Martin High School - La Pitahaya Yearbook (Laredo, TX)

Page 19 text:

MR I W NIXON. SUPERINTENDENT LAREDO PUBLIC SCHOOLS so Q -' L -' h ' ' ' ' Mr. I. W. Nixon was elected to the office of Superintendent of Laredo Public Schools on Iuly 1, 1946, immediately after the resignation ot former Superintendent William P. Galligan. At the same board meeting at which Mr. Nixon was elected head of the schools, he was charged with the task and respon- sibility of bringing to Laredo a Municipal Iunior College. a fond desire and dream of former Superin- tendent. William P. Galligan. With the enthusiasm of the citizens of Laredo along with the combined efforts of all service clubs and civic organizations. the Board of Education was petitioned to call for an election creating a Iunior College District for Laredo. The proposition was brought before the citizens of Laredo on September 28. 1946, and the election carried by the overwhelming maiority of 616 for and 3 votes to the contrary. Dr. C. C. Colvert, professor of Iunior College Education at the University of Texas and Chief Con- sultant for the Iunior Colleges of Texas. was of great value in directing and guiding the Laredo Board and Superintendent in every step toward the realization of Laredo's newest institution. Superintendent Nixon had promised the citizens of Laredo and the Board of Education that the Laredo Municipal Iunior College would open in September, 1947. Mr. Nixon and the Board of Educa- tion. with the able assistance of attorney Elmore Borchers. early in 1946 filed an application with the Federal Public Housing Authority in Ft. Worth and Washington asking for a portion of Fort Mclntosh on the Rio Grande as a proposed site of the Laredo Iunior College. The Laredo school authorities were advised in May, 1947. that the application for the property had been considered and would be granted. On Iune 9, 1947, Mr. Elmore H. Borchers. attorney for the Laredo Independent School District, and Super- intendent l. W. Nixon appeared in Ft. Worth before Regional Director of the Federal Public Housing Authority. Marshall W. Amis, and received the deed to approximately 146.1 acres of land and 26 build- ings, swimming pool and tennis courts.

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MR. IOE C. MARTIN PRESIDENT OF BOARD I 'l' t es of the Laredo Independent School Mr. Martin serves as President oi the Board o ruse 30. District. He was also elected President ot the lunior Colleqe Board on September d ' Laredo schools and at St. Edward's Mr. Martin is a native of Laredo. He was educate in t st in politics, he is owner ol a larqe ranch. University. In addition to his life-long in ere He has always been interested in the education ol the yo uth of Laredo because he recoq- d cratic way ot life. nizes the value of education in our emo

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The acquisition of this property means a large savings to the taxpayers of Laredo. as the school district received the entire acreage and buildings at 10094, discount. Besides thinking and working on the physical plant for the Laredo Iunior College. Super- intendent Nixon had the responsibility ot searching for the administrators tor the proposed college. Again Dr. C. C. Colvert rendered invaluable aid in searching for competent and experienced men to head the new proiect. In Iune. 1947. the Board ol Education met and elected W. I. Adkins. former Dean of Temple Iunior College. as president ol the Laredo Iunior College. A iew weeks later the Board elected Dean Neal M. Nelson. former Dean ol the Brownsville Iunior College as Dean and Registrar. Both President Adkins and Dean Nelson assumed the responsibilities of their respective positions on Iuly 1, 1947. Throughout the summer of 1947. working as a unit, President Adkins, Dean Nelson, School auditor E. A. Leyendecker and Superintendent Nixon started repairs and renovation of the various buildings at the new college site. They worked day and night and over-time: the new Laredo College was formally opened on September 2, 1947. with an excellent faculty oi twenty teachers. The present enrollment is 1200 students consisting ol pre-professional. terminal educa- tion and Veteran's Vocational Training students. MISS ALICIA SALAZAIR. MRS. ROBERTO BENAVIDES AND MISS ANTONIETTA GONZALEZ. MR. EDWARD LEYENDECKER. BUSINESS MANAGER. PHSONNEL OF THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT