Each year, the Garland Unit of the NAACP honors deserving Garland ISD students with Goldie Locke Excel Awards. Goldie Locke (April 30, 1937 – Sept. 13, 2008) was a charter member and founding president of the Garland Branch NAACP. She was president
during the time that the Garland branch filed to intervene in the desegregation of Garland ISD. GISD continues to be governed by the desegregation plans of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the 1970 Civil Court Order and the 1987 Civil Court Action.
GISD’s Kimberlin Academy and Hillside Academy, along with additional schools, were established as a result of the court orders. Kimberlin Academy is an example of educational improvements that resulted from Locke’s efforts.
She believed that middle school students were not being recognized for their efforts in striving to do their best. So, a recognition program was started.
To support the need for the EXCEL Awards Program, Locke found data which proved that the dropout rate for African American students was higher in middle schools than for other students. After her death, the Garland NAACP honored Locke by renaming this awards program for her. The program is known as the “Goldie Locke EXCEL Awards.” Award recipients for 2023 are below.
In addition, thanks to Annie Dickson, Dale Long and Dorothy Brooks, there is a community meeting room in the Duckworth building in downtown Garland that is named in honor of Locke.
Locke loved and served the city of Garland and its citizens. In the 1970s she led the fight to change the city from an at large to a single member district. This change ensured equal representation for all Garland citizens.
The city of Garland owes Locke a debt of gratitude for her important, tireless efforts to improve the lives of all its citizens.
Her life and legacy lives on in the lives of the students that are recognized through the Goldie Locke Excel Awards.
The award ceremonies were held Monday, April 17, and Wednesday, April 19. The mistress of ceremonies was Dr. Joyce Miller. Dorothy Brooks created a special video to honor Locke.
