• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Yesterday and Today There are not many universities focused on the needs of small communities that are widely dispersed over a large geographical area. But since opening its doors in 1910, West Texas A&M University has been committed to understanding the aspirations of the young people in these small communities and fully appreciating their view of the future. Their hopes and dreams have always been an important part of our role as a regional university, and we will continue to be responsive to their needs through academic purpose and service. —Walter V. Wendler, WTAMU President 1 YESTERDAY Among the achievements of my four years in office, I feel the greatest was the West Texas A&M University’s history began when Texas State Superintendent of Public Education Robert Canyon was the chosen site for the school. The one-building Cousins worked to establish a college to train teachers in West Texas. In 1909, Rep. Thomas J. Barrett of Anson West Texas State Normal School was built through establishment of this institution in this introduced House Bill 5 calling for the establishment of West Texas State Normal College. Barrett’s bill passed the determination and generosity of the townspeople city. In the center of the Plains stands the the House on Feb. 17 of that year and went to the Senate for passage. Twenty-eight towns expressed interest and erected near the center of a 40-acre plot of land most attractive and the most substantial in securing the school, so the Texas Senate decided to add an amendment to the bill requiring bidding towns donated by Lincoln and Queenie Victoria Conner. institution in the state, not excepting the to provide supplemental funds. The Senate passed the bill on March 4, and Gov. Tom Campbell signed the The two-story administration building dominated great University of Texas. bill establishing West Texas State Normal College on March 31, 1909. The bill proved to be the road map to a the wide-open Panhandle sky. It rose above the flat, century of excellence in higher education for the Texas Panhandle. treeless plain as a sentry to fewer than five homes and countless prairie dogs. — T.M. Campbell, former Texas governor who signed the bill that created West Texas State Normal College. 2 3 THE FIRST STUDENTS On a September day in 1910, Mamie Conner, daughter of Lincoln and Queenie Victoria, walked across the street from her home to that awe-inspiring administration building to be the first to register at the new school. Little did she know that she was making history and opening the door to thousands of students who would walk the halls into a second century of education for the Texas Panhandle. Those students witnessed several name changes through the years that reflected the University’s continued growth as well as its ever-expanding role in higher education. West Texas State Normal College became West Texas State Teachers College in 1923 and West Texas State College in 1949. The name changed again in 1963 to West Texas State University before becoming West Texas A&M University in 1993. But throughout the various changes, West Texas has remained a constant part of the University’s name. It expresses pride and communicates a commitment to the founding fathers who dreamed of “the establishment, maintenance and government of a state normal school to be located in West Texas.” The school’s original 40-acres of land donated by the Conners paved the way for today’s 176-acre main campus, and the townspeople’s donation of more than $100,000 to secure the normal school’s location in Canyon paved the way for today’s presence in Amarillo, increased enrollment and expanded degree programs. West Texas A&M University continues to stand as a symbol of generosity of people like Lincoln and Queenie Victoria Conner and their extraordinary vision of endless possibilities. 5 (1909 - 1993) TIMELINE 1963 Name changes 1988 to West Texas University completes 1932 State University Old Main renovation Becomes first teachers college in Texas to offer graduate instruction 1972 Lloyd Watkins, 1950 fourth president 1982 College dedicates Gail Shannon, 1948 J. A. Hill Chapel sixth president 1909 1918 James P. Cornette, J.A. Hill, House bill third president establishes a second president 1974 normal college 1914 1949 1969 The marching band west of the 1923 Enrollment marches 20 miles, 1991 98th meridian Administration Name changes Name changes earns spot in the building burns 1935 to West Texas reaches all-time Barry Thompson, to West Texas State high of 7,935 Guinness Book of eighth president to the ground Teachers College Buffalo Courts State College World Records formally opens 1989 1920 1942 1958 Board of Regents The basketball Installation votes to affiliate College completes of national Cousins Hall, team, dubbed with The Texas A&M “The Tallest Team sorority University System the school’s first chapters dormitory in the World,” plays at Madison 1971 Square Garden University receives 1977 1910 Nance Ranch Max Sherman, West Texas 1916 1951 1993 Buffs make donation fifth president Normal College College dedicates Name changes first Sun Bowl opens under the new, fireproof, to West Texas appearance leadership of its four-story 1933 A&M University and win 14-13 first president, administration Panhandle-Plains Historical Society 1984 R.B. Cousins building and Ed Roach, Museum opens Georgia O’Keeffe seventh president joins faculty 6 7 ( ) TIMELINE 1995 - 2017 2017 Largest gift 2006 in University J. Patrick O’Brien, history— 10th president 2016 Walter V. Wendler, $1 million a year 11th president in perpetuity— $50.3 from Paul Engler 2009 MILLION and the Paul and University Virginia Engler records largest Foundation 2008 freshman class 2012 Conference in its history Scientists successfully 2014 2007 championships clone a bull, named 2017 University marks University’s in volleyball, Alpha, from the carcass 2015 Women’s track Stanley Schaeffer comprehensive women’s soccer of a steer graded Prime, Tuition Revenue and field are 2006 Agriculture campaign raises and women’s Yield Grade 1 Bonds allow for 2017 Division II Conference Education Learning $50.3 million championships basketball 2013 construction of a Outdoor Track and Lab completion, Groundbreaking for new agricultural Field champs in volleyball, Pedestrian Mall football a large-scale wind sciences complex dedication and 2016 and men’s turbine testing and a new Buffalo Courts receives Students vote yes basketball 2010 facility at WTAMU’s permanent home 2002 official state Centennial Nance Ranch for the WTAMU to on-campus First United Bank historical marker Celebration Amarillo Center football stadium Center opens 1995 2007 2017 Russell C. Long, Conference Jonathan Espinoza ninth president championships in 2009 is the University’s football, volleyball, Conference first-ever men’s and women’s championships 2014 Harry S. Truman soccer and in volleyball, Lady Buffs claim 2014 Scholarship women’s basketball men’s soccer Division II Softball recipient and women’s National Championship basketball 2017 2006 WTAMU breaks University celebrates 2015 10,000 mark with Sybil B. Harrington WTAMU alumna 2016 enrollment of Ground is broken Fine Arts Complex Shanna Peeples 10,169 students 2010 for new Agricultural grand opening is the 2015 2005 University opens Sciences Complex Buffalo Sports Park National Teacher Conference of the Year championships in for softball, baseball, volleyball, football soccer and 2017 and women’s track and field Engineering basketball program expands 2008 with Master Officials dedicate of Science in Hayward Spirit Tower, and engineering degree WTAMU Amarillo Center and Buff Hall open 8 9 TODAY Growing up in West Texas, I learned the values that are as much a part of this region as the earth itself—work hard; let your word and your handshake be your bond; never seek or settle for second best; have passion for the work you do; and above all else, take care of people, Since its founding in 1910, West Texas A&M University has grown from a small, one-building, teacher-training and they’ll take care of you. I’ve always believed these are the same school to a 176-acre residential campus offering a multitude of exceptional degree programs designed to meet today’s ever-changing needs. Over the years, WTAMU has provided a unique experience that has touched the values of West Texas A&M University—the same traits this school lives of thousands of students by forging friendships, instilling ethics and values and building skills for success, has always embodied and taught its students. while effectively changing the physical, economic and cultural landscape of the Texas Panhandle region. —Stan Sigman ’70, Retired CEO, AT&T Mobility 10 11 CAMPUS WTAMU AT A GLANCE 43 176 acres Buildings Residential campus (Fall 2017) 290 acres Adjacent to the main campus ESTABLISHED for future expansion COLLEGES TEACHING AND SCHOOLS FACULTY 2,310 acres Nance Ranch UNDERGRADUATE GRADUATE DEGREE Masters Doctorate DEGREE PROGRAMS PROGRAMS Library Nickname School Colors STUDENT PROFILE Enrollment 2,503 4,399 5,770 10,169 On-campus Male Female residents Museum Average % 25.7 Years age % ­­% ­% Geographic origin ­% % INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS Ethnicity % % ­ West Texas A&M University is a member of the NCAA Division II ­% ­ % Lone Star Conference and offers 15 mens and omens programs. ­­% % WTAMU also offers a number of club sports, including bowling and rodeo that are competitive on the national level. 12 13 People interested in a productive future for Amarillo and the Panhandle recognize the importance and interdependence of Amarillo, WTAMU Amarillo Center Canyon and WT. The WTAMU Amarillo GROWTH Center will allow WT to serve the people on the That small, one-building school is now a bustling University campus with more than $500 million in new WTAMU also has expanded to Amarillo.

Load more

  15

Copy Link