I was really nervous,” Akins revealed with a laugh. “I was really happy about the chance to work at my old high school because not many people get the chance to do that. On the other hand, I was surrounded by all of my old teachers. It was nerve-racking because they all know your weaknesses.”

After only three years at “Old Anderson” Akins was named teacher of the year.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Akins smiled.  “I was more than excited.”

Many of Akins’ former students believe his teaching was ahead of its time.

“He always had such great enthusiasm when teaching,” former student at L.C. Anderson Class of 1961 graduate, Barbara Wilson recounted. “All the students loved him, everyone always wanted to go to his class.”

In his classes, he had his own way of keeping students attention.

“He would call from student to student, every one would be paying attention and scared that he would call their name. I was always nervous,” former student at L.C. Anderson, Class of 1961 graduate, Benny Hawkins admitted. “He would say, “Okay, Joe tell Henry to tell Jack to ask Shirley the first amendment,” I was always so scared and never averted my attention.”

After three years at “Old” Anderson, Akins left to become the first African-American teacher at Johnston High School.

“I was nervous about starting a school, but racial tensions never really came to mind,” Akins remembered. “Everyone was really welcoming and it was nice to be there.”

At Johnston, Akins came upon many opportunities.

“During the first year at Johnston, I was asked to be the sponsor for the Boys Service club,” Akins stated with a smile. “It was a great experience leading such wonderful and respectful young men.”

Other positive experiences also came his way.

“I was asked to be Dean of Boys,” Akins commented. “I was the disciplinary leader for the boys in school. It was challenging ”

While at Johnston, a yearbook was dedicated to his tenure during his sixth year.

“I was so surprised and shocked,” Akins explained. “I never expected to have such an honor.”

After just over seven years at Johnston, Akins was asked to return to “Old” Anderson High School, as an assistant principal.

“When I was asked to be the new assistant principal I was elated. I couldn’t believe that they would ask me to come work at “Old” Anderson,” Akins said with a huge smile. “It was a great experience both in life and work.”

After a few years in administration, Akins was given a large task, one that would eventually come to define his standing in both AISD and personally.

“I was called down to central AISD office and asked if I would be the new principal at a soon to be built high school,” Akins said. “The only thing that was challenging was the fact that it was going to be the first integrated high school in Austin.”

The school Akins was asked to be the new principal of was “New Anderson” High School.

“I was so excited very excited, but at the same time I was very nervous,” Akins said sternly. “You had kids from two sides of town put together and they didn’t get along.”

During the schools’ first three years of existence Akins was constantly trying to bring students together.

“It was hard dealing with the students because of their backgrounds,” Akins explained with much thought. “You had kids who didn’t want to be bussed across town, and you had kids that didn’t want new kids in their neighborhood.”

Some of the tension was certainly racial.

“We had fights daily for the first year or so,” Akins explained.

After a couple years, Akins had the new Anderson school under control and felt it was time for a new challenge.

“I was offered a job at the central office,” Akins said. “I had a good friend and mentor, H.L. Gaines, who was retiring and they offered me his old job.”

Akins became Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs followed by Associate Superintendent for Development and Community Partnership.

“I loved working as a teacher and in administration,” Akins reminisced with a huge smile on his face. “But, I felt I needed to move on to a different type of work once again.”

While working at the AISD main office, Akins supervised Hawkins.

“Akins was a great person to work with. He was never vindictive or causing a commotion,” Hawkins explained. “He was really the real deal.”

After years in Austin education, the AISD board voted to name the newest high school after Akins.

“I had heard they were nominating people,” Akins remembered. “I had no idea I was one of the nominations.”

When Akins found out that the school would be named after him he was surprised.

“I was elated and completely shocked,” Akins said with excited eyes. “I didn’t even know that I was up for a nomination when they chose me. I was just sitting in a board meeting not paying attention and didn’t know what to do.”

According to Akins he thought the AISD Board of Education chose to name the school after him because of his work with desegregation in several schools.

“I accepted the challenge and got people to work with me and each other,” Akins said. “I think that’s what they thought. I really don’t know.”

Akins had a warm smile when reminiscing about his feelings about having a high school named after him.

“It was emotional for me and very rewarding,” Akins said. “My father was very proud.”

Akins was present here for the ground breaking in 2000.

“It was the most joyous occasion in my life, next to my marriage,” he said.

By then Akins had retired.

“I felt that I had a long and great career,” Akins exclaimed. “I was given so many great chances and experiences I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

All our attention is on his every word. Our pens scribble madly.

Admiration for Akins increases within each of us. He is a kind, blessed and successful man who throughout the this time has continued to have a smile on his face. 

We don’t feel like this is an interview anymore, rather a long conversation with an old friend. 

RETIREMENT  

Since his retirement and the ground breaking of the school, Akins has continued to contribute to education.

He has been on several boards of education including the Board of Director’s 13, which he was elected to.

He also recently retired from the Waver Board. The Waver Board makes sure of things like not being able to play a sport for a year when a student moves to a new school. Akins also worked with his fraternity and taught Sunday school class and is part of a church group in Westlake.

But according to Akins his favorite thing to do is come visit Akins.

“I love the diversity here as well as the good spirit and the quest for excellence,” Akins said cheerfully. “I like that the faculty and the students are working in harmony to make this school the very best.”

When looking back on his achievements Akins smiles.

“I’ve been blessed,” Akins said. “Family and friends have supported me throughout everything.”

Akins rejoices in his pride about his lifetime achievements. And while he holds an honorary doctorate title from Huston-Tillotson College, that is one thing he wishes he would have completed.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Akins said. “Although, one thing I should have done is pursue a doctorate degree.”

One of Akins’ teachers at Southwestern Texas State University told him he would write him a letter for a Doctorate degree but Akins said, “No, I want to be a high school principal.”

According to Akins he feels very blessed to have taught high school.

“He is a wealth of knowledge,” current Akins college advisor Sarah Simmons said.

Akins has a warm smile and thoughtful eyes when talking about the future.

“I plan to stay healthy,” Akins laughs. “I want people to remember me as an honest, sincere, dedicated citizen, who believes that education is most important to every individual.”

Akins has big hopes for the student body of Akins.

“I would want them to appreciate good citizenship, responsibility, and to accept and appreciate the worth of every individual,” Akins says.

Akins looks at each of us with gleaming eyes from behind his think glasses.

“I hope I didn’t ramble too much,” Akins laughed and his face crinkled with large smile.

“Of course not,” we say.

It was our absolute honor to have had a two-hour conversation with such a great and renowned man. 

We all shake his hand and smile. The bell rings to go to our next class. We all say goodbye and leave with our notebooks full of notes of a great life story.