Midland ISD has reversed course on one of its most debated decisions. In a 4-3 vote Tuesday night, the board of trustees approved changing Legacy High School back to Lee High School beginning in the 2026–27 school year. The change will also apply to the freshman campus.
The decision comes five years after the school board voted to drop the Robert E. Lee name, citing its ties to the Confederacy. At the time, in 2020, the renaming to Legacy High was part of a wave of changes across the country during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement.
A Community Still Divided
If Tuesday night’s packed meeting at Bowie Fine Arts Academy proved anything, it’s that this issue remains one of the most polarizing in Midland ISD’s history. More than 45 residents took the mic, many delivering passionate arguments for both sides.
For supporters of the name restoration, it’s about honoring community traditions. “This is not a Confederacy thing or race, it’s about family,” said alumna Carie McNeil. “This is about history, 61 years of tradition, athletes, and academics.”
Others strongly disagreed, pointing out the pain associated with celebrating a Confederate general. Midland resident Sue Roseberry said she was “appalled to know that they had romanticized something horrible for so many of our nation’s citizens.”
Tradition vs. Priorities
District 7 Trustee Josh Guinn spearheaded the latest push, calling for the item to be placed on the agenda in a July 4 Facebook post. He argued that restoring the Lee name would honor West Texas tradition and what he described as a “patriotic legacy.”
But critics said the district has bigger problems to deal with. “They are $41 million in the hole,” resident Jeremy Pitts said. “I would like the board members to explain to the teachers they let go why this is more important than their position.”
Superintendent Stephanie Howard estimated the name change will cost about $62,000, a number some see as unnecessary during tight financial times.
A Flashpoint in Local Culture
For many in the Texas HS Football community, this debate has been simmering for years. Whenever we post about “Midland Legacy,” our comment sections are filled with frustration from alumni and fans who never agreed with the 2020 name change. Now, those voices are seeing their perspective win out at the board level.
Board member Matt Friez went so far as to call the 2020 renaming an example of “toxic political correctness,” arguing that Confederate-linked institutions have “outgrown” their controversies.
Opponents countered that the school district should focus less on heritage arguments and more on preparing students for the future. Ebony Coleman, founder of Jumpstart Midland, said, “This is a distraction from what really matters right now. The board knew this was ultimately what they were going to do.”
What’s Next
The restored names, Midland Lee High School and Midland Lee Freshman, will officially return in the 2026–27 school year. Between now and then, the district will need to update signage, uniforms, and other branded materials.
For many alumni and longtime Midland residents, it’s a return to the name they grew up with. For others, it’s a step backward that ignores painful parts of history. What’s certain is that the debate over Lee vs. Legacy is far from over, even with the vote cast.
