Rollin Lee Isaacs was born July 17, 1871 in Oakland, Texas He received his early training under the name of Rollin Le Smith. At the age of 19, he entered Prairie View College.  He completed his work at Prairie View in 1894.  He began his teaching career in Weimar, Texas.  He taught mathematics atPrairie View and later became the Treasurer of the school.  Rollin Lee Isaacs had a long and distinguished career in education, including 21 years as a teacher and bursar at Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College (now known as Prairie View A&M University).  In 1921, Mr. Isaacs became Vice President of Citizen State Bank and Trust Company in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1923, he became principal of Chew Elementary (now Atherton) in Houston, Texas.  He remained as principal of that school until he retired in 1944.  He was an outstanding citizen in the Third Ward area.  Mr. Isaacs was a Trustee of the Trinity East Methodist Church.  The facility that bears his name opened in 1962.  Rollin Lee Isaacs died at the age of 81 on December 7, 1952.