Who We Are - Carver Center Foundation

George Washington Carver Center Foundation

About Our Organization

Our Mission

Empowerment in Action

To empower both youth and adults through a continuum of support, fostering youth development and enhancing the health, well-being, and overall quality of life for our entire community.

Tracing the History of Our Community Facility

It was on a winter night in January 1940, that the institution now known as Carver Center was born. Dr. Dudley was elected chairman of “The Athletic Council of F. W. Gross School” and Secretary A. K. Hammons duly recorded in the minutes of that meeting that Treasurer W. H. Simpson collected the sum of $14.50 from the 26 members present.

This marked the start of what later became the George Washington Carver Civic Club with 73 members responsible for Carver Center daily operations by 1958. The primary objective was to help maintain the low rate of juvenile delinquency among Black Victoria youth. Over a twelve year period, not a single attendee of Carver Center’s facilities was involved in any delinquency case.

Center Clubhouse, Former Barracks

Just off Pleasant Green Road at a point located between the Bloomington and Port Lavaca Highways, a winding road slopes down through a little valley and then rises to a vast cleared area on a plateau-like hill, swept by breezes from the bay. Perched behind a proud flagstaff is a long, rambling former barracks building, 20 by 100 feet, with a 16-by-32-foot annex. This is the clubhouse itself, with a heating unit, big fans, Venetian blinds, 100 chairs, 50 tables, completely equipped kitchen, dressing rooms for boys and girls with hot and cold showers, a piano, a jukebox, and a library.

Center in the 1940s

By the late 1940s, the Carver Center consisted of 10 acres of land off Pleasant Green Drive. Improvements included a clubhouse with complete kitchen facilities, tennis courts, and baseball diamonds. The center owned a bus which was used to transport children to and from the center.

Girls Softball Team

Dr. C.A. Dudley, standing center, president of the George Washington Carver Civic Club, poses with members of the girl’s softball team and others in attendance.

Kneeling from left to right, Pearl Wade, Clifford Kitchen, Ernestine Kitchen, Linda Smith, and Bernice Newsom.

Standing left to right are Lucille Charleston, Eunice Harvey, Ruth Bennett and Zirah Mae Samples, Dr. Dudley, Elliot Kitchen, Odessa Brown, Dank Hill and Archie Washington.

Auxiliary Members

Auxiliary members of the Carver Center organization stand in front of the main entrance to the new addition. Sarah Mead, president of the auxiliary, is the second from the end on the right.

Bus Transportation

Local youth line up to board buses headed to Carver Center. Victoria youth looked forward to year round recreational and educational activities.

Pioneering Empowerment and Community Leadership

Our Founder

Dr. Charles Arthur Dudley, Jr. was born January 10th, 1896, in Waskom, Texas, 19 miles east of Marshall, Texas. He earned an athletic scholarship to Bishop College, where he completed his undergraduate studies.

Without financial resources to start medical school, he played professional baseball during summers to pay for his medical training, with teams such as the New York Royals, the ABC Club of Indianapolis and the St. Louis Giants of the old Negro National League.

He graduated from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, and moved to Victoria, TX, on January 1st, 1924 and started his medical practice immediately upon arrival.

Dr. Dudley was one of Victoria’s longest serving physicians. He was a dedicated civic leader and his impact on the community is felt by present-day Victorians.

Our Board of Directors

Jim Wyatt

Kenneth Girdy

Sue Todd

Willie Clemons, Jr.

Tonika Bufford

Ronnie L. Hart

Linda Gray

Donald Gene Ellis

Pamala Edwards

Wayne Bennett
Francis Ray Hardy
Victor Marshall
Kathrine McKinney
Faye Moseley

(361) 579-2386

[email protected]