16 Apr 2010
Dr. Berkeley Served as President of the Dallas ISD School Board from 1967 to 1973
DALLAS–Dallas Independent School District officials and community members gathered at the naming ceremony for the Dr. Marvin H. Berkeley Human Resources Building, at 2 p.m., Friday, April 16.
A leader in numerous civic organizations, Dr. Berkeley is remembered most for his role as president of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees during a time of transition and court-ordered desegregation. He served two three-year terms, from 1967 to 1973. During that time, he was co-founder and chairman of the Texas Council of Major School Districts and served on the executive committee of the U.S. Council of the Great City Schools.
Dr. Berkeley was chairman of the board at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, co-chair of the Dallas United Way Fund Big Gifts Division, president of the Dallas County Mental Health Association, president of the Dallas Council on Alcoholism, and served on the boards of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the North Texas Foundation for Public Broadcasting (KERA-TV).
Dr. Berkeley received a Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1952. A job offer
from Texas Instruments brought him and his family to Dallas in 1957; he was TI's director of
Personnel (Human Resources) and later became director of Public Affairs. From 1973 to 1983, Dr. Berkeley served as dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of North Texas. He passed away on January 6, 2009.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa; Trustee Bernadette Nutall, District 9; Executive Director for Human Resources Claudia Rodriguez; Dr. Berkeley's daughter Barbara Dietz; and Dr. Nolan Estes, former Dallas ISD superintendent, shared their thoughts and memories honoring Dr. Marvin H. Berkeley.
North Dallas High School JROTC cadets greeted guests and provided a color guard. J.W. Ray Learning Center Choir performed two songs specially tailored for the event, to honor Dr. Berkeley's leadership.
"Dallas ISD has improved more than any other urban district in Texas and more than all but one urban district in the country in narrowing the achievement gap."