School History
Where Did We Get Our Name?
Cook Third Class Doris Miller, USN, (1919-1943) Doris ("Dorie") Miller was born in Waco, Texas, on 12 October 1919.
He enlisted in the Navy in September 1939 as a Mess Attendant Third Class. On 7 December 1941, while serving aboard USS West Virginia (BB-48), he distinguished himself by courageous conduct and devotion to duty during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on this occasion.
He was then assigned to the escort carrier Liscome Bay (CVE-56). Cook Third Class Miller was lost with that ship when she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on 24 November 1943, during the invasion of the Gilbert Islands.
How Old is Our School?
Dorie Miller Elementary School opened as W.W. White School No. 2 in 1947 at its present location in a two-room frame building brought from Hondo, Texas. As part of the W.W. White School District, the school was opened to serve the African-American children who lived in the Lincolnshire community. It had two classrooms, 64 students and two teachers who taught grades first through seventh. At one of the first PTA meetings, the officers and members chose to name the school for naval hero Dorie Miller, who died in the line of duty during World War II. The Waco native's heroism earned him the distinction of being the first African-American recipient of the Navy Cross.
In 1950, the W.W. White School District merged with the SAISD. The original brick building opened in 1952 and included 17 classrooms, a crematorium, principal's office, secretary's office, a clinic, a book room and two lounges for teachers. In the 1950's the school also served physically and mentally disabled children. In 1960, eight more classrooms were added to the building.
By the 1967-68 school year, pre-school classes and a library were established. Student enrollment was at 880. Today Dorie Miller Elementary School is still serving the community, where many of its past students are now parents or grandparents of our currently enrolled students.