2022 College Report

- ’ - - - ’ ’ - - - ’ ’ - ’ ’ ’ 26 27 HISTORY of the Col l ege Cont inued 1947 - 1949 - 1960 - 1965 - 1971 - 1972 - 1985 1947 - The Journalism Department is established. - James Barton joins the faculty and is named director of theatre (part of the Speech Department), a post he holds until 1975. - Ira Bowles joins the music faculty as director of choirs. He serves as chair of the Music Department (1957 68). 1948 - Bachelor s degree in journalism is approved (later mass communication). 1949 - Music Hall is dismantled and moved to make way for the Fine Arts building. 1950 - College enrollment bounces back to 2,013 in the fall of 1950, thanks in part to the G.I. Bill. Fall replaces summer as the highest enrollment period. 1951 - Music and Art occupy the new Fine Arts building, which includes 30 practice rooms and an auditorium that seats 200 300. In the mid 1980s, the building is renovated into Taylor Murphy. Master s degree in music is approved. 1954 - Anton Bek takes direction of the Bobcat Band, encouraging the first drill team and baton twirlers. 1956 - The current Music building is built as Strahan Gymnasium. Strahan Coliseums construction in 1982 allows the building to be renovated to house the Music Department. 1957 - Master of education degree in speech is approved. 1959 - Southwest Texas State Teachers College becomes Southwest Texas State College. 1960 - The Strutters drill team is founded and performs with the Bobcat Band. In 1978 the group is moved from the Music Department to Athletics, where it remains. 1961 - The Bobcat Band, now led by Maurice Callahan, marches in the inaugural parade of President John Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon Johnson. - Ramsey Yelvington joins SWT as playwright in residence and faculty member in speech and drama. Over the years he writes several plays directed by James Barton. 1962 - Dana Jean Smith, a black high school graduate, applies to SWT and is denied admission because of the “whites only provision in the college s charter.” She wins her lawsuit against the school and is enrolled, along with four other black female students, in 1963. 1964 - Jim McCrocklin becomes president of SWT. His tenure oversees an explosion in enrollment. Fall enrollment in 1963 is 3,850; by fall 1973 it is 12,142. 1965 - The band accepts Lyndon Johnson s invitation to lead his inaugural parade; the University of Texas Longhorn Band attempts to replace SWT, but the Bobcats prevail. - President Lyndon Johnson signs the Higher Education Act in Strahan Gymnasium (the current Music building). The ceremony had been planned for the steps of Old Main, but rain moves it to the gym. - LBJ cedes the Fish Hatchery property to SWT. These 25 acres are later the site of J.C. Kellam and the Speech and Drama Center. 1966 - University reorganized into a five school liberal arts model. Journalism is now in the School of Applied Arts; art, music and speech are in the School of Liberal and Fine Arts. 1967 - Bachelor s degree in drama is approved (later called theatre). 1969 - The name of the college changes to Southwest Texas State University, and with it the name of the College Star changes to The University Star . 1970 - Enrollment doubles within five years to 9,853 in fall 1970; master of arts degree in speech and drama is approved. 1971 - The Speech and Drama building (now the Theatre Center) opens. - Ralph Harrel named dean of the School of Creative Arts, which is housed in the College of Arts and Sciences; he is dean until 1985. 1972 - Drama is now included in the name of the Department of Speech. - The new Ebony Players, under the direction of James Barton, perform A Raisin in the Sun at the LBJ Ranch for President and Mrs. Johnson. 1974 - Lee Smith is the new president of the university. He splits the two colleges into seven separate schools: journalism is in the School of Applied Arts. Art, music, and speech and drama are in the School of Creative Arts. 1977 - Art moves to the building that is now Lampasas Hall. 1978 - Richard Cheatham becomes chair of Speech and Drama at SWT. 1979 - Ralph Harrel, dean of Creative Arts, and San Marcos resident Maude Ogle partner to form “The Dean s List,” a group of local patrons who support the arts that in 1993 becomes the Friends of the Fine Arts and Communication. 1980 - University enrollment hits 15,400. 1981 - Bob Hardesty, former special assistant to President Lyndon Johnson, becomes president of the university. 1982 - Music moves into renovated Strahan Gymnasium; KAT Radio begins operation on a cable access channel in San Marcos. 1984 - Journalism joins the School of Fine Arts and Communication. - The Opening Door Dance Theatre is begun by faculty members Karen Earl, Sandy Rodriguez and LeAnne Smith. 1985 - Richard Cheatham becomes dean, serving until 2011. He oversees new master s degrees in journalism/mass communication and art and design; the new tower and license for KTSW; and the opening of the Fire Station Studio, the Joann Mitte Art Complex and the design of the Performing Arts Center. During his tenure, univeristy enrollment goes from 19,267 to 32,572, with Fine Arts and Communication majors rising from 1,614 to 4,668. 1985