University of North Texas - Yucca Yearbook (Denton, TX)

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Besides Pat Boone, Actress Ann Sheridan, LBJ Aide Bill Moyers, Pianist Ivan Davis And Author Bill Brammer Have Attended North Texas

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From Warhoops to Belfries Twenty-eight Creek Indians from the Indian Territory just north of Denton helped boost the enrollment of President Chilton,s normal college to 131 in early Decem- ber, 1890. Many printed works describe tales of a30 Indians? and their firewater antics at the local saloons. If any Indians remained in 1913, they saw the first intercollegiate football gameeeagainst Texas Christian. Intercollegiate basketball bounced along in 1916, tennis and track came in 1922 and golf competition in 1939. Besides Indians and sports, a curfew bell, installed in 1891 in the Old Normal Building, added to the atmos- phere of NT1s early years. A legend quickly developed: 9N0 one, not even the bravest of boys, would go up into the bell-tower 0f the old Normal building at Denton after dark. The place was supposed to be haunted . . P The annual April Fool prank, removing the clapper of the bell and hiding it, once resulted in a two-year loss. Finally a reward was ottered and the clapper was recov- ered, after which it was securely welded into place. In May, 1962, the Talons removed the bell from the power plant, its lodging since 1915, mounted it on a trailer and renewed the tradition of ringing the bell after sports victories. Students now call the curfew bell, a relic of the Old Normal Building, the Victory Bell. 1962: Tulons Transformed The Curfew Bell of 1891 Into NTSU1s Victory Bell

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Tobacco, Not Coeds, Was Ruled Taboo The rustle 0f coedls skirts has drifted across campus since North Texas, first year, when President Chilton made clear his Views on coeducation: 950 from our edu- cational horizon are the cobwebs 0f superstition and prejudice being swept7 and this institution joins in the advance guard by admitting ladies to all classes . . 3, College rules were often quite strict. In 1893 the use of tobacco on campus was prohibited, as were Visits to town during college hours and social calls on class days. Attendance was required at all class meetings and exams, and at each of the daily chapel periods. lln 1916 William Jennings Bryan was guest chapel speakerJ Burdened by the schools lack of funds, Chilton retired in 1893; he died in 1896 thinking himself a failure. But financial dithculties also troubled his successors, especially during the world wars. 1n Wforld War 1 President Bruce directed all departments to refrain from buying supplies and equipment unless absolutely necessary. World War 11 made more than financial demands on NT: 2,530 students, exes and teachers served; 101 died in action. In 1949 the new Student Union Building was dedicated to North Texans who gave their lives in the wars. A few weeks before the United States entered WW 11, North Texas adopted a faculty committeels proposal to expand the fundamental purpose of the institution. Besides developing educational leaders, the committee stated, NT should lgcause students to acquire an appre- ciative understanding of the broad, liberal culture basic to a democratic society,77 thus taking into account those not planning to enter the teaching profession. This was one of the most abrupt signals of change in NT,s history. After the war more changes came, includ- ing the first doctorate in 1953 and university status in 1961. More changes tsee page 41 are now being planned. Deb First Doctorate Awarded in 1953