The name for the former was in honor of Dr. George W. Watkins, who served as the pastor of the Second Liberty Baptist Church from 1928 to 1971.

During this time, he encouraged church members to take leadership roles in the community, such as on the local school board, planning commission, board of supervisors, and other civic and religious organizations.

The 1955 "Brown II" ruling on relief called only for desegregation at "all deliberate speed", which many interpreted to allow active resistance.

Many school systems made changes which allowed them to avoid the most blatant appearance of discrimination, but which achieved only token amounts of integration.

Notably, the 1955 Briggs appeals court decision was one that held that the constitution "'does not require integration.