Thomas Joseph Roulhac (1872 - 1941)

Born 24 Dec 1872 in Davis Mills, Washington, Florida, United States

Descendants

Died 11 Nov 1941 at age 68 in Chipley, Washington, Florida, United States

Biography

Thomas Roulhac is a part of US Black heritage.

Thomas Roulhac was a Floridian.

Thomas Joseph Roulhac, son of Warren Roulhac and Catharine LNU, was born on 24 Dec 1872 in Orange Hill, Tampa, Florida, USA. He died on 11 Nov 1941 in Chipley, Washington, Florida, USA. He married Patience Goode in 1897 in Washington, Florida, USA.

In 1913, T.J. Roulhac, a man with no formal training, became the supervisor of Washington County's black schools. In 1938, the school expanded to include high school, and Roulhac became the principal.

THOMAS JOSEPH ROULHAC (1872-1943) quoted from: (E. W. Carswell: Washington, Florida’s Twelfth County)

Chipley’s Roulhac Middle School bears the name of T. J. Roulhac, Orange Hill area native, who in 1913 became supervisor of Washington County’s schools for black children. He then served under the direction of Superintendent W. T. Horne. Roulhac was paid $40 per month from the Anna T. Jeans Fund, managed by Dr. J. M. Dillard of New Orleans, and $20 per month from the County School Board.

Roulhac was identified throughout his adult career as a leader, along with members of his family, in efforts to improve the quality of education for black children. He became principal in 1938 of Chipley’s first high school for black children. It also provided classes for elementary and junior high pupils, and was unofficially known as the “Roulhac School”, or “Roulhac High School”.

When the schools were integrated in 1968, the high school students at Roulhac transferred to Chipley High School. The community’s elementary pupils of both races were enrolled at Kate M. Smith School, and those in grades six, seven and eight attended classes at “Roulhac School”, which was soon officially named Roulhac Middle School, in memory of the county’s distinguished educator.

He was a basically self-taught man who started his teaching career at age 20, and continued in that service for 49 years. He was the father of ten children, all of whom became educators, and whose children and grandchildren are distinguishing themselves in (this and) many other professions.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: (Carswell data)

T. J. Roulhac was the son of Warren Roulhac and Catharine E. Roulhac of the Orange Hill community. (He was one of eleven children. --Bethea)

W. Roulhac was one of three trustees of Sand Hill School in 1875. (He was 24. --1880 census) Sand Hill was the school for blacks in the Orange Hill area. In 1890, Catharine E Roulhac was teaching at Myer’s Still and was still there in 1911.

Patience Goode Roulhac, wife of T.J. Roulhac, was at Sand Hill in 1911 and 1917. In 1937, she was shown on the county roster of teachers, school not specified. It is interesting to note that in 1911, T. J. Roulhac taught at St. Mary’s. (In those days, Caryville was considered ‘a fur piece’ from Orange Hill. --oral history)

Sources

• Jarrett, Denise. Jarrett Family Heritage: Descendants of Legacy Jarrett, 2020. Volume 1.0. derived from ‘’Ancestry Family Trees Ancestry Family Tree 1042710 Jarrett Family Tree’’
• Washington County Historical Society
• 1880 United States Federal Census, Orange Hill, Washington, Florida; Roll: 132; Page: 502D; Enumeration District: 157
• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #51179657 (accessed 24 June 2023)
  Memorial page for Thomas Joseph Roulhac (1871-1941), citing Saint Joseph AME Church Cemetery, Chipley, Washington County, Florida, USA; Maintained by Manning Family (contributor 47193466).