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This is the transcript from the first of three interviews that Bruce Roche conducted with Dr. Flowers just prior to his retirement. Dr. Flowers (Class of 1913) was President of Southwest Texas State College from 1942-1964. In this interview, Dr. Flowers talks about the history of education in Texas, his educational philosophy, and the need for vocational schools to provide practical skills to their students. He also talks about growing up in a family that had books in their home, and how he was encouraged to get his master’s degree at the age of 30. Interviewer Bruce Roche was director of the College News Service. This interview was the source material for his article “Goal: Excellence – Dr. Flowers’ Lifelong Watchword,” published in the Austin American-Statesman on August 30, 1964.

Anne Mackey talks her experiences attending SWTSTC, including academics and recreational activities, in the late 1920s. She mentions figures such as Mary Brogdon, Prof. Green, Lloyd Reed, and Retta Murphy. She also describes her experiences teaching public school from the 1930s through the 1980s in towns such as New Braunfels, Schertz, and Uvalde. She outlines how public school education has changed over time.

Pat Norwood talks about the different positions at Texas State he has held from the 1930s through the 1960s and the responsibilities that came with those positions, including his work as the principal of the campus training school and director of public services. He relayed memories of his travels throughout Texas recruiting students for the university. He recalls Dr. Flowers, his work as secretory for the Gilmer-Aiken Committee in 1947, and work in the Rotary Club in the 1940s and 1950s.

From 1999-2001, NASA partnered with History students at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) to conduct interviews with former employees who lived in the Central Texas area. Interviewees include managers, engineers, technicians, doctors, astronauts, and other employees of NASA and aerospace contractors who served in key roles during the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Shuttle programs.