Ray F. Tarver

The first school in Rendon was built where the new part of the cemetery is now located. The land had been donated by Mr. W.L. Norwood in 1897. The school moved to its new location about 1911. A three room building was built, there were out door restrooms and no cafeteria. But the building was torn down around 1931 and a new one built. It was a four room wooden building, with some rooms added later. This school was heated by coal and the restrooms were still located outdoors.

Around 1941, the New Hope School consolidated with Rendon and their building was moved and attached to Rendon School. Unfortunately, on January 14, 1947, the school burned from faulty wiring. Classes were held at Retta Church, Rendon Church and Bloodworth School. In the summer of 1947, the school was built again and is still being used. Originally, the school built of cement block, had five classrooms and two restrooms. The first lunch room was built in 1950, and later, three more classrooms, a new lunch room and a gym were added.

On December 4, 1966, an election was held to decide whether to go independent and elect seven trustees. The election passed, and in the summer of 1967, an election was held and it was decided to consolidate with Mansfield Independent School District.

On July 21, 1969, Mansfield ISD purchased more land next to the school site and constructed a new school. The new Tarver-Rendon Elementary School was completed in December 1970 with students moving in January 1971 after returning from the Christmas Holiday.

The area was named after Joaquin Rendon, a Mexican-American sheephearder, who received a land grant of 4,065 acres in 1837. The grant was at the headwaters of Caddo and Walnut Creeks. The new “Tarver-Rendon” school received its name as a memorial to Ray F. Tarver. Holland Tarver, and employee of Texas Electric Co., donated all of the electrical apparatus and labor to install it in the new school and the school was named in his brother’s honor.