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Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iiiBiography of John Tarleton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Tarleton Creed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Tarleton Color Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6On Ye Tarleton (Fight Song) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6The True Flame (Centennial Song) . . . . . . . . . 7Presidents of Tarleton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Tarleton’s Educational Evolution . . . . . . . . . . . 9The Spirit of Tarleton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Traditions and Legends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Airplane Incident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alumni J-TAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Centennial Medallion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Class Ring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Grassburr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .J-TAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .May Pole Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Oscar P . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Plowboys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Purple Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Purple Poo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Snake Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TTS and TTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Uniforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161617171718181819192020202122Landmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23ableTof ContentsCannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Carillon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Centennial Lane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Flagpole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Hunewell Bandstand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25J-TAC Hearts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25John Tarleton Bronze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25John Tarleton House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Light Poles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Military Memorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Organizational Sidewalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Pearl Mahan Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Rock Gates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Rock Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Smokestack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Street Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29T-Bench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Tarleton Gravesite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30The Texan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Time Capsule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Three Penny Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Trees and Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Tru Tru Grave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32ULTRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32i
University Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33World War II Marker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Activities and Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Candle Lighting Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cruise The Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Duck Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Founders Day Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Founder’s Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Howdy Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Silver Taps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tarleton Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3434353535363636Beauty and the Beast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Distinguished Alumni Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . .Drum Beating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fish and T Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Homecoming Parade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .L.V. Risinger Memorial Bonfire . . . . . . . . . . .Midnight Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Silver Bugle Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Yell Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .373737383838393939History of the Tarleton Brick . . . . . . . . . . . . .Administration Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joe Autry Agriculture Building . . . . . . . . . . . .Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex . . . . . . . . . . .40414142Homecoming Traditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Tarleton Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40iiBusiness Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42College Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Davis Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Dining Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Oscar H. Frazier Memorial Track . . . . . . . . . . 43E. J. Howell Education Building . . . . . . . . . . 44Humanities Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Hydrology and Engineering Building . . . . . . . 44Industrial Technology Building . . . . . . . . . . . 45Mathematics Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Memorial Stadium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Nursing Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Observatory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Recreational Sports Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Residence Halls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Science Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Dick Smith Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Barry B. Thompson Student Center . . . . . . . . 49Tarleton Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Trogdon House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Vance Terrell Intramural Complex . . . . . . . . . 51Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center . . . . . . . . . . 52Wisdom Gymnasium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52Tarleton’s Past . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Auditorium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Chamberlin Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53College Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fishpond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gymnasium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Home Economics Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lewis Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marston Science Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marston Conservatory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Original Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rec Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mary Corn Wilkerson Dormitory . . . . . . . . .53545454545555555656An Expanding Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Tarleton State University-Central Texas . . . . . 57Terrell School of Clinical Laboratory Sciences 57Dora Lee Langdon Cultural and EducationalCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57W. K. Gordon Center for Industrial History ofTexas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Awards Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Distinguished Honors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Faculty & Staff Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Student Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
We would like to acknowledge the following people for their contributions to the Traditions Handbook. ThisAcknowledgmentshandbook is a compilation of tradition, legend, fact, and future. We appreciate the hard work and dedication ofthe many individuals and departments who made this publication a reality.Dr. Dennis P. McCabe, PresidentAmanda AlbrechtPaul KoonsmanJ. Louis EvansGlenda StoneMary Anne ForemanDonna StrohmeyerDr. Chris GuthrieUniversity News ServiceRusty JerginsUniversity Publications DepartmentDr. C. Richard KingBill WareThe printing of this publication is made possible by contributions fromJostensTarleton Alumni AssociationOffice of Student ActivitiesTarleton Alumni RelationsVolume 2, September 2005iii
iographyBof John TarletonInformation from an article titled “John Tarleton” written by Dr. C. Richard Kingfor the October 1951 issue of The Southwestern Historical Quarterly.John Tarleton had little formal education and found little happiness in life, but a bequest in his willcreated two institutions of higher learning and made it possible for thousands of young people to receive aneducation.There is no documentation of his birth, but it is believed John Tarleton was born in November 1808.Orphaned at an early age, John went to live with an aunt in Vermont, and his brother was sent to anotherrelative in Virginia. John and his aunt never got along, and he began early making plans to leave. On oneoccasion he overheard his aunt tell a neighbor that “John will live around here until I die; then he will getmy money.” This statement made him determined to leave his aunt’s home at once.Tarleton tried to join the army, but John, who was naturally small for his age, was advised byrecruiters to grow up before he applied again. When his aunt heard of the boy’s attempt to join the armedforces, she offered him money for flailing wheat stored in the barn. With the 15 Tarleton earned from thisjob, he left Vermont and worked his way to North Carolina where he cut wood. Then he worked cradlingwheat for 1.50 a day. It was while in North Carolina that John learned of the death of his brother.Making his way to Knoxville, Tennessee, Tarleton taught school for 30 a month and later appliedto Perez Dickerson for a job in the Cowan-Dickerson mercantile. He stayed there for some 40 years living1
frugally in the back of the shop and investing his salary in government certificates issued to soldiers of theWar of 1812 as bounties for locating land.These certificates accounted for millions of acres of land in Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Illinoisand states farther west. Considered extremely remote prairie desert, little value was placed on these sectionsof land and most soldiers were willing to trade them for merchandise in the store. Once transferred, theycould be claimed upon payment of surveying fees and patent fees amounting to about 15.Among his acquisitions, was 10,000 acres of land in Texas which he bought for 12 and a half cents anacre. It would be more than 30 years before Tarleton saw this land located in Erath and Palo Pinto counties.When he finally arrived at the territory, Indians were camped on the spot, so Tarleton went to Waco wherehe established a mercantile store.During his stay in Waco, Tarleton met and married Mary Louisa Johnson, a member of thearistocratic Dunnica family of Missouri. Her first husband was Telephus Johnson. At the time of his death,Johnson owned thousands of acres of Brazos bottom land and was considered one of the wealthiest menin Waco. Tarleton and Johnson signed an antenuptial contract before their wedding in September of 1876agreeing to keep properties and estates separate. After a wedding trip to the International Centennialexhibition in Philadelphia, Tarleton charged his bride with half the expenses.When she discovered her husband had considerable land holding in addition to his mercantile store,Mary Louisa suggested a more equitable division of property. Tarleton is reported to have refused. Themarriage didn’t last long after that, and shortly after their first anniversary, Mrs. Tarleton left for St. Louisand filed for divorce. Tarleton arrived at the hearings just in time to present a copy of the marriage contract.The divorce was granted with no property division.A bronze bust of John Tarleton,located in the south entrance of theAdminisration Building, standsproud with tradition.See page 26 for more information.2
Despite the divorce, John and Mary Louisa remained friends, and they corresponded intermittently.Tarleton kept the letters in a trunk. She frequently questioned who would inherit Tarleton’s property andexpressed concern that he would die in a “small uncomfortable room with no good bed to lie on.”Tarleton returned to his lands in Erath and Palo Pinto counties in 1880, walking from Waco witha suitcase and his money concealed in square-toed shoes and patches on his clothes. He arrived in Santolooking more like a tramp than a merchant.The Indians had left his land, but they had been replaced by squatters. Tarleton paid the people forimprovements they had made and had the area surveyed. Unable to sell the plots, he fenced off the tenthousand acres and began ranching. Cattle with the “TRTN” brand on the left side were shipped fourhundred at a time. The price of cattle dropped, and Tarleton lost large sums of money before he hired alawyer and began disposing of his holdings.The only existing photograph of John Tarleton,a pioneer of Erath County and the founder ofTarleton State University.Small in stature, Tarleton was considered miserly and eccentric by many, but he was strictly honest.He paid his way in full and was fair to hired hands and associates. When his clothing became worn, herepaired them himself. Tarleton walked almost everywhere he went and would often buy 10 cents worth ofcheese and some crackers and lean against a building to eat. Although he owned a horse, he decided it wastoo expensive and did not keep it.Resentful of the hardships during his youth and his missed opportunities for an education, Tarletonsent many of his neighbor children to school.Tarleton hired J. Collin George to represent him in a legal dispute among ranchers. George not onlywon the case, he earned the confidence and respect of his client. After that, the firm of George and Martin3
handled all of Tarleton’s legal affairs. This association between rancher and lawyer was to play an importantrole in the establishment of the Texas college which bears his name.In his will, Tarleton said he had about 85,000 which he would like to donate to a school. He firstconsidered leaving the money for a school in Palo Pinto and then Weatherford, but George proposedStephenville. Tarleton had had an unfortunate encounter with a tax collector in Stephenville and was notpleased with the idea of leaving his money there. George persuaded him, however, and the bequest was leftto the struggling Stephenville college that was doomed unless financial aid arrived.Tarleton contracted typhoid fever in the fall of 1895 and died on September 11, 1895. In additionto the funds for John Tarleton College, his property in Tennessee was willed to establish John TarletonInstitution.John Tarleton College opened its doors on September 3, 1899with W. H. Bruce as president. In 1917, the college became part ofThe Texas A&M University System and the name was changedto John Tarleton Agricultural College.Tarleton State University’s OriginalBuilding, the John Tarleton College.4
Tarleton CreedBy Robert WoodStudent, John Tarleton Agricultural College, 1927–28Before I came to Tarleton I had only a vague idea of what school spirit really means. I had nodefinite conception of just how much a school could mean to me. But I had been here only a short whileuntil I became a small part of the school, and the school a large part of me. Now Tarleton holds a spot in myheart that no other school will ever be able to reach. Every true Tarletonite is imbued with this spirit, whichis simply and beautifully expressed in our Tarleton Creed.I believe in Tarleton; not that there are not other schools with admirable features worthy of a student’sallegiance; but for me Tarleton is the best school on earth. I believe in her fundamental principles. I love herprofessors; I believe in her students, in their desire for the best and their ability to realize it in their lives.I believe it is my duty to support Tarleton in everything; not to be blind to her faults, but to setmyself to their eradication; not to expect of my school any higher conduct than of myself as an individual,but to make my conduct conform to the highest ideals.I believe in Tarleton’s mission, a mission in every good movement.I believe the hand of Providence is clearly discernible in Tarleton’s history, and that full recognitionand place should be given to God in our school life.5Dean J. Thomas Davis proudly marches on thefront line with Tarleton cadets.
Oh! Our hearts with joy are thrillingFight for Victory, Fight for Honor,when the Tarleton Colors wave,And success will crown the fight;And our spirits rise with raptureALL HAIL the proud defenders of thewhen the Tarleton sons are brave;Purple and the White!On Ye Tarleton, On Ye Tarleton(Second verse, no longer sung)Break right through that lineOn Ye Tarleton, On Ye TarletonEver forward, ever onwardStrive for ideals highWe’ll get there or dieGuard your standards, your traditionsOn Ye Tarleton, On Ye Tarleton,Raise them to the skyFight for VictoryOn Ye Tarleton, On Ye TarletonFight, Texans*, Fight, Fight, Fight!Biggest and the bestand win this game.Oh Tarleton, How I love youarletonTColor SongYe TarletonOn(FightSong)None have guessed.*originally worded TarletonThe lyrics to “On Ye Tarleton” were written in 1920by H.A. Schmidt, a voice professor at Tarleton.6
The True Flame(Centennial Song)Like a beacon in the darknessAnd the present generationShines our alma mater bright.Offers honor to the nameAs one hundred bonfires burningOffers honor to the name!Guide us homeward through the night.Stand upon this lush plateauThrough the joys and tearsThey’ll know Tarleton is beside themTarleton Spirit has remained.As their paths they choose to goSince the founding generationA century of choiceBrought honor to the name,With a steadfast voice,Brought honor to the name!Tarleton Spirit flames anew.In our everglowing embersJoin all Tarleton generationsShines Tarleton’s bright pure callStanding at the fires so true,To a culture of distinctionIn her varied hallowed halls.Friend of field and range,Through ten decades of changeBurns an ever glowing flame.7When our future generationsFor one hundred yearsStanding at the fires so true!Music: J. HooperLyrics: S. Dodson/J. Hooper
William Herschell Bruce 1899–1900James Duncan Hughlett Edgar Elliott Bramlette 1900–1906James Franklin Cox Frank M. Martin 1906–1908James Thomas Davis (dean) 1919–1945J. D. Sandefer 1908–1909E. J. Howell 1945–1966Elzy Dee Jennings 1909–1911William Oren Trogdon 1966–1982George J. Nunn 1911–1912Barry Baird Thompson 1982–1990Dennis Patrick McCabe 1991–2008Roswell W. Rogers 1912F. Dominic Dottavio 1913Pof residentsTarleton1913–19192008–present8
arleton’sTEducationalEvolutionca. 1808 John Tarleton born1865John Tarleton walks to Texas1895John Tarleton dies1896Classes first met1899Official founding date1906John Tarleton College became a junior college academy program1917John Tarleton College became part of The Texas A&M University System(name changed to John Tarleton Agricultural College)1935Founding of the Tarleton Ex-Students Association1949John Tarleton Agricultural College becomes known as Tarleton State Collegeto reflect the liberal arts offerings91953The academy division at Tarleton was discontinued1959Tarleton became a four-year, degree granting institution1970Coordinating board approved masters level courses1973Tarleton State College became Tarleton State University1999Tarleton State University-Central Texas established2003Coordinating board approved doctorate level coursesJohn Tarleton College’sfirst graduating class, 1903.
he SpiritTof TarletonYby J. Louis Evanses, I am the spirit of Tarleton. I was born in 1899 from the soul of an itinerant farmer.I suffered the pangs of early childhood with James Cox, Pearl Chamberlin, Charles Froh, George OllieFerguson, and Charlie Hale.I was with Governor Ferguson in 1917 when he made Tarleton a part of the Texas A&M College, and taughtwith D. G. Hunewell, Pearl Mahan, H. C. Doremus, and Jack English.I nursed the sick with Louise Barekman, and I laid a cornerstone with J. Thomas Davis.I sowed the fields with Monroe Wells, and I wrapped the Maypole with Laura Fellman.I was in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” with J. Dixon White when he shot a 57 on a par 72 course.I won 86 consecutive basketball games with Coach Wisdom, Elmer Finley, Oran Spears, Willie Tate,and Jude Smith, and I brought home 19 state and conference track championships with CoachFrazier, Hugh Wolfe, Ralph Moser, Jack Pettit, and Pence Dacus.I saw war clouds gathering over Europe with Jack McCullough, John Buckner, Tid Watkins, and EdwinDyess, and I was at Pearl Harbor with Clyde Sweeney.I died on the beach at Normandy with Col. James Bender, and I climbed the cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc withGen. Earl Rudder.The JTAC Men’s Basketball Team with CoachWisdom in 1922.10
I fell from the skies over Stuttgart, Germany with John Fielding Higgs, and I flew 30 seconds over Tokyowith Bob “Bullet” Grey.I was in the blood of Elmo Donaho spilled on Heartbreak Ridge.I built a financial empire with Gus Wortham, and I ran Houston Natural Gas with Robert Ray Herring. Iheld the scalpel with Randolph Clark, Norman Shumway, Vance Terrell, and Bud Frazier, and Ishared the classroom with Mae Jones, Dick Smith, Dollie Glover, Doyle Graves, Doc Blanchard,and Joe Autry.I won an Oscar with George Kennedy, and I was on “Eyewitness News” with Marvin Zindler.I went to the National Baseball Finals with Cecil Ballow, Roy Menge, and Mickey Lee, and I was in theKennedy Parade and on the UT Tower with Jerry Flemmons.I claimed a national tennis championship with Buddy Stasney and Wayne Kiser, and I won the Aztec Bowlwith John Dunn, Pat Ballow, Ronald Mays, and Walter Moegelin.Tarleton’s widely known successful rodeoprogram brings nationwide attentionto the University, and attracts studentsfrom many states.I held Todd and Brian McMahon in my arms while they cried for their father, J. D., and I roamed thegridiron with Marvin Brown, Lloyd Corder, and Ricky Bush.I won the national rodeo championships with Johnny Edmondson, Randy Magers, Terry Walls, ConnieWilkinson, Vicki Higgins, Martha Thompkins, and Sally Preston.I was with Governor Price Daniel, Joseph Chandler, Rufus Higgs, Harvey Belcher, and Jack Teddlie whenTarleton became a four year college, and I marched with the Texan Stars.I walked the Halls of Congress with Sam Russell and Charlie Stenholm, and I sat on the bench with ErnestBelcher, J. Curtiss Brown, Don Jones, and James Morgan.11
I toured the Caribbean with the Troubadours, and I played at the World’s Fair with the Jazz Ensemble.I presided over the Senate with Ben Barnes, and I sat on the Railroad Commission with Jim Langdon.I made the laws of Texas with J.P. Word, Carl Hardin, J. Manley Head, Joe Hanna, Bill Meier, MikeMoncrief, and Bob Glasgow.I was on the Coordinating Board with Jack Arthur.I broke the color barrier with Jumper Davis, and I was with Nancy Golden when she became the firstwoman student body president, Guin Sherman Lemke when she was elected president of theAlumni Association, and Deann Moore when she was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.I wore the crown of Miss Rodeo America with Debbie Johnston, and I wore the collar of HomecomingQueen with Jessie.I won All America honors with John Riggs, Randy Winkler, Harlen Wunsch, Moise Pomenay, Tally Neal,Dianna May, Wanda Byrd, Cindy Greer, and James Hawkins, and I set basketball records withJudy Gleaton, Dwayne Johnson, and Ross Taylor.I am the Sunflower Bowl championship ring on the fingers of Gaylon Bowser, Mike Myers, Perry Bukowski,and Craig Hancock, and I high jumped into the National Association of Intercollegiate AthleticsHall of Fame with James Hawkins.I ran the distance with Javier Tamez to become a four-time conference champion, sprinted with ChuckHigh, and went to the national finals with Lane McNamara as Tarleton’s first decathalon perfomer.In 1959, Governor Price Daniel signed theTarleton Four-Year Bill. Standing third from leftis E. J. Howell, Tarleton State College President,and second from right is Dr. D. M. Harrington,Texas A&M Chancellor.12
I was with the Computer Information Systems and Management Department when it was selected the topfour-year educational program in the United States, and I cheered when Dara Robertson wasplaced on the USA Today’s All Academic College Team.I ranked with Jan Lowery as one of the winningest coaches in all divisions of women’s basketball in the U.S.,and I won 12 conference championships and advanced to the national finals three times withWanda Byrd, Vickie Neff, Dianna May, and Jennifer Washington.With the affiliate chapter of the American Chemical Society, I was designated one of the “Outstanding”chapters nationwide, and the only one from Texas.I swirled among hundreds of athletes from throughout the U.S. and Canada as Tarleton hosted the nationaltrack and field finals of the NAIA.I pitched no-hitters and went to the Philadelphia Phillies with David Agado, and I was with JeffreyMcFadden when he became Tarleton’s first All-America basketball player and joined theJan Lowery, one of the winningest coaches inall divisions of women’s basketball in the U.S.,celebrates with her championship Women’sBasketball Team.professional ranks.I blocked and ran to a football record with Eric Lugo, Mike Loveless, Eddie Washington, Brian Lewis,Robert Simpson, Jr., and Bobby Sutton when the Texans posted the first 10-0 season in Tarleton’shistory.I won the Piper Award with Aaron Grant, Don Zelman, and Tim Flynn, and I was named Texas Artist of theYear with Covelle Jones.13
I sat on the Board of Regents 23 years with Clyde Wells, and I explored outer space with Millie HughesFulford.I was with E.J. Howell and Bill Trogdon when Tarleton burst from her shell and lifted her wings to the sky.I spread across the heart of Stephenville as TSU’s physical facilities mushroomed, and I rumbled across Texaswith the Alumni Association chapters.I was the Mace at the inauguration of Barry B. Thompson, and I graduated with Emily Jane.Yes, I have the spirit of Tarleton, and by the grace of God I’ll always have.Tarleton graduate Millie Hughes-Fulford wasa payload specialist aboard the Earth-orbitingColumbia space shuttle.14
About the AuthorA Stephenville native, J. Louis Evans attended John Tarleton Agricultural College from 1933 to1941. After serving in the military, Evans returned to Tarleton in 1952 to manage the College Store. Heleft in 1958 to enter private business and over the years worked for a number of newspapers including theStephenville Empire Tribune, the Hamilton Herald and the San Marcos Record.Evans was elected Mayor of Stephenville four times, was company commander of the StephenvilleNational Guard, president of the Lions Club, American Legion Commander and Chamber of CommerceDirector. He was named Stephenville Jaycees “Outstanding Young Man” in 1959 and was honored asDistinguished Alumnus of Tarleton in 1975.In 1970 he was named as Tarleton’s Director of Development and Executive Director of the TarletonAlumni Association and served for four years in that position before leaving to become editor of the SanMarcos paper. He returned to Tarleton in 1976 to resume his role as Executive Director of the TAA andserved as Director of Information. He retired in 1984.Out of respect for his long association with the University, Evans was invited to speak at theDecember 1984 graduation. His only daughter, Emily was among the graduates. His short Tarle
to the funds for John Tarleton College, his property in Tennessee was willed to establish John Tarleton Institution . John Tarleton College opened its doors on September 3, 1899 with W . H . Bruce as president . In 1917, the college became part of The Texas A&M University System and the name was changed to John Tarleton Agricultural College .
