JARRELL, Texas — More than two decades after their lives were lost to the devastating Jarrell tornado, the Igo family is being memorialized in their home town.
On Feb. 20, 2019, The Jarrell ISD Board of Trustees made history by voting to name the district's second elementary school in honor of the Igo family.
All five members of the Igo family were killed on May 27, 1997, when a devastating F5 tornado ripped through the community. A total of 27 people were killed, 13 of those were children.
“The city of Jarrell still feels the absence of all the lives lost that sad day,” said Superintendent Dr. William Chapman. “Naming this beautiful new school after the dearly-loved Igo family honors a very tragic part of our community’s history. And it demonstrates how we are embracing our future by remembering our past.”
The Igo family consisted of:
- Larry Igo, 45 (father)
- Joan Igo, 46 (mother)
- Audrey Igo, 17 (daughter)
- John Igo, 15 (twin brother)
- Paul Igo, 15 (twin brother)
RELATED: The Jarrell tornado: 20 years later
School leaders said the Igo family was active in the community, Joan being a teacher and her kids all being students in JISD. Larry operated an auto parts store in town and they were all members of the Jarrell Baptist Church. The twins played local sports and Audrey was a member of the high school's band and choir.
“We are turning a page in our district’s history by adding a second elementary campus,” said Chapman. “It is fitting that the new campus be named Igo Elementary because they were a joyous family. This campus will be a happy place of learning for generations of young learners.”
Now, nearly 22 years after the tornado struck, student enrollment in the district has increased rapidly. In the year 1997, all K-12 grades fit inside a single building. However, in 2019, the district consists of more than 1,930 students and four campuses: Jarrell High School, Jarrell Middle School, Jarrell Intermediate (third through fifth grades) and Jarrell Elementary (Pre-K through second grades).
Upon opening this summer, Igo Elementary will allow Jarrell Intermediate and Jarrell Elementary to merge to form two Pre-K through fifth-grade campuses.
“As new residents come and send their children to this new school, they will learn about the Igo family and what this community has been through,” said Chapman. “They will learn how we rallied together to heal. They will learn that, ultimately, Jarrell is a strong community built on hope.”
The district is predicted to grow by about 200 new students every year for the foreseeable future.
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