Search Results

Charles Clayton talks about his Texas State experiences as both a child growing up on campus and in San Marcos and as a faculty member in the history department. He shares his memories attending the campus's laboratory school and working on the college's maintenance crew. He recalls prominent memories concerning other well-known faculty members, such as President Evans, President and Mrs. Flowers, Dr. Spurgeon Smith, J.R. Buckner, Coach Strahan, Jerome Cates, Prof. Green, James Taylor, Retta Murphy, Leland Derrick, Deacon Wright, and others. Mr. Clayton describes how the New Deal played out on campus, including the construction of certain buildings like Evans and Sayers Hall. He talks about earning his BA and MA degrees and then working as Vice Principal at San Marcos High School. He touches on other topics such as the San Marcus River, Old Main, and the changes he's seen on campus and in town.

H.Y. Price talks about the difficulties he faced while starting up the San Marcos Telephone Company, the task of remaining independent in the midst of other large telephone cooperations, and about his involvement with the Campus Christian Community Center at Texas State.

Marian Meeks talks about talks about the life of her father, H.A. Nelson, who taught agriculture at Texas State for many years. She shares his own experiences attending SWTSTC in the 1930s and 1940s. She discusses aspects of campus life including literary societies, athletics, recitals, the Faculty Club, Aquarena (Spring) Lake, and shares stories about campus figures such as Mary Brogdon. Mrs. Meeks shares her early teaching experiences in Moulton, her graduate studies at UT-Austin, work in VA hospitals, and how she returned to San Marcos.

Merry Kone Fitzpatrick talks about how her family came to settle in San Marcos and her childhood in San Marcos. She recalls her elementary, junior high, and high school experiences, including tidbits about the Blanco and San Marcos Rivers, Sewell Park, the Presbyterian Church, and attending the campus school. Professor FitzPatrick shares information about her brothers and their careers. She describes downtown San Marcos and its local landmarks and businesses, covering her childhood through the 1930s.

Edwin Fauver reflects on the changes he has seen on campus since he first came to the university. He talks about the challenges that have accompanied the campus's expansion and offers some information on campus buildings like the Music Building, Jowers Center, Evans Field, and the Psychology Building. He also recalls some of San Marcos's floods.

Dr. Houston talks about growing up in Denton County, attending college at UNT and teaching in Big Spring, Texas. He discusses studying for his PhD at UT-Austin and being recruited by Deacon Wright to teach at SWTSTC in the 1930s. He describes campus, the English department and its staff, and his experiences as a professor, head of the English department, and Dean of Liberal and Fine Arts during his time at the university (1937-1970). He also relates stories about Dr. McCrocklin and the university's participation in the AAUP and other academic organizations.

In her second interview, Merry Kone Fitzpatrick talks about graduating from high school and attending college at SWTSTC. Along with describing her college and graduate courses and certain professors like Professor Green, Retta Murphy, James Taylor, Betty Jane Kissler, and Emmie Craddock, she discusses what the school, her first job during WWII, and her work supervising student teachers were like. She describes the then-social science division and its faculty, as well as campus buildings like Old Main and certain local characters. This interview covers the 1930s through the 1960s.

Augustine Lucio discusses what life in San Marcos was like growing up as a Mexican migrant worker in the 1930s. He goes on to talk about his experiences in the military in WWII and the 1940s and how that inspired him to pursue an education. Mr. Lucio describes what San Marcos was like at time and its local politics and education system, especially in relation to the town's Latino community.

Robert Barton describes his early life and education in the Buda and Kyle areas, specifically recalling how his cattle-driving family came to settle in Texas, attending Buda High School, and graduating from Southwest Texas State Teachers College after serving in the military during the Korean War. He discusses buying, running, and selling the Kyle News newspaper, as well as operating the Colloquium Bookstore. He speaks about the changes San Marcos and Texas politics have gone through over time, including his work with the Hays County Democratic Party. He shares his thoughts about LBJ and discusses his own run for the Texas Legislature.

Margaret Fields talks about her early life in New Braunfels and life during the Great Depression. She describes the university campus and the schooling she received at Texas State in the 1930s and 1940s. She mentions places like Old Main; people such as C.E. Evans, Mary Brogdon, Leland Derrick, and John Flowers; and her experiences living off-campus. She discusses the various teaching jobs she took in Comal County and Medina County as well as her work with the state vocational rehabilitation department in Austin and other companies in Houston. She outlines how it all led her to her current job at the Sophienburg Museum in New Braunfels.

Gus and Betty Dressen discuss their German family heritage and growing up near Uhland, Texas. Along with describing what it was like to grow up on a farm, the couple share the responsibilities that come with that kind of lifestyle, such as taking care of animals, growing corn and sugar cane, and other aspects including having a blacksmith shop. They also talk about how life back then is different from now, such as paved roads, cars, electricity, and going into town.

Margaret Carney reminisces about her life in Chilton and Waco during WWI and WWII. She reflects on her work in the USO as a hostess and director of the service club at North Camp Hood and South Camp Hood where she was paid to sing, dance, and play piano for the soldiers. Along with recalling certain popular songs, dances, and momentous events like V-E Day and V-J Day, she discusses the camps' soldiers and German POWs.

George Sullivan talks about his experiences as a Presbyterian pastor in San Marcos. He also reflects on his relationships with various faculty members such as Oscar Strahan, Leland Derrick, and Dr. Martin Juel. He talks about his religious faith and his book, The Son of Thunder, Tamed. He also shares some of the poetry that he's written.

Clarence Schultz, sociology professor, shares his memories of coming to SWTSTC as an undergraduate student in the post-WWII era. Along with describing married student housing and the college's home economics program, he talks about the City of San Marcos and its businesses. He explains the class registration process and how he came to work in the university's Department of Economics and Sociology, which he joined in 1965. Mr. Schultz outlines how the Department of Sociology has evolved throughout the decades. He spends time reflecting on the university's presidents, the university's past as a teacher's college, Sewell Park's water pageants, certain faculty members like Prof. Green , Dr. James Taylor, and Dr. John Flowers, assorted student societies, and the men's faculty club.

Lola Cheatham, a long-time San Marcos resident talks about the growth of San Marcos and what Texas State used to be like. She recalls growing up and attending school in Caldwell County, going to college at Texas College in Tyler, and working for SWTSU for sixteen years. She shares her experiences and duties during her employment at the University Staff Lounge in Flowers Hall. Ms. Cheatham discusses university figures such as Emmie Craddock, John Flowers, LBJ, and Dana Smith, the university's first enrolled African-American student.

Betty Dressen discusses growing up on a farm. She shares her memories of "going into town" to Lockhart with her dad once a month. She shares the responsibilities that come with that kind of lifestyle, such as curing meat, making cheese, canning, and other aspects including wells and growing her garden.

Jerome Cates discusses his career as an educator and his time working for Texas State. He begins by describing his adolescence in Robstown, Texas, and recalling his high school, dating, working, and early teaching experiences in Beeville. Mr. Cates discusses how things have changed since he first came to the university, including San Marcos and the campus's growth. He tells of his work as the university's Chief Financial Officer, Head of Business Affairs, and briefly as an accounting professor. He also outlines the college's relationship with San Marcos, from the 1950s through now, and touches on topics such as integration, LBJ, and changing student attitudes. He shares his opinions on the work of Presidents John G. Flowers, James McCrocklin, Billy Mac Jones, and Lee Smith. Mr. Cates talks about his experience serving as interim president after Billy Mac Jones's resignation, during which he encountered challenges such as the streaking phenomenon that took hold of campus.

Terry Serur talks about his family history and local business, Serur's Varsity Shop. Mr. Serur describes what Texas State was like when he was a student in the 1960s, how he thinks San Marcos has changed, his family's association with LBJ.

James Harrell talks about growing up in Waco, studying in Dallas, and working in the movie business. He relays information about how Texas has grown to better support actors and the film industry, and outlines present trends in professional acting. Along with recalling changes he has seen in the university, he also discusses the evolution of the drama department and the new Speech and Drama Building.

Mary Sue Haynes discusses her personal background, her ancestors, and how her family came to settle in San Marcos. She shares information about the early homes in San Marcos, many of which her father built, and recalls her time in the campus elementary school. Ms. Haynes mentions the teachers and staff of the Normal School and its later iterations, including people such as Dr. Evans, Dr. Flowers, Dr. McCrocklin and Mr. Hardesty, Spurgeon Smith, Pat Norwood, Lula Hines, A.C. Burkholder, Mary Brogdon, and more. She shares anecdotes about the changes she has seen Texas State undergo in its administration, student body, discipline, and physical layout, specifically mentioning the McCrocklin Case, boarding houses, LBJ, her brother's work in San Marcos, and recreation activities.