Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association
"Remembering the Past With Pride"
Welcome!
This site celebrates the Prairie View Interscholastic League which existed from 1920 to 1970. The PVIL was the governing body for academic, athletic, and music competitions for black high schools in Texas during the state's segregationist era. In its 50-year existence, the PVIL produced numerous outstanding coaches, athletes, students, and citizens. On these pages, you will find records, images, profiles of schools, coaches, players, and more. Despite the social mood of the era, during the PVIL's peak its 500 member schools -- with all-black enrollments -- had lively, exciting, and proud competitions which were as entertaining, passionate, and fierce as any in the land.
Upcoming Events
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January 31, 2025
Half-page Bio and Photo of Inductee Due
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March 1, 2025
Banquet Tickets Available
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April 25, 2025
Deadline to submit Souvenir Book Ads
Full Page Ad - $500
Half Page Ad - $250
Quarter Page Ad - $125
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June 1, 2025
Deadline for Hotel Reservations
713-943-7979
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July 11, 2025
Houston Schools Tour
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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July 11, 2025
Meet & Greet
5:00 PM @ Marriott South at Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas
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July 12, 2025
46th Annual PVILCA Hall of Honor/Hall of Fame Banquet Gala
12:00 PM - 3:30 PM @ Marriott South at Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas
2024 Hall of Fame Banquet
Telling the PVIL Story
For 50 years, beginning in 1920, the Prairie View Interscholastic League governed academic, athletic, and band competitions for black high school students in Texas. Working with limited resources, the PVIL produced numerous outstanding students who became successful citizens, athletes, entertainers, and more, from U.S. Representative Barbara Jordan (Houston Wheatley) to choreographer Debbie Allen (Houston Yates) to Pearl Harbor hero Doris Miller (Waco Moore) and six members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The PVILCA and Board Chairman, Robert Brown, are documenting the PVIL's history and you can help. Contact Robert Brown at pvilca1940@yahoo.com with your memories of attending a PVIL School. We are in need of any paraphernalia for our exhibit. It will be carefully scanned or photographed and returned. You may print and complete the short questionnaire and submit to the PVILCA.
Help tell the world what proud, successful people came out of PVIL schools and celebrate an enduring statewide and global legacy.
PVIL: The Video
Eli Reed, an award-winning photographer and documentary filmmaker, has produced a 15-minute clip about the PVIL featuring former football players at Central High School in Galveston. This clip is the first for what will be a longer and more in-depth film about the history of the PVIL. Click here or on the image to view the clip.
