Audie Murphy Middle School, Fort Hood, Texas. Photo by George Keck.

On August 15, 2004, Killeen Independent School District, located at Killeen, Texas dedicated a new middle school named after Audie Murphy. At the time of the ceremony, it was the only school named after Audie Murphy. On opening day the Audie Murphy Middle School served grades 6 through 8. The school was built on Fort Hood property and serves military and civilian children alike. The school's mascot is the Falcon. The school motto includes the words "Respect, Team Spirit, Academics". The address of the school is 53393 Sun Dance, Ft. Hood, Texas 76544.

The school name is an ideal fit for the Fort Hood and surrounding Killeen community for several reasons, some obvious, and some not. Fort Hood was the founding location of the popular army institution known as the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. But in truth, Audie was occassionaly involved with the public and military communities and this fact is often missed.

Shortly after the end of World War II, Audie Murphy's brother, Joe, was invited to live in a 4800 acre boy's home near Copperas Cove, Texas known as the Variety Clubs International Boy's Ranch. The ranch structures still exist today and are just barely outside the boundaries of the Killeen Independent School District. Today the ranch has been converted into a set of private apartments.

Originally, the ranch was owned by a consortium of Texas theater owners and at their invitation, Joe Murphy was able to live there. At the same time Audie Murphy successfully auditioned and was cast in his first lead role in the movie BAD BOY which was a film about the same boys home. The Texas theater owners recommended Audie for the lead role. In this film, Audie actually played a trouble youth who lived at the boys' home. A lot of the filming occurred on the ranch property. This film proved to be Audie Murphy's big break and from this point on, he had little difficulty securing lead roles in many, many films (see https://www.audiemurphy.com/movies0.htm for more details).

Audie Murphy Middle School, Fort Hood, Texas. This photo was taken shortly before the school's opening in 1999. Photo provided by Betty Tate.

Another view of the front of Audie Murphy Middle School, Fort Hood, Texas. Photo provided by Betty Tate.

Audie Murphy Middle School mascot.