Dasher High School
The Story
The former Dasher High School, named for Mayor Robert Dasher, was built in 1928 as the third public high school for African American students in Valdosta, and it is the only remaining school building from that era. Several prominent leaders of the Valdosta community graduated from Dasher High School, including writer and journalist Louis E. Lomax, the nation’s first African American television journalist. The Coastal Plain Area Economic Opportunity Authority now uses the building to provide services to low-income households.
The Threat
Dasher High School continues to serve the citizens of Valdosta as a community center. However, parts of the building, particularly the auditorium, are unsafe for the public. The Economic Opportunity Authority, in partnership with the Valdosta Heritage Foundation and a local Rotary Club chapter, hopes to preserve this part of Valdosta’s African American legacy by restoring Dasher High School and utilizing it to better serve its residents.
