Iola Davis was born in McKinney, Texas, January 28, 1927, the daughter of Lonnie and Artishia Young Davis.

She graduated from Doty High School in McKinney in May 1948.  At that time Doty School had grades 1-12. On December 28, 1950 she married Albert A. Malvern.

Later, she received a B.A. degree in English from Bishop College - a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Marshall, TX. She received a Master of Education from Texas Woman’s University in 1972 with a major in Early Childhood and a minor in counseling.

She taught at E.S. Doty High School in the Elementary Department, 6th grade.  Then when the school integrated, she went to teach 4th grade until Doty School was closed.  At that time she went to Nell Burks Elementary (West Ward) and taught 4th grade until her retirement in May 1983. She was the recipient of the Harriet Tubman Trailblazer Honor from St. Mark Baptist Church in McKinney, Texas. Albert & Iola Lee Davis Malvern Elementary was named for her and her husband in 2002.

Mrs. Malvern passed away on December 5, 2019. Her son, Maurice R. Malvern, Sr.  lives in McKinney.

Albert A. Malvern was born on May 26, 1923 in Checotah, Oklahoma. Mr. Malvern graduated from Terrell High School in Denison, Texas.   He graduated from Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas with a B.S. Degree in Industrial Education. He also received his Master’s Degree in 1953 from Prairie View.  In 1969, he received another Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas.

In the fall of 1949, Albert began his career at E.S. Doty High School in McKinney. On December 28, 1950 he married Iola Davis.  He worked for the McKinney Independent School District for 36 years as a math teacher and in 1972 became an assistant principal at McKinney High School. He was active in the McKinney Community and was a deacon in the Drexel Street First Baptist Church.

Albert A. Malvern passed away on October 14, 1985. He believed that education was essential to the successful pursuit of any occupation in life.  Mr. Malvern was loved by all who knew him and he will always be remembered in the McKinney school system as a man who taught others so much by his example.

Together, the Malverns represent nearly 70 years of service to the students of McKinney. It would be impossible to calculate the impact that they and their legacy have had on the generations of students who have come behind them.