Looking to the future while preserving the past

While most high schoolers are looking to the future, one group is treasuring the past.

Whitesboro native Layke Cole, a 17-year-old Whitesboro High School (WHS) junior, wants to help preserve Whitesboro’s history. Cole has had a unique perspective of the city, as his grandfather served as the public works director for several years. 

Hoping to one day become a city planner, Cole took an internship with the City of Whitesboro last summer. In his role, he spent about a week in nearly every department, learning the ins and outs of the city’s daily functions.

One of the most impactful experiences was his work with the local library. Cole discovered a need for the preservation of historical documents when he saw what he believed to be mismanagement of old photos and records.

Cole talked to his friend, WHS junior Rider Russell, a seventh-generation Bearcat whose dad served as School Board President for several years. The two decided to form a school organization that would focus on the preservation of Whitesboro history.

The Whitesboro Historical and Preservation Society was officially formed on Feb. 18, 2026 through Whitesboro High School. Cole and Russell found an advisor, Jennifer Sluder, and the idea was approved by WISD administration. The club now meets twice a month and already has around 20 members. Officers are Russell, president and co-founder; Cole, vice-president and co-founder; Layla Carey, secretary; Elsy Pineda, treasurer; and Lynette Crawford, public affairs.

“My family moved to Whitesboro from Oklahoma about ten years ago,” Crawford said. “But being involved in this club has really opened my eyes to all the history that Whitesboro has to offer.”

The Whitesboro Historical and Preservation Society is already tackling a series of projects.

The Whitesboro Fire Department has donated a scanner and other equipment to the club that will help with digitizing older, hard-copy materials. The club will use that equipment to handle the preservation of historical documents at the library.

Additionally, the club is also working on posting a historical marker at the grave of Whitesboro founder Ambrose White; revitalizing a piece of the old high school basketball court (when the school was at the location of the current Hayes Primary School) to include resealing/rewaxing and relocating it to the current high school; hosting an exhibit at City Hall during Peanut Festival to display historic photos (and possibly that basketball court section); and creating an official flag for the City of Whitesboro.

“The City has been a huge help in our work,” Cole said. “City Administrator Phil Harris has granted us access to information and places that will help us in our projects.”

The club hopes to work with the City of Whitesboro’s Preservation Board, namely in documenting the before and after of the renovation of the Younger-Sullivan House on Center Street.
Club officers have already met with City Council and school board members and the club is also partnering with other local organizations to provide a volunteer force that can make the greatest impact on the community. For instance, they’re working with Keep Whitesboro Beautiful for a clean-up at Trollinger Park; the local cemetery to provide clean-up and help maintain records; and the ISD to work toward adding local history to school curriculum.

“Not only do we want the public to know that we exist and are here to better our community,” Cole said, “but we want to be known as an acting group in town that puts ideas into action.”

While the Whitesboro Historical and Preservation Society will always be a school club, after graduation Cole and Russell plan to create a non-profit organization that will serve as an umbrella under which the club will be a student-led branch. The club is currently welcoming members and is open to any historical preservation projects in the Grayson County area.

To learn about membership opportunities or to discuss project ideas, contact Layke Cole at [email protected]