History of Lamar University

The idea for a public junior college in Beaumont's South Park was formed by Louis R. Pietzsch.

The next year, 1933, the separation of the college from South Park High School began with construction of new facilities.

These changes occurred during the troubled days of the Great Depression, a time when many institutions faltered, but Lamar continued to grow.

In 1938, about half of the students were employed by the college at wages that enabled them to earn all or part of their tuition, fees and textbooks.

In the 21 months between the election of September 1940 and June 8, the day classes would begin at the new campus, significant changes were undertaken.

Other than the shared facilities, the cord tying Lamar College to the South Park School District had been cut.

By 1942, the college was completely independent of the South Park school district, and operations moved to the current campus.

The initial attempt in 1947, led by Texas Representative Jack Brooks failed, but the following year the bill passed both houses.

On June 14, 1949, Governor Beauford Jester signed the bill creating Lamar State College of Technology with the new entity to focus on engineering and science, an emphasis that continues today.

African American veterans of World War II who returned to Southeast Texas found they had no opportunities for postsecondary education or vocational training and chafed over Lamar becoming state supported while it still barred their admission solely on the grounds of race.

In 1952, James Briscoe, a native Beaumonter and graduate of Charlton-Pollard High School, applied to Lamar.

Briscoe, a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta since 1950, at the urging of his parents and the Beaumont NAACP, applied to Lamar and was accepted.

Lamar Cecil, the federal judge the case came before, ruled on 30 July 1956, that Lamar's “white youth” only admissions policy was unconstitutionality and that September a total of twenty-six blacks were admitted to the college amid violent protests at the campus gates and throughout the region for a number of weeks until Texas Rangers arrived and the rule of law restored.

Lamar Institute of Technology was created in 1990 to provide technical, business, health and industrial education through programs two years or fewer in length.