{{Short description|American politician (1933–2025)}} {{For|the biologist Rod Page|Roderic D. M. Page}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Rod Paige | image = Rod Paige.jpg | office = 7th [[United States Secretary of Education]] | caption = Official portrait, {{circa|2004}} | president = [[George W. Bush]] | deputy = [[William D. Hansen]]<br>[[Eugene W. Hickok]] | term_start = January 20, 2001 | term_end = January 20, 2005 | predecessor = [[Richard Riley]] | successor = [[Margaret Spellings]] | office1 = Superintendent of the [[Houston Independent School District]] | term_start1 = 1994 | term_end1 = 2001 | predecessor1 = Yvonne Gonzales (acting) | successor1 = Kaye Stripling (acting) | birth_name = Roderick Raynor Paige | birth_date = {{birth date|1933|6|17}} | birth_place = [[Monticello, Mississippi]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|12|9|1933|6|17}} | death_place = [[Houston]], [[Texas]], U.S. | party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | spouse = {{marriage|Gloria Crawford|1956|1982|end=div}}<br>{{marriage|Stephanie Nellons|2009}} | children = 2{{efn|One biological son and one step-daughter from Nellons}} | education = {{ubl |[[Jackson State University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) |[[Indiana University, Bloomington]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]], [[Doctor of Education|EdD]])}} | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = {{navy|United States}} | branch_label = Branch | service_years = 1955–1957 | service_years_label = Service years | module = {{Infobox college coach | embed = yes | coach_years1 = 1964–1968 | coach_team1 = [[Jackson State Tigers football|Jackson State]] | coach_years2 = 1971–1975 | coach_team2 = [[Texas Southern Tigers football|Texas Southern]] | admin_years1 = 1971–1980 | admin_team1 = [[Texas Southern Tigers|Texas Southern]] | overall_record = 52–40–5}} }} '''Roderick Raynor Paige Sr.''' (June 17, 1933 – December 9, 2025) was an American academic and politician who served as the 7th [[United States secretary of education]] from 2001 to 2005 during the [[George W. Bush]] administration. He was the [[List of African American United States Cabinet Secretaries|first African American]] to serve as the secretary of education. His tenure as education secretary was noted for his involvement in the creation and passage of the [[No Child Left Behind Act]] in 2002.<ref name=NYTobit/>
Paige, who grew up in Mississippi, served as the head [[American football|football]] coach for the [[Jackson State Tigers football|Jackson State Tigers]] from 1964 to 1968 and [[Texas Southern Tigers football|Texas Southern Tigers]] from 1971 to 1975. He also served as a college dean for [[Texas Southern University]] and was the Superintendent of the [[Houston Independent School District]] from 1994 until 2001.
After leaving the Education Department in 2005, Paige served as interim president of Jackson State University from November 2016 to June 2017.<ref name=names>{{cite news| url= http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/11/01/rod-paige-interim-jsu-president/93106816/ |title= College Board names Rod Paige interim JSU president| work= The Clarion-Ledger| first= Jimmie E.| last= Gates| date= November 1, 2016| access-date= November 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Investiture Ceremony shows Bynum as faithful, father, friend and trailblazer |url=http://www.jsumsnews.com/?p=37587 |work=Jackson State Newsroom |location=[[Jackson, Mississippi]] |date=October 15, 2018 |access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-date=October 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029082608/http://www.jsumsnews.com/?p=37587 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Early life and education== Roderick Raynor Paige was born on June 17, 1933, in [[Monticello, Mississippi]], as the son of public school educators.<ref name=NYTobit/><ref name=houstonobit/><ref name=EdWeek>{{cite news| url= https://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/secretary-of-education/rod-paige.html| date= August 18, 2017| title= Rod Paige, Seventh U.S. Education Secretary: Biography and Achievements| work= Education Week| access-date= November 8, 2017}}</ref> He earned a [[bachelor's degree]] from [[Jackson State University]] in [[Jackson, Mississippi]]. He earned a [[master's degree]] and a [[Doctor of Education]] degree in [[Physical Education]] from [[Indiana University Bloomington]].<ref name=George>{{cite news |url= http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-s-Rod-Paige-named-Jackson-State-s-interim-10536444.php |title= Houston's Rod Paige named Jackson State's interim president | first= Cindy| last= George| work= [[Houston Chronicle]]| via= chron.com| date= November 2, 2016 | access-date= November 8, 2017}}</ref><ref name=EdWeek />
Paige served in the [[United States Navy]] from 1955 to 1957.<ref name=houstonobit>{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/rod-paige-hisd-superintendent-21233193.php|title=Rod Paige, HISD superintendent and former U.S. Secretary of Education, dies|publisher=Houston Chronicle|accessdate=December 9, 2025|date=December 9, 2025}}</ref>
==Career== Paige taught health and physical education and coached at [[Hinds Agricultural High School]] and Utica Junior College (now [[Hinds Community College]] Utica Campus) in Mississippi, from 1957 to 1963.<ref name=houstonobit/> From 1964 to 1968, Paige served as head football coach at [[Jackson State University]].<ref name=houstonobit/> At Jackson State, he recruited and coached [[Lem Barney]] who later played for the [[Detroit Lions]] and was inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news| last= Hall| first= Drew| title= Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Lem Barney's NFL Debut| work= Examiner| date= May 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2017/09/17/detroit-lions-lem-barney-hall-of-fame-stats/673136001/ | title= Lem Barney's meteoric rise with Detroit Lions began 50 years ago today| first= Bill| last= Dow| work= [[Detroit Free Press]]| date= September 17, 2017 | access-date= November 8, 2017}}</ref> From 1971 to 1975, Paige served as head football coach at [[Texas Southern University]], and served as the university's athletic director from 1971 to 1980.<ref name=George />
Paige first moved to Houston in the 1970s, settling in the [[Brentwood, Houston|Brentwood]] subdivision.<ref name=houstonobit/> He started a move to excise a dump from the edge of the community. The [[Texas Supreme Court]] eventually sided with the residents.<ref name="Paige">{{cite news| last= Frey| first= Jennifer| url= https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/69329066.html?dids=69329066:69329066&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+08%2C+2001&author=Jennifer+Frey&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Bush%27s+School+Master&pqatl=google | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120127051326/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/69329066.html?dids=69329066:69329066&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+08%2C+2001&author=Jennifer+Frey&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=Bush%27s+School+Master&pqatl=google | url-status= dead | archive-date= January 27, 2012 |title= Bush's School Master| newspaper= [[The Washington Post]]| date= March 8, 2001| page= C01| access-date= October 26, 2011}}</ref> Paige taught at [[Texas Southern University]] from 1980 to 1984 and became the Dean of the College of Education in 1984, where he served until 1994.<ref name=houstonobit/> Paige also established the university's Center for Excellence in Urban Education, a research facility that concentrates on issues related to instruction and management in urban school systems.<ref name=houstonobit/>
As a trustee and an officer of the Board of Education of the [[Houston Independent School District]] (HISD) from 1989 to 1994, Paige coauthored the board's 'A Declaration of Beliefs and Visions', a statement of purpose and goals for the school district that called for fundamental reform through decentralization, a focus on instruction, accountability at all levels, and development of a core curriculum. A Declaration of Beliefs and Visions was the catalyst that launched the ongoing, comprehensive restructuring of HISD.<ref name=houstonobit/> As an HISD trustee, Paige launched a municipal-style, accredited police department at HISD with police officers certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education. Paige's board of education began that effort to provide better school safety, and the HISD police department remains the only school district police department in the country to earn accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3215cf2557601310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=1e236a23fcc4d210VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD |title=Seven New Police Sergeants Sworn in at HISD |website=HoustonISD.org |publisher=Houston Independent School District |date=July 11, 2011 |access-date=October 31, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003025249/http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3215cf2557601310VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=1e236a23fcc4d210VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD |archive-date=October 3, 2012}}</ref>
Paige became the superintendent of schools of HISD in 1994.<ref name=houstonobit/> As superintendent, Paige created the Peer Examination, Evaluation, and Redesign (PEER) program, which solicits recommendations from business and community professionals for strengthening school support services and programs. He started a system of [[charter school]]s that have broad authority in decisions regarding staffing, textbooks, and materials.<ref name=houstonobit/> He saw to it that HISD paid teachers salaries competitive with those offered by other large Texas school districts. Paige made HISD the first school district in the state to institute performance contracts modeled on those in the private sector, whereby senior staff members' continued employment with HISD is based on their performance. He also introduced teacher incentive pay, which rewards teachers for raising test scores.<ref name=houstonobit/>
While he was superintendent, Paige led the district to enter into contracts with private schools to use them to teach some HISD students rather than placing those students into overcrowded public schools. Under Paige HISD contracted with three private schools that were certified by the [[Texas Education Agency]] to teach HISD students so their parents did not have to bus them to schools across the city.<ref>Eggers, William D. "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u7xOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oPwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6807,1386764&dq=varnett-school+houston&hl=en Alternatives House Student Overflow]." ''Bridge News'' at the ''[[Lakeland Ledger]]''. Friday October 3, 1997. A9. Retrieved on November 22, 2011.</ref>
Many touted the "Houston Miracle" accomplished under Paige where student test scores rose under his leadership. However, some schools underreported the number of drop-outs during his watch.<ref>{{cite news| title= The 'Texas Miracle'| publisher= CBS News| url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-texas-miracle/| date= January 6, 2004| first= Rebecca| last= Leung| access-date= November 8, 2017}}</ref>
===U.S. Secretary of Education=== [[File:Secretary Paige's Swearing-in Ceremony.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Paige being sworn in by Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] as Secretary of Education while President [[George W. Bush]] looks on, 2001]] In January 2001, Paige was confirmed as the [[U.S. Secretary of Education]] by the [[U.S. Senate]] and was later sworn in to serve on President [[George W. Bush]]'s cabinet.<ref name=houstonobit/><ref name=edbio>{{cite web|url=https://www.ed.gov/about/ed-organization/leadership-directory/biographies-of-former-senior-officials/rod-paige-us-secretary-of-education--biography-2|title=Rod Paige, U.S. Secretary of Education -- Biography|publisher=ED.gov|accessdate=December 9, 2025}}</ref> Paige was the first [[school superintendent]] to serve as Education secretary.<ref name=edbio/> He was also the department's [[List of African American United States Cabinet Secretaries|first African American]] secretary.<ref name=houstonobit/><ref name=edbio/>
Under Paige, the [[No Child Left Behind]] law that set new accountability standards nationwide was developed with Paige's help, and it was Paige's Department of Education that implemented the law. The Bush White House's development of the principles of No Child Left Behind drew in part on the successes of the Houston Independent School District under Paige.<ref name=houstonobit/> The department earned "clean" audits from [[Ernst and Young]] for three consecutive years. Prior to 2001, the department had achieved only one clean audit in its history, and that audit was by the Department's Office of Inspector General.<ref>{{cite journal |url= http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/achiever/2004/121504.pdf |title=Paige Resigns, Bush Appoints New Education Secretary |journal=The Achiever |publisher= US Dept. of Education |date=December 15, 2004 |volume=3 |number=19 |access-date=October 31, 2011}}</ref>
Paige was sitting with President Bush at the [[Emma E. Booker Elementary School]] in [[Sarasota, Florida]], when Bush received the news that a second plane had hit the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] in the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]].<ref name=houstonobit/>
Paige proposed amendments to the regulations implementing [[Title IX]] of the [[Education Amendments of 1972]] to provide more flexibility for educators to establish single-sex classes and schools at the elementary and secondary levels.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www2.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2002/05/05082002.html |title=Secretary Paige Announces Intent to Provide More Flexibility Regarding Single-Sex Classes and Schools |publisher= US Dept. of Education | website= ED.gov |date=May 8, 2002|access-date=October 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/t9-guidelines-ss.html?exp=2|title=Guidelines regarding Single Sex Classes and Schools|work=Office for Civil Rights |publisher= US Dept. of Education |access-date=October 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www2.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2004/03/03032004.html |title=Department to Provide More Educational Options for Parents |publisher= US Dept. of Education | website= ED.gov |date=March 3, 2004 |access-date=October 31, 2011}}</ref>
In 2003, the Education Department received its second clean financial audit in a row for that fiscal year.<ref name=edbio/>
In February 2004, Paige referred to the [[National Education Association]], the nation's largest teachers union, as a "terrorist organization."<ref name=NEA>{{cite news|url=http://articles.boston.com/2004-02-24/news/29201432_1_nea-education-secretary-rod-paige-terrorist-organization |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205235426/http://articles.boston.com/2004-02-24/news/29201432_1_nea-education-secretary-rod-paige-terrorist-organization |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 5, 2012 |title=Education chief calls union 'terrorist' group | work= The Boston Globe |via= Boston.com |agency=Associated Press |date=February 24, 2004 |access-date=October 31, 2011}}</ref> He would apologize for his remarks a few days later.<ref name=NEA/> In July 2004, Paige criticized the leadership of the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] (NAACP) for saying "some black groups are fronts for white conservatives".<ref name=NAACP/>
On November 15, 2004, Paige announced his resignation after overseeing the President's education agenda for four years. [[White House]] domestic policy adviser [[Margaret Spellings]] was nominated as his successor.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bush Taps Spellings For Education|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bush-taps-spellings-for-education/|work=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|date=November 17, 2004|access-date=July 26, 2008|archive-date=October 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022070449/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/17/politics/main656209.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Other activities== Paige served on review committees of the [[Texas Education Agency]] and the State Board of Education's Task Force on High School Education, and he chaired the Youth Employment Issues Subcommittee of the [[National Commission for Employment Policy]] of the [[U.S. Department of Labor]].<ref name=com>{{cite web|url=https://govinfo.library.unt.edu/eeha/paceea/adcom/paige.html|title=Rod Paige Secretary of Education|publisher=Govinfo|accessdate=December 9, 2025|date=December 9, 2025}}</ref>
Paige was a member of the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] (NAACP).<ref name=NAACP>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5444338|title=Education chief blasts NAACP|publisher=NBC News|date=July 15, 2004|accessdate=December 9, 2025}}</ref> He was also a member of the Houston Job Training Partnership Council, the Community Advisory Board of Texas Commerce Bank, the American Leadership Forum, and the board of directors of the Texas Business and Education Coalition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://millercenter.org/president/gwbush/essays/paige-2001-secretary-of-education|title=Rod Paige (2001–2005)|date=October 4, 2016 |publisher=Miller Center|accessdate=December 9, 2025}}</ref>
Paige was also a member of [[Phi Beta Sigma]] fraternity, having been initiated into the Alpha Beta chapter on October 15, 1952.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Rod Paige, the 7th U.S. Secretary of Education, is a member of Phi Beta Sigma |url=https://www.watchtheyard.com/sigmas/dr-rod-paige-the-7th-u-s-secretary-of-education-is-a-member-of-phi-beta-sigma/ |website=WatchTheYard.com |access-date=December 19, 2025}}</ref> He later went on to serve as interim president of his alma mater, [[Jackson State University]], from November 2016 to June 2017.<ref name=names/>
==Personal life and death== Paige was married to Gloria Crawford from 1956 until they divorced in 1982.<ref name=NYTobit/> They had one son: Roderick Jr.<ref name=NYTobit/> He then married Stephanie D. Nellons in 2009.<ref name=NYTobit/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://potomac.edu/board/stephanie-paige/|title=Stephanie D. Nellons-Paige|publisher=Potomac.edu|accessdate=December 9, 2025}}</ref> Nellons had a daughter, Danielle, from a previous marriage, who would become Paige's step-daughter.<ref name=NYTobit/>
Paige died at his home in Houston on December 9, 2025, at the age of 92.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former U.S. Education Secretary, Houston ISD superintendent Dr. Rod Paige dies |url=https://www.fox26houston.com/news/former-u-s-education-secretary-houston-isd-superintendent-dr-rod-paige-dies |access-date=December 9, 2025 |publisher=Fox 26 Houston |date=December 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/devoted-his-life-to-america-s-young-people-rod-paige-trailblazing-education-secretary-and-houston-schools-leader-dies-at-91/ar-AA1S1Wrq?ocid=BingNewsSerp|title='Devoted his life to America's young people': Rod Paige, trailblazing education secretary and Houston schools leader, dies at 92|publisher=MSN|date=December 9, 2025|accessdate=December 9, 2025}}</ref><ref name=NYTobit>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/obituaries/rod-paige-dead.html|title= Rod Paige, Education Secretary Who Defended 'No Child Left Behind,' Dies at 92|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 10, 2025|accessdate=December 10, 2025}}</ref>
==Honors and awards== The Houston Independent School District renamed its James Bowie Elementary School after Paige, to become Roderick R Paige Elementary School.<ref>{{Cite web |title=School's History |url=https://paige.houstonisd.org/our-school/schools-history |access-date=December 10, 2025 |website=Roderick R Paige Elementary School}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mellon |first=Erika |date=June 24, 2007 |title=HISD likely to rename school for Rod Paige |url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/HISD-likely-to-rename-school-for-Rod-Paige-1535229.php |access-date=December 10, 2025 |work=Houston Chronicle}}</ref> The [[Lawrence County School District (Mississippi)|Lawrence County School District]] in his hometown of Monticello, Mississippi, renamed its Monticello Junior High School as Rod Paige Middle School.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 12, 2001 |title=Monticello Junior High School to be renamed in Paige's honor |url=https://dailyleader.com/2001/04/12/monticello-junior-high-school-to-be-renamed-in-paiges-honor/ |access-date=December 10, 2025 |work=The Daily Leader |location=Brookhaven, Mississippi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rod Paige Middle School |url=https://rpms.lawcosd.org/ |access-date=December 10, 2025 |website= |publisher=Lawrence County School District |place=[[Lawrence County, Mississippi]]}}</ref>
The [[University of Houston]] presented Paige with an honorary doctoral degree in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Medallion & Honorary Degree Recipients |url=https://www.uh.edu/president/office/medallion-honorary/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520044718/https://www.uh.edu/president/office/medallion-honorary/ |archive-date=May 20, 2016 |access-date=November 8, 2017 |website= |publisher=University of Houston}}</ref> Indiana University Bloomington awarded Paige an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2017,<ref>{{cite press release| title= Paige to receive honorary degree from Indiana University for distinguished career| publisher= Jackson State University| date= May 4, 2017| first= Olivia S.| last= Goodheart| url= http://www.jsumsnews.com/?p=30624| access-date= November 8, 2017| archive-date= February 5, 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210205051956/http://www.jsumsnews.com/?p=30624| url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Honorary Degrees |url=https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/university/honorary-degrees.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920093435/https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/university/honorary-degrees.shtml |archive-date=September 20, 2017 |access-date=November 8, 2017 |website= |publisher=Indiana University}}</ref> in addition to a Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honoree: Rod Paige |url=https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/search-awards/honoree.shtml?honoreeID=6433 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017174215/https://honorsandawards.iu.edu/search-awards/honoree.shtml?honoreeID=6433 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |access-date=December 10, 2025 |website=Indiana University}}</ref>
==Head coaching record== {{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subhead | name = [[Jackson State Tigers football|Jackson State Tigers]] | conf = [[Southwestern Athletic Conference]] | startyear = 1964 | endyear = 1968}} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = [[1964 NCAA College Division football season|1964]] | name = [[1964 Jackson State Tigers football team|Jackson State]] | overall = 6–4 | conference = 4–3 | confstanding = 3rd | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = [[1965 NCAA College Division football season|1965]] | name = [[1965 Jackson State Tigers football team|Jackson State]] | overall = 5–3–1 | conference = 3–3–1 | confstanding = T–4th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = [[1966 NCAA College Division football season|1966]] | name = [[1966 Jackson State Tigers football team|Jackson State]] | overall = 5–3–1 | conference = 3–3–1 | confstanding = T–5th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = [[1967 NCAA College Division football season|1967]] | name = [[1967 Jackson State Tigers football team|Jackson State]] | overall = 6–3 | conference = 4–3 | confstanding = T–3rd | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = [[1968 NCAA College Division football season|1968]] | name = [[1968 Jackson State Tigers football team|Jackson State]] | overall = 3–6 | conference = 1–6 | confstanding = 7th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = Jackson State | overall = 25–19–2 | confrecord = 15–18–2}} {{CFB Yearly Record Subhead | name = [[Texas Southern Tigers football|Texas Southern Tigers]] | conf = [[Southwestern Athletic Conference]] | startyear = 1971 | endyear = 1975}} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = [[1971 NCAA College Division football season|1971]] | name = [[1971 Texas Southern Tigers football team|Texas Southern]] | overall = 7–2–1 | conference = 3–2–1 | confstanding = 4th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = [[1972 NCAA College Division football season|1972]] | name = [[1972 Texas Southern Tigers football team|Texas Southern]] | overall = 5–4–1 | conference = 3–2–1 | confstanding = 4th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = [[1973 NCAA Division II football season|1973]] | name = [[1973 Texas Southern Tigers football team|Texas Southern]] | overall = 5–5–1 | conference = 2–3–1 | confstanding = 5th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = [[1974 NCAA Division II football season|1974]] | name = [[1974 Texas Southern Tigers football team|Texas Southern]] | overall = 6–4 | conference = 3–3 | confstanding = T–4th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = [[1975 NCAA Division II football season|1975]] | name = [[1975 Texas Southern Tigers football team|Texas Southern]] | overall = 4–6 | conference = 2–4 | confstanding = 6th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} {{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = Texas Southern | overall = 27–21–3 | confrecord = 13–14–3}} {{CFB Yearly Record End | overall = 52–40–5 | bowls = no | poll = no | polltype = | legend = no | extrafootnotes = '''Sources:'''<ref name=NYTobit/><ref name=houstonobit/><ref name=sports>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/hbcu/football/rod-paige-former-hbcu-coach-passes-at-92|title= Rod Paige: Former HBCU Coach, Educator, & Presidential Cabinet Member Passes At 92|magazine=Sports Illustrated|accessdate=December 9, 2025|date=December 9, 2025}}</ref> }}
==See also== {{Portal|Texas|Biography}} * [[History of the African Americans in Houston]] * [[List of African-American United States Cabinet members]]
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{C-SPAN|87172}}
{{s-start}} {{s-edu}} {{s-bef|before=[[Yvonne Gonzales]]<br>Acting}} {{s-ttl|title=Superintendent of the [[Houston Independent School District]]|years=1994–2001}} {{s-aft|after=[[Kaye Stripling]]<br>Acting}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Richard Riley]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[United States Secretary of Education]]|years=2001–2005}} {{s-aft|after=[[Margaret Spellings]]}} |- {{s-aca}} {{s-bef|before=[[Carolyn Meyers]]}} {{s-ttl|title=President of [[Jackson State University]]<br>Acting|years=2016–2018}} {{s-aft|after=William Bynum}} {{s-end}}
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