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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.

This is the transcript from the second 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, he talks about the development of general education requirements that brought the Humanities (arts and philosophy) back into mainstream course requirements. He discusses his opinions about faculty qualifications and who should supervise student teachers, about the college adopting a team-teaching approach, and the role of a college president. Flowers also talks about funding from the Danforth Foundation and the Hogg Foundation that allowed the school to implement programs it couldn’t otherwise afford. 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-Statesmanon August 30, 1964.

Opening ceremony of an exhibit titled "LBJ at San Marcos" honoring President Johnson and commemorating the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. After an introduction by Representative Pickle, the President speaks on the importance of education, particularly for very young children, and points with pride to his Great Society's educational programs. He also reads from his presidential memoir, The Vantage Point.

In the 1974 interview, conducted by students Bobbie Vaughn and Stan Siler, Dr. Henrietta "Retta" Murphy talks briefly about her family, her education, and her first teaching job at Trinity where she was also Dean of Women. The focus of the interview is related to her experiences at Southwest Texas State, beginning with her arrival in San Marcos in 1919. Dr. Murphy discusses her memories and observations of the History Department, examples of discrimination she experienced as a woman on the faculty, and some memories from teaching troops on campus during WWII. She also talks about President C.E. Evans, President John G. Flowers, Professor Greene, and Lyndon Johnson.

In the 1978 interview, conducted by History faculty members Merry FitzPatrick and Ronald C. Brown, Dr. Henrietta "Retta" Murphy talks about her experiences at Southwest Texas State, from her arrival in 1919 when the school was still a Normal College, through her retirement in 1956.  She relates stories about President “Prexy” Evans, President Flowers, Lyndon Johnson, and mentions SWT professors H.M. Greene, James Taylor, Emmie Craddock, Alfred Nolle, and Betty Kissler among others. She also talks about her beliefs about education and teaching and offers examples from her years of teaching college students.  The interviewers and Dr. Murphy had a collegial relationship and they laughed through much of the interview.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

John McCrocklin briefly talks about his personal background and undergraduate studies at SWTSU. He describes how his father and he started their real estate company, McCrocklin and Associates, and details his experiences and knowledge about the real estate and development markets in San Marcos and surrounding areas. He outlines the challenges he's faced as a large-scale developer and gives reasons for his success.

Sammie Hardeman shares his experience in the food service industry and how it led him to his job at the university. He recalls being born in Lockhart and later moving to San Marcos. He also talks about his barbequing business and the private parties he would put on and cook for university presidents. He mentions Dr. Evans, Dr. Flowers, and Dr. McCrocklin.

Dr. Augustin talks about growing up and attending college in Nebraska. Along with discussing how he ended up in the field of geography and his early work, Dr. Augustin speaks about what convinced him to come to Texas State. Dr. Augustin outlines his methods and philosophies of teaching geography and applauds the faculty of the geography department. He briefly talks about how the university and San Marcos has changed as well as where he has traveled.

William Dibrell talks about his career as both an educator at Texas State and as a member of the San Marcos City Council. He recalls his early life in Bastrop, serving in the Korean War, and earning his master's degree in special education at SWTSC. He reflects on his experience working as the assistant county school superintendent in Lockhart before teaching at San Marcos High School and helping with the Upward Bound program. He outlines how he devoted his career to supporting vocational education teachers and teaching public speaking courses. He describes the evolution of education in San Marcos, with specific mention of the laboratory school, the Coronal Institute, and the San Marcos Baptist Academy. He addresses his frustrations and the ways in which he believes San Marcos and its City Council need to improve and shares his views on teaching and the education system in general.