A Prairie View Interscholastic League exhibit is on display in the Marvin C. Griffin building in East Austin. The exhibit features memorabilia of coaches and players from the African American athletic league dating back to the 1920's.
1992 Houston Chronicle article featuring PVIL history
The Prairie View Interscholastic League of Colored Schools (PVIL) existed from the 1920's through 1967. Back then it was better known as the Negro League. It was the governing body for extra-curricular activities for Texas' African American high schools. The PVIL hosted 500 schools in state championships in football, basketball, baseball, and track. The League was set up similarly to the University Interscholastic League (UIL).
The UIL and PVIL merged in the 1967-68 school year leaving only the UIL. The movement towards the merge began when the word "white" was removed as a requirement for membership in the UIL.
For more information on the history of the Prairie View Interscholastic League, visit one of our related links.
