University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Edited by Christ! Mance Top: The new Petroleum Engineering Building at 26th Street and Speedway houses the simulated coal mine and oU well u hlch help students gain hands-on experience. Opposite Page: Kick Hargett gains practical knowledge and experience In the simulated coal mine. by Christ! Mance Practical experience in a particular field of study was an elusive goal we all looked for during our college years. Engineering students had only to walk downstairs in the new Petroleum Engineering Building to get at least part of that practical ex- perience. The basement housed a simulated coal mine. William Vanrensburg, professor of petroleum engineering, said, When the petroleum engineering depart- ment was considering building the new building, they asked some of us what features could be included. Since we have tried to expand the department to include more than oil and gas studies, this seemed like a unique idea, he said. The mine itself was designed to give the feeling of being in a real mine. Light was sometimes non- existent. The temperature was kept tow and created wind-tunnel effects throughout. Graduate students in petroleum engineering and students in energy and mineral resources joined students from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces as the primary visitors to the mine. But Vanrensburg said any student was free to tour the mine by contacting the college.

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The March 2 noonday celebration on the Main Mall Involved many student groups. Alpha Phi Omega haa another chance to display the largest Texas Flag and Spooks hold a banner made by the Student Involvement Committee. by Amy Sailer Austin had never hosted a Miss America pageant. Nor the Summer Olympics. A major TV network had never pointed its cameras to the capital city for anything. But this year, ABC ' s television net- work flew in its crew, equipment and more than 30 major superstars to Austin for the taping of Texas 150 that aired nationally April 28. Taping began at 7 p.m., April 27 at the Frank Erwin Center, with thousands of Austinites there to view the production. Tickets on the floor sold for $500, while arena seats went for $100. Other seats went for $50 and $20. The audience was almost as spec- tacular as the cast of performers. Among the celebrated locals were UT President William Cunningham, GT System Chancellor Hans Mark, Gov. Mark White, Mayor Frank Cooksey, CJT coaches Fred Akers, Judy Con- radt and Bob Weltich and former U.S. first lady Lady Bird Johnson. The taping was impulsive and spontaneous. Instead of flowing per- formances, numbers were inter- rupted by a voice that became familiar by the end of the evening. Sorry folks, technical problems. We ' ll have to run it again, Mr. Microphone would say. National show Spotlights entertainers for Texas celebration The performer would compose himself again while the audience sat confused. Then the voice would blare, Okay everybody, applause! And the arena would thunder with more applause for a performer who had received the same minutes before. At one point in the program, coun- try singer Jimmy Dean stopped in the middle of his number after fumbl- ing over some words in his song. I ' m nervous as hell! I haven ' t done this for years, he said. I don ' t have to. I sell sausage! After the initial surprise wore off, the audience seemed to relax and en- joy the input they had on the produc- tion. When Mr. Microphone scream- ed Applause! the center thundered. And when a number had to be repeated, the audience would clap along in beat as enthusiastically as the first time around. Each performer was a native Tex- an helping to celebrate his state ' s 150th anniversary of independence from Mexico. The party included stars such as singers Johnny Cash, George Strait, Mac Davis and the Gatlin Brothers, former Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Roger Staubach and actors Patrick Swayze and Gene Autry. Other proud Texans that couldn ' t be in Austin due to conflicting schedules appeared on tape. Newscaster Walter Cronkite, singer Willie Nelson, actress Jaclyn Smith, Cowboys Coach Tom Landry, actress Morgan Fairchild and dozens of others sent their birthday wishes from across the miles on tape. And to finish off the extravagant affair, several hundred burnt-orange Texans marched to the stage, horns held high in the air, to salute Texas CJT style. The Longhorn Marching Band performed the final number, and at the conclusion of The Eyes of Texas, Mr. Microphone yelled, Thanks, folks. That ' s a wrap! 20 Sesquicentennial