At one time, where Citrus County's Inverness Middle School now stands, once stood a consolidated school for people of color.

Some of the former students of that school for black students are planning to gather together Sept. 3-5 for a reunion to remember what was once known as Booker T. Washington High School.

Recognizing that, the Citrus County Commission on Aug. 24 issued a proclamation in honor of the Booker T. Washington School Reunion celebration and its heritage in Citrus County.

Originally named Booker T. Washington, Inverness, the school opened in 1949, during the pre-integration days. First named Inverness School, the name was changed in 1950 to Booker T. Washington when somebody used red paint to inscribe the words "n----- school" on a sign at the school, according to a history completed for a past Booker T. Washington student reunion.

It Became Inverness Middle School after integration. The Hornets won FIAA state titles in boys basketball and boys and girls track. According to longtime coach Archie Dabney, who went on to coach basketball at Crystal River and later served as principal at Lecanto High, most of the school's trophies and uniforms were burned after integration.

The school was closed after integration of the students into the county's other schools.