First African American Welding Student at Texarkana College Celebrated for Success
The welding program at Texarkana College is
flourishing. Instructor Phillip Scarborough said more than half of his
current students are already in the field working and gaining
experience.
But the program’s
success isn’t new—in fact, the foundation was built more than 40 years
ago, when TC welding students William Blackwell and the late William
Thurston paved the way for future African-American students interested
in pursuing a welding career.
In 1977, Blackwell and Thurston were the first
black welders to be certified in plate steel in Texarkana since the
beginning of the welding program, which was just four years old at the
time.
Blackwell, now age 71, and his caregiver, Marilyn
Johnson, visited the TC campus for the first time since he received his
welding and auto body repair certificates. At a small ceremony on
Wednesday, June 19, Blackwell spoke with current
students about his experience as a pacesetter for young black men in
the workforce.
“It feels good to come back to campus,” Blackwell
said. “I hope I can be an inspiration to these students. I just want
them to be safe, so they’ll last a long time. The welding shop looks
much safer now with good ventilation.”
When Blackwell was a student, TC had to send off
the students’ plate steel tests to the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratories
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to qualify their work before awarding a
welding certification. Now, instructors are able
to test students immediately on campus.
“It’s best to get a trade behind you before you go
in the workforce,” said Blackwell. “If you don’t go to a school and
sharpen your skills, you’re going to do it just like daddy did on the
farm.”
After serving in the Army and gaining his
certificates at TC, Blackwell spent 34 years traveling all over the
world for Red River Army Depot, where he was responsible for welding
motor mounts for new engines in Bradley fighting vehicles.
“Everywhere a Bradley exists, they send a welder
there to prepare it and keep from sending a Bradley back to Texarkana,”
he said.
He stressed the importance of feeling confident in
your work before trying to interview for a job. Blackwell said he landed
an assignment in Germany for 90 days, and it was then he realized how
important it is for welders to do their jobs
properly without cutting corners.
“There wasn’t a team, you’d have to go by yourself.
You’d be the only welder in the crew,” he said. “They’d usually prep
you before you go on a mission, but you’ve got to know what you’re
doing.”
Blackwell said he worked long hours welding, but it
was a prosperous career with good job security. He advises any young
person to learn a trade and go international.
“Don’t just stay in one area,” he said. “I got a
chance to weld around the world and all over the United States. I spent
time at Fort Drum in New York, Fort Dix in New Jersey, Camp Roberts in
California, Anniston Army Depot in Alabama.
Basically ,everywhere they have a depot, I welded there.”
Current TC welding students said hearing his story got them excited about their future welding careers.
“I never realized traveling like that was possible
with a welding career,” said welding student Timothy Hardy. “I was just
going to go work for the pipeline, but now I see there is more
opportunity out there.”
Scarborough said the welding industry is constantly shaping our world.
“The trade has a large impact on our nation’s
economy, from the houses we live in to the cars we drive,” he said.
“It’s vital to our everyday life.”
The American Welding Society states that by 2025,
our nation’s workforce will need over 400,000 welders to satisfy the
demands of several industries.
“A lot of welders are getting older and are looking
to retire,” Scarborough said. “We need a new wave of welders to enter
the workforce. The demand is there.”
Welding student Luke Walker graduates this year, and he said he’s anxious to get started in his career.
“Mr. Blackwell said he retired making $20 an hour,”
Walker said. “It’s inspiring to know you really can make a good living
doing this, but also see the world in the process.”
Times have changed since 1977, and TC is seeing an increase in enrollment among African-American students.
According to the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board’s most recent report of state community colleges, TC
has the third highest percent of African-American students enrolled,
with the second highest percent of degrees and certificates
awarded to those students.
At the ceremony, TC
President Dr. Jason Smith said he is grateful for Blackwell’s legacy and
his eager spirit to visit with current students.
“We
have seen a 12% increase in African-American males completing degrees
or certificates over the last three years,”
Smith said. “The future is bright for today’s students who learn a
trade and strive for success. Mr. Blackwell is such an inspiration to
our next generation.”
