History of the University of Texas at Arlington (1917–1965)
During the Great Depression and World War II, NTAC survived major declines in enrollment and multiple attempts by the state government to close it.
In response to a legal challenge to its segregationist admissions policy, ASC announced its racial integration in July 1962 and admitted its first African American students in September.
Athletics at ASC were dominated by the football team, which won back-to-back Junior Rose Bowls in 1956 and 1957, bringing the college national recognition for the first time.
ASC also created a men's swimming program during the mid-1960s that featured Doug Russell, a collegiate national champion who would go on to win a gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
[3][4] Grubbs was a strong supporter of the state's agricultural, industrial, and mechanical schools, which he believed provided a critical education "for the poor boys and girls of Texas".
[14] In fall 1921, the college established its Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), to which the War Department assigned Captain Carl A. Bishop and Lieutenant L. W. Caine.
[22] Nonetheless, state funding for GVC during this time is described by historian and author Gerald Saxon as "relatively stable", noting that it provided a "basic level of support".
[32] Male students at GVC could join the Star Literary or Wilsonian debating societies, the Glee Club, or the Young Men's Christian Association.
[22] In May 1923, GVC was renamed North Texas Agricultural College (NTAC) due to the rapid expansion of its liberal arts curriculum, the fact that it was no longer just a vocational institution, and its quickly growing enrollment.
[37] Prior to being named dean of NTAC, he was the principal of the Lingleville public school and subsequently worked in the education department of Stephen F. Austin State Teacher's College in Nacogdoches.
[43] A survey conducted by NTAC shortly after Davis arrived revealed North Texas to be in particular need of skilled workers in fields such as animal husbandry, aviation, dairying, the electrical trades, and mechanical engineering.
[42] However, in December 1932, the firm of Griffenhagen and Associates published a report for the state legislature on NTAC's operations, concluding that the Davis administration had not done enough in the face of the depression.
[49] The report made numerous other suggestions to NTAC, ranging from discontinuing all agriculture and education courses to eliminating 14 faculty positions, the associate dean, and most student assistants.
[57] Courses changed due to the war as well, with new offerings in subjects such as aerial photography and camouflage along with a new flight training program,[57] one of only 13 at colleges or universities that was conducted by the Civil Aeronautics Authority.
[60] In April 1945, Davis prepared a report for Texas A&M's president and board that painted an optimistic picture of the future of NTAC, most notably predicting an enrollment of 2,500 shortly after the end of the war.
He argued that NTAC's location in North Texas, large student body, and relatively low cost per credit hour made it a strong candidate for senior-college status.
[64] While not immediately successful in obtaining four-year college status, NTAC supporters did succeed in convincing the A&M system and the state government to rename the school.
[66] In addition to hosting the library, College Hall was also home to the NTAC Exchange Store (PX), which sold accessories, military uniforms, and school supplies.
The second was a men's dormitory built with federal Public Works Administration funding known as Davis Hall, which opened in 1936 and was eventually renamed Brazos House.
[70] The student body elected cheerleaders, class officers, representatives on the Student-Faculty Committee, and a homecoming court consisting of a king, queen, princess, and escorts.
[74] Student behavior was strictly controlled at NTAC: a curfew was enforced starting at 7:20 pm every night, dancing was forbidden, firearms were prohibited, and demerits were given for rules infractions.
[96] By the late 1950s, with the support of A&M system chancellor M. T. Harrington and the City of Arlington, President Hereford began acquiring land on both sides of Cooper Street for a proposed ten-year, $10-million building program.
[99] In 1965, ASC opened its new Arlington State College Multipurpose Auditorium (renamed Texas Hall in 1968) with a performance by jazz musician Louis Armstrong.
[105] In February 1957, Metroplex business leaders and Vandergriff addressed the Texas Commission on Higher Education (TCHE) in support of four-year status for ASC.
[114] In 1962, after Ernest Hooper, Jerry Hanes, and Leaston Chase III were denied admission to ASC on account of race, they sought legal representation.
[120] In December 1964, these long-standing tensions between ASC and the Texas A&M board of directors reached a fever pitch, as many supporters of the Arlington college believed that their interests were being neglected.
[122] On January 6, 1965, Texas A&M president James Earl Rudder met with key ASC officials and student government officers as well as Vandergriff, Tarrant County state senator Don Kennard, and members of the Dallas and Fort Worth chambers of commerce in an attempt to alleviate their fears.
However, Rudder failed to commit to resolving any of ASC's three biggest concerns: how quickly it could offer graduate programs, its need for additional funds for building construction, and its role and level of autonomy in a restructured A&M system.
The second preferred to leave the system entirely, which was supported by most of the students, alumni, and faculty as well as Vandergriff, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, and state legislators representing the region.
During the ASC era, the college encouraged the creation of student clubs and societies based on interest as well as professional and social organizations, which grew rapidly in number between the late 1950s and mid-1960s.
