Sul Ross State University - Brand Yearbook (Alpine, TX)

Page 13 text:

1938 Lawrence Hall was built to house women students. Dr. Morelock, after 22 years of service to Sul Ross, retired in August 1945. Under his guidance many new facili¬ ties were added to the college. More- lock had promoted the beginning of the Sul Ross Skyline in 1923. The Brand was first published in 1921. During his administration a large num¬ ber of literary organizations and schol- - arship clubs were established and Morelock personally instituted and supervised graduate work at Sul Ross. Dr. Richard Melvin Hawkins took over the Sul Ross presidency in September, 1945. His administration went to great lengths to encourage the football, rodeo and drama programs at the col¬ lege. In 1946 Paul E. Pierce and W. H. Perryman were selected to direct the program of intercollegiate football at Sul Ross and from 1947-50 the Lobos won four consecutive conference titles. Hawkins also strengthened and im proved the teacher training pro¬ gram. In 1948 a new modern swim¬ ming pool was added to the campus facilities. Later—a student center (Old Dining Hall), the Fine Arts Building, Ferguson Hall, and a new school cafe¬ teria (TKE House) were constructed. In 1949 state legislation changed the col¬ lege’s name to Sul Ross State College. Hawkins left the office of president in 1952 to accept another position. Dr. Bryan Wildenthal was quickly selected to fill the vacancy. At this time Sul Ross boasted an enrollment rate that was far better than most state col¬ leges. In 1952 the enrollment was just over the 500 mark and by 1965 it had nearly tripled. Wildenthal’s administra¬ tion constructed five major buildings which included the Science Building, Marquis and Smith Halls, Morelock Hall and the Health and Physical Edu¬ cation Building for men. The old gym¬ nasium was renovated into a much needed gym for women. Then in an effort to demonstrate real college pride in the achievements of ex-students, Wildenthal declared Nov. 11, 1961, as Norman Cash Day. Cash was a gradu¬ ate of Sul Ross who had played both football and baseball for the Lobos. He had gone to make a name for himself with the Detroit Tigers in the American League. On more than one occasion, Dr. Wildenthal invited and entertained Dan Blocker, a graduate of Sul Ross and TV’s “Hoss Cartwright.” Ouite unexpectantly, Wildenthal died of a stroke June 1, 1965, only after having made a great contribution to the stu¬ dents of Sul Ross. The Board of Regents selected Dr. Norman L. McNeil to take over the office. Enrollment had increased to almost 1,400 and by 1971 it had almost doubled. During the years of 1965-71 some $5 million were spent on the enlargement and development of the physical plant. Construction of the Bryan Wildenthal Library and Mountainside Dormitory and Cafeteria were the major—contributions of the administration. The “Old Museum” was remodeled into the Student Cen¬ ter and the area between the Fine Arts Building and the Administration Build¬ ing was landscaped—into the Mall. The Industrial Arts Building was also added to the campus. Some $200,000 alone was spent on improving Jackson Field and adding a new track stadium to the complex. A research center for field biologists and geologists was established with the National Parks Service at Big Bend National Park. Sul Ross and Alpine received extensive publicity due to the winning of the national championship in girls’ volley¬ ball, and the fact that there were Olym¬ pic players of the Sul Ross team added prestige to the university. “Now some 50 years since the open¬ ing of Sul Ross Normal School in June 1920, Sul Ross State University gives every evidence of stability and steady growth and there is little doubt that it shall long remain as one of the main educational and economic factors in the development of the Big Bend Area.” Today Sul Ross is a thriving academic community with a yearly enrollment of nearly 2,800. Dr. Hugh E. Meredith was selected in 1974 to serve as the college’s seventh presi¬ dent. This is just a brief history of Sul Ross State University. The deeds and accomplishments of the many thou¬ sands of students that have attended Sul Ross cannot possibly be recorded. They are just memories in the minds of many people, but it is these memories of “the way we were” that have made Sully what it is today. Each student who has attended Sul Ross over the years has unknowingly made his or her contribution to the history of this college. As a history instructor would put it, “It’s history in the making,” and in the 231 pages is recorded the way we were” in 1975. —Material taken from Dr. Clifford B. Casey’s book, Mirages, Mysteries and Reality of Brew¬ ster County.

Page 12 text:

Sul Ross: A Colorful History of Progress The Big Bend area has been a wilder¬ ness of many contrasts: high, majestic mountains touching the sky; scrub brush and cactus covering rough, rug¬ ged terrain; stretches of desert waste¬ lands sheltering an abundance of wild¬ life; and herds of antelope and mule deer grazing serenely among stately yucca plants. In 1882-83 the Southern Pacific Rail¬ road cut its way across this wilderness from El Paso to San Antonio. Near the famous Burgess Watering Hole, a sta¬ tion stop was built which enabled the old steam locomotives to load up with much needed water. In 1883 the sta¬ tion stop was given the name of Mur- phyville and the town continued to develop as the railroad brought more trade to the area. In 1887 Brewster County was created and Murphyville, being the only sizable community, served as the county seat. During this time, considerable dissatisfaction developed on the part of the people of Murphyville with the name of the com¬ munity, and in 1888 petitions sent to the Texas Legislature changed the town’s name to Alpine. Alpine became a major trading and shipping center for an extensive ranching and mining activity in the Big Bend area. By this time the town’s business district had expanded to three blocks of store fronts that faced the railroad depot. Alpine also supported five saloons at the time. As Alpine grew into a potential cultural center for West Texas, the town was propelled into a new role. Rather than remain a “cowtown” with the bare necessities for city dwellings, the town entered into a period of rapid develop¬ ment and improvement and was incor¬ porated in 1917. In the early part of this century, the people of West Texas began to won¬ der why there were not any institutions of higher learning west of San Antonio. Educators began to petition the Texas Legislature to initiate funds to establish a college in West Texas. In 1917 the legislature agreed to appropriate such funds and the town of Alpine was cho¬ sen to be th e site of the Sul Ross Nor¬ mal College, an institution designed to train teachers. Construction of the present day Administration Building began in February 1919. Thomas Fletcher was selected as president of the college and he closely supervised the construction of the campus’ first building in order that it be ready for the opening of the 1920 summer session. Sul Ross Normal College opened its doors to students June 14, 1920. Sev¬ enty-seven students were enrolled for summer courses. Fifteen students came from Alpine, eight from Mara¬ thon, seven from El Paso, five from Regan Wells, and the balance from widely scattered places: Mertzon, Buckholts, Garrison, Bartlett, Bracket- ville, Uvalde, Del Rio, Santa Anna, Eagle Pass, Gonzales, San Angelo, George West, Marshall, Hamilton, Chilicothe, Kentucky Town, Shive, Carrizo Springs and Floresville. This wide distribution of students supports evidence that Sul Ross had a wide appeal from the very start. Fletcher had just begun to get the college on its feet when he resigned in July 1920 to accept another position, and R. L. Marquis was soon selected to serve as the second president of Sul Ross. The college opened its first long term session Sept. 23, 1920, with 75 stu¬ dents registered the first day and 10 the second day. The final total reached 118 students which included 24 first and second graders enrolled in the college’s demonstration school. In recognition of the school’s opening, the Alpine Avalanche published the following editorial: “Many in other parts of the state freely predict that Sul Ross has no future, that its doors will soon close for lack of students. The people of West Texas have long desired an institution of higher learn¬ ing. They rightly felt they were entitled to it. They have secured it; let them now get behind and push it, so they may retain it. For a school like this needs above all else a student body. Our prediction is that Sul Ross will become one of the leading schools in the State of Texas.” In September 1922 Sul Ross’ enroll¬ ment had increased to 140 students. The college was slowly growing. In 1923 the State Legislature changed the college’s name to Sul Ross State Teacher ' s College and Dr. H. W. More- lock assumed the role of the college’s third president. Morelock immediately proceeded to engage in a constructive development and building program, and during the 22 years that he was administrator the much needed facili¬ ties had been installed. In fact, a year rarely passed without some new build¬ ing constructed or some new piece of equipment added to the college’s facil¬ ities. In 1 923-24 Hancock Pool, a n outdoor natatorium, was constructed. The college took over Berkely Hall that same year. This building was the col¬ lege’s first dormitory for women. It had previously been privately managed by aid from the people of Alpine. In 1924 tennis courts were added to the cam¬ pus and Jackson Field, athletic grounds for both baseball and football, was constructed. In 1925, a nine-hole golf course was added to the college’s recreational facilities. The early students of Sul Ross dis¬ played much pride and spirit in their school. On April 1, 1925, students dili¬ gently climbed the hill behind the col¬ lege and spent a gruling day gathering and piling rocks to form the Bar-SR- Bar brand on the side of the hill. This was a very important event in the his¬ tory of the college. That October fresh¬ men students were compelled to climb the hill again and whi tewash the rocks. Since then the painting of the SR brand has remained one of the most important activities of freshmen orien¬ tation week each year. In 1926-27 the citizens of Alpine con¬ structed some 41 modern cottages for student residence. A gymnasium was constructed at the cost of $35,000. The State had appropriated $20,000, and the citizens of Alpine and well-to- do ranchers once again contributed money in the sum of $15,000 to finish the project. In 1930 the present day Education Building was constructed to serve as a library-classroom-cafeteria complex. During the 1930 ' s many new structures were added to the campus. These structures included the tennis courts, rock stadium, two residence halls for men, a large museum (now Student Center) and a bowling alley (now the Museum of the Big Bend). In

Page 14 text:

Student life Administration