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

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Student life Administration

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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.

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Sports .... Personalities .82 122 Hi n