EDITOR’S NOTE
EDITOR’S NOTE: This blog post was adapted from an article in the February issue of I Heart CS. Subscribe to I Heart CS here. Video clips of the interviews with those featured in this blog will be posted throughout February on the City’s YouTube channel.
By Bobbie Lehrmann, Assistant Director of Public Communications
Black History Month is often framed as a reflection on the past, but in College Station, history is something still being lived, shaped, and passed forward. Through conversations with local leaders, educators, faith leaders, public servants, and lifelong residents, one message rang clearly: Black history is not just something to remember, it is something to carry.
In 2026, Black History Month also marks A Century of Black History Commemorations, honoring 100 years of reflection on identity, pride, and equality while celebrating Black resilience, brilliance, and lasting contributions to American history. From classrooms and churches to neighborhoods and community centers, the stories shared this month reveal how courage, service, and connection have shaped College Station and continue to guide its future.
Ann Cashaw: Wearing the Crown with Purpose
A lifelong College Station resident and product of the College Station ISD school system, Ann Cashaw made history as the first Black Miss A&M Consolidated High School. While the title was meaningful, what stayed with her was the responsibility that came with being first – and being chosen by peers.
Growing up, Cashaw navigated spaces where she was often the only Black student, supported by educators such as Marsha Anderson, who quietly but powerfully affirmed her place in history by preserving newspaper clippings of her achievements. Those moments, Cashaw says, remind her just how far the community had come and how much it mattered to honor that progress.
Her deep connection to the Lincoln Recreation Center, where generations of her family were educated and later served, reflects her belief in preserving stories so future generations understand the struggle and the growth. “If we don’t tell these stories, we risk losing what it took to get here,” Cashaw said.
Pastor Risher: History as an Action Word
As pastor of First United Methodist Church of College Station, the city’s only predominantly Black Methodist congregation, Kefentse Risher views history as something alive that demands movement.
Having served communities across Texas before settling in College Station, Risher emphasizes that faith, like history, cannot remain inside four walls. Partnerships, transparency, and service beyond the church building are essential. “Nobody gets anywhere alone,” he said. “History doesn’t remember people who stood still.”
For him, Black history is a measuring stick and a motivator — a reminder that perfection isn’t required, but perseverance is. By openly sharing struggles alongside successes, he hopes younger generations understand that growth comes through honesty, effort, and carrying the baton forward.
Brad Smith: Policing with Humanity and Heart
Raised in the Southside neighborhood near the Lincoln Recreation Center, Brad Smith learned resilience early. When access to baseball fields or opportunities was denied, he showed up anyway. That mindset carried him into a long career with the College Station Police Department, where he chose to police not just in the community, but for it.
As an officer, Smith relied on relationships, understanding and accountability, often knowing families and choosing mentorship over punishment when possible. “Everyone has a bad moment,” he said. “That doesn’t mean they stop being human.”
Recognition as the 100 Club Super Cop at the Heroes Awards Banquet in Houston marked the culmination of a career rooted in fairness, dignity, and service. For Smith, Black history reflects struggle, resilience, and the ongoing need to tell these stories so they are neither forgotten nor repeated.
Smith retired from CSPD in 2025 after nearly a half-century in law enforcement.
Charlie Mae Jones: Preserving Identity Through Community
A lifelong College Station resident and former College Station ISD employee, Charlie Mae Jones grew up on Marshall Lane and experienced integration firsthand. Leaving the familiarity of Lincoln Elementary was traumatic, but community, family, faith, and the Lincoln Recreation Center remained her anchor.
Now retired, Jones continues to see the Lincoln Recreation Center as a place of belonging, identity, and preservation. Walking through its displays connects her to the ancestors whose sacrifices paved the way for future generations. “It cost someone something for you to be where you are,” she said. “If we forget that, we’re doomed to repeat it.”
As a self-described family historian, Jones firmly believes in recording stories, asking questions, and passing on knowledge. For her, Black history isn’t abstract; it’s personal, local, and essential to understanding who we are.
Moving Forward Together
Across every story shared this Black History Month, one truth remains constant: progress happens when people remember where they came from and choose to carry something forward.
In College Station, Black history lives in classrooms, churches, neighborhoods, and community centers. It lives in mentors who speak up, officers who lead with humanity, educators who preserve stories, and residents who continue showing up for one another.
As Black History Month enters its second century, these stories remind us that history is not only remembered—it is carried, reflecting 100 years of resilience, brilliance, and contributions that continue to shape our nation and our community.
About the Blogger
Bobbie Lehrmann is in her third year as assistant director of public communications. She previously served as marketing and communications director at the City of Navasota. Lehrmann lived most of her life in Australia and received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media communications from Queensland University of Technology.
Photos by Brody McKinnon
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