Education in Texas is rapidly approaching the zenith of its perfection. The unequaled school fund on the state has inspired a development which has been rapid and permanent, and under the guidance and direction of tried and true school men the friction of old is fast disappearing from its machinery and the efficiency of instruction brings to the system a completeness and a harmony necessary for a high rank among the educational establishments of her sister commonwealth.
Each successful superintendent has been an efficient unit in the achievement of such substantial results for our common, or public school system and his work in the grades is reflected by the mirror of grand results, distinctly, yet in harmonious blending with every other block of the beautiful mosaic. He is one of the architects of the structure while his teachers are the mechanics who fashion it and bring it out a beautiful and attractive edifice. As a prominent factor in the growth of the public school system of the state Bowie’s superintendent has been engaged for many years. In the school room, in the county normal and in the teachers’ associations his voice has been heard in appeal for practical education, for efficient instruction and for the development of character along with the training of the mind. In the several places where he has had charge his tenure of office has been ample guaranty of the efficiency of his administration, and in association with his fellow teachers they have been pleased to honor Professor Malone with their friendship and confidence.
Alonzo L. Malone is a Tennessean by birth. October 29, 1860, was his natal day and the city of Alexandria, in DeKalb county, the place. His father, a farmer and stockman, was Jackson Malone, and his paternal grandsire was William Malone. The latter established the family near Alexandria in 1797, on what is still the family homestead, and upon which he died in 1870 at eighty-six years of age. He was simply a plain farmer, of North Carolina birth, and his wife was a member of the Whitley family. Their five children, all of whom reared families, were: Yancey, who was killed in battle as a Confederate soldier; David, who died near Alexandria, Tennessee; Carroll, who came to Texas before the war and died here; Rebecca, resides in DeKalb county, Tennessee; and Jackson, our subject’s father.
Jackson Malone was born at Alexandria, Tennessee, February 24, 1822, passed his life as a farmer, served in the Confederate army and now resides at Alexandria. He married Elizabeth, a daughter of William Christian, who bore him children, as follows: William of Alexandria, Tennessee, as are all the others, save our subject; Prof. A. L. of this notice; Samuel; Eliza, wife of J. W. Sandlin; Dr. Stanton Malone, who died in 1891; and Oscar, the youngest.
Alonzo L. Malone started his education in the public school of Alexandria, where he later took the B. S. degree in the Normal college. He took the A. B. degree in the Pure Foundation college and after he had entered on his work as an educator in Texas he was honored with the degrees of A. M. and Ph. D., by the National Normal University, of Lebanon, Ohio.
Professor Malone became a teacher before his education was finished, his early experiences being in country school work. His evident ability as a school man commended itself to his fellow townsmen and he was elected county superintendent of DeKalb county, and served two years. His last work in that state was at Temperance Hall, following which he came to Texas.
In the Lone Star state he became superintendent, or principal, of an independent normal school at Deport, and filled the position four years, being two years on the board of county examiners. He then became city superintendent of schools at Ladonia, where he remained ten years, serving eight years as a member of the teacher’s examining board of Lamar county. From Ladonia he went to Caldwell, where he was in charge of the schools three years and also served on the Burleson county board of examiners during that period. In 1900 he was president of the state board of examiners and he is now president of the Northwest Texas Teachers’ Association. On leaving Caldwell Mr. Malone went to Durant, Indian Territory, for a year and, in 1904, took charge of the public schools of Bowie.
In addition to his work in the school room he has conducted summer normals at Wolfe City, Leonard, Bonham, Ladonia and Cameron, Texas, and has served on the faculty of summer normals in other counties. He is a gentleman of progressive and advanced ideas, a strong instructor and liberal toward the expanding tendencies and innovations of the times.
February 13, 1890, Professor Malone and Miss Rosa Holt were married in Deport, Texas. Mrs. Malone is a daughter of John and Nancy (Dozier) Holt who came to the state from Missouri. Mrs. Malone was born in Lamar county, Texas, January 25, 1871 and had a sister, Mollie, who married J. E. Wilson and died in 1901. She had a brother, N. L., practicing medicine in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and another brother, Ollie, of Lamar county.
The issue of the marriage of Professor and Mrs. Malone are: A. Grady, Pauline and Edna Hazel. In fraternal work Professor Malone has taken the chapter degree in Masonry, is an Odd Fellow, a Pythian Knight and a Woodman. He is active in Christian work, is a member of the Missionary Baptist church and a deacon of the Bowie congregation.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, pp. 82-83.
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