College Station Texas 1938-1988_Balliew, Deborah Lynn r�
y
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
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1938/ 1988
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Deborah Lynn Balliew
Intaglio Press
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College Station, Texas
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Copyright 0 1987 by Intaglio Press.
All rights reserved
Ubrtry of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Balliew,Deborah Lynn, 1956-
College Station,Texas 1938-1988.
1.College Station(Tex_)—History. 2.College
Station[Tex.)—Description—Views. I.Title.
F394.C694B35 1987 976.4'242 87-22599
ISBN 0-944091.00.8
Manufactured in the United States of America
FIRST EDITION
For
TIMOTHY ROBERT McWIL.LL MS
My precious brother whom my
family and I lave and dearly mass
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Contents
Acknowledgments 5
Introduction 6
Chapter 1. "Before the City" g
Chapter 11. Incorporating and Organizing College Station 20
Chapter 111. The Langford Administration 1942 - 1966 SO
Chapter IV. A New Direction, 1966 - 1974 41
Chapter V. Modern City, 1974 - 1988 54
Notes 101
Appendix 109
Acknowledgments
A word of gratitude is due to the College Station City My sincerest appreciation is extended to Dr.
Council which made this rewarding experience available to Herbert H. Lang, Professor of History at Texas A&M
me and generously funded the project. Mayor Gary Halter University, for his guidance in directing this research. He
and Councilwoman Patricia Boughton especially showed provided latitude that I might learn through this expert-
continued interest in the history and were always willing ence and offered perceptive suggestions and corrections
to answer my questions. City staff members Karen Dick- that greatly enhanced this manuscript. I am also grateful
son, Shane Dillard, Dian Jones, and particularly, Pamela to Dr. Claude H. Hall and Dr. Melvin C. Schroeder who
Finer Jones and Janus Schwartz provided enthusiastic en- served on my graduate committee.
couragement. I cannot adequately thank Jan for her kind- Publication of the book has been supported by the
ness and support. She not only spent late nights typing the City of College Station and the Historic Preservation Com-
thesis and transcribing the interviews, but she also assured mittee. Committee members include Lois Beach, Paul
me that she would be there when I needed any help. Van Riper, Peggy Ovens, Norma Teets,John Paul Abbott,
I am indebted to Jeffrey P. Balliew for his constant Maggie McGraw, Patricia Boughton and {Gary Halter,
support and for traveling 800 miles to reproduce photo- Chairman. Their efforts and those persons who contrib-
graphs appearing in the thesis. Without his expertise and uted photographs are much appreciated.
generous effort, I surely would not have been able to
provide illustrations with this study. I would also like to Deborah L. Balllew
thank my family, especially my mother, who always kept
me in their prayers.
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introduction
Each city, molded by the events and circumstances of individually owned land would forge a proper American
its past, develops an individual identity, yet cannot remain national character. Urban life, as they knew it in Europe,
isolated from other political entities. It interacts with other eroded the common man's foundation of virtue and free-
governmental and social institutions, profoundly affecting dom. Thomas Jefferson, an ardent opponent of large cit-
its neighbors in surrounding areas as well as contributing ies, wrote, "I think our governments will remain virtuous
to the total national urban experience. Scholars recently for many centuries as long as they are chiefly agricultural;
turned their attention to the study of the growth, nature, and this will be as long as there shall be vacant lands in
and influence of cities in America. Professional historians any part of America. When they get piled upon one an-
began to analyze the development of individual cities other in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt
M1 when the 1920 Census disclosed that the United States as in Europe•"
was, for the first time, predominantly urban. Influenced by this rural-agricultural tradition, the
The mushroom growth of American cities in the early American people perceived the rise of the city as a chal-
1900's was the result of an urban trend that began soon lenge to fundamental American values. The emphasis by
after the Civil War. The profound economic developments city dwellers on economic gain and the increase of mecha-
of the post-war era stimulated the expansion of existing niaation in industries produced an atmosphere of sterility
cities and led to the establishment of new ones. The use of and impersonality. A lonely existence amid a crowd, char-
modem farm machinery, a manifestation of the Agricul- acterized urban lifestyle. Mark Twain referred to New
tural Revolution, vastly increased the output of agricul- York as "a splendid desert — a domed and steepled soli-
tural goods, but also displaced many farmers who were tude, where a stranger is lonely in the midst of a million of
compelled to find work in the industries of the burgeoning his race." Although criticism never abated, cities expanded
cities. The railroads facilitated the movement of raw and multiplied. By the late 1800s the industrial city had
materials and food across the nation, and thus encouraged become an integral part of the American system.
large scale manufacturing and the evolution of national As the United States became ever more urbanized,
markets. This phenomenon of urban growth in the United the need to comprehend the complexities, characteristics,
States coincided with world-wide change on a vast scale. and potential of cities increased proportionately. In the
The mechanization of agriculture and the opening up of 19th century, leaders had little experience with urban
fertile farming areas in the American West, Argentina, growth.The individual city burgeoned without constraints,
and Australia along with urbanization prompted old and new problems, unique to urban life, arose. officials,
World farmers to migrate to areas affording opportunity. possessing only a vague awareness of their own city's his-
Many Americans, their ideas shaped by their rural tory and without precedence for referral, experimented
heritage, viewed the increase in the number and size of with sometimes bizarre solutions to problems. Their incon•
cities with suspicion. The United States had always been an sistent efforts and the lack of orderliness in city develop-
agricultural nation. The founding fathers stressed the im• ment did little to further improvement of conditions.
portance and advantages of an agrarian society. They be- Charles Glaab, in The American City: A Documentary History,
lieved that agriculture was economically essential to the described these efforts and the uneasiness that they pro-
developing country, and that the discipline of farming duced. He wrote, "Each city, large and small, is like a
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palimpsest, marked with hasty erasures, corrections, re- The growth of the City of College Station, Texas is
building, and redirection. Each city is the sum of its his- analogous in many ways to the growth of other American
tory. We become aware of this not primarily from any cities. Yet, College Station has encountered incidents vastly
sense of sentimental tradition or local loyalty, but from different form the normal urban experiences. The city's
the friction of daily urban life." inception occurred with the establishment of the Agricul-
one of the keys to understanding the mechanisms of tural and Mechanical College of Texas, and the location of
a modern city is to have an appreciation for its history. the A&M College can be attributed in good measure to the
The knowledge of how the fragments that make up a city's work of the citizens of Bryan, Texas. Thus, the history of
life pieced together illuminates the way it developed and Texas A&M University and Bryan are inextricably mixed
the manner in which it did. History provides a basis by with the history of College Station. The prime purpose of
which past growth can be scrutinized and effective policies this study is to provide a history of the city of College
can be formulated. While most civic leaders strive ulti- Station. But, more than a recital of historic records, the
mately to achieve similar goals and have comparable pri- intent is to explain how the city developed, what events
orities, a city is the product of its unique circumstances shaped its character, and what influenced its leaders to
and of the activities and ideas of the particular people who govern the city as they did. The study, it is hoped, will also
comprise its citizenry. The distinctive character of each city provide a means to evaluate the past and to direct future
evolves because a city is the product of human nature. endeavors.
Chapter I death, to Spanish settlements in northern Mexico. Histori-
ans suggest that Moscoso reached the place where the
Brazos River crosses the Old San Antonio Road before he
turned backs Domingo Teran de los Rios, the first provin•
Before the Cat cial governor of Texas, blazed El Camino Real or the Old
San Antonio Road in 1691 with the purpose of establishing
a direct route from Monclava, the capital of the province,
Brazos County is delta-shaped, outlined by the Brazos to the missions in East Texas. The route developed into
River to the west and by the Navasota River to the east. the major thoroughfare of Spanish Texas. Consequently,
most earl Texan travelers passed aloe what later be.
The confluence of the two rivers marks the southern tip of Y P g
the county, and the Old San Antonio Road delineates the came the northern boundary of Brazos County. Moses
ed to Sanourne h when e
northern boundary. Angles-American colonization of this Austin used this road in 1820 w journeyed
part of Texas did not begin until the 1840s. Other cultures Antonio to ask the Spanish governor for permission to
had previously utilized the land, but none had established settle Anglo-American families in Texas.
permanent residence. The Spanish government granted Moses Austin the
Indians periodically inhabited what is now Brazos right to settle 300 families in Texas,but Austin died before
County. They were the friendly, semi-nomadic Wichita he saw his dream brought to fruition. His son, Stephen F.
tribes, the Tawakonis and the Wacos, and the nomadic Austin, promised his father that he would carry on the
Tonkawas. Several of these tribes lived throughout Central colonization plans. The younger Austin traveled across
Texas, and the Wichitas ranged as far north as Kansas.' Texas from Nacogdoches in the northeast to La Bahia
The semi-agricultural Tawakonis and the Wacos cultivated along the coast searching for a suitable area to settle cola-
corn, squash, and beans and constructed underground nists. He was most impressed with the region south of the
granaries to preserve seeds. The men of the tribes hunted Old San Antonio Road lying between the Colorado and
buffalo in the area comprising present-day Brazos, Robert- the Brazos Rivers.' Austin began bringing people into
son, Milam, Limestone, and Grimes counties until the Texas in the fall of 1821. That year Robert Millican estab•
Cornanches and the Cherokees invaded their hunting fished the first Anglo-American settlement in the Brazos
grounds in the late 1700s.1 The first American settlers County area.6 In 1824 he received title to two and one-half
coexisted peacefully with the Tawakonis, Wacos, and the leagues of land centered around the present town of Milli-
Tonkawas, but often encountered trouble with the can. Most of Austin's first settlers, however, chose home-
Comanches. sites in areas further south.
For approximately 300 years, Texas belong to the Richard Carter and his family, from Morgan County,
Spanish empire. Although the Spaniards never colonized Alabama, were among the last group of colonists intro-
the Brazos county area, Spanish explorers, officials, and duced by Stephen F. Austin. In 1831 Carter received a
citizens frequently moved through the region. In 1542 Luis league of land from the Mexican government, and by
de Moscoso de Alvarado attempted to lead Hernando de October of that year, had erected a house on Saline Creek,
Soto's men from the Arkansas River, the place.of de Soto's later renamed Carter Creek, two miles east of the present
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Texas A&M University. Thus, Richard Carter became Col- 1842, the name "Brazos" was substituted for Navasota.
lege Station's earliest resident. His land grant encompassed The reason for making this change remains unclear.
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much of what is College Station today.' Most of the inhabitants of the newly formed county
People living between the Navasota and Brazos rivers were engaged in raising crops. Some residents, however,
in the early 1830s were most troubled by sporadic attacks began capturing wild cattle for a distant market — an
of Comanches and other hostile Indians.James Dunn and activity that was a prototype of the cattle industry that
Eleazer Wheelock built homes that also served as fortifica- developed after the Civil War. The women provided the
Lions, and Parker Fort was constructed in 1834 at the basic amenities of civilization and were hospitable to the
headwaters of the Navasota.' Settlers raised a company of increasing number of travelers passing through the
fifty men to fight Indian raiders. The Indians, however, county. Sam Houston was one of the numerous guests
did not represent the only danger. Mexican troops moved that Mrs. Carter accommodated during those early years."
through the area in pursuit of rebellious Texas patriots Social gatherings among the women were not only popu-
who were assembled southeast of the county. To avoid the lar but necessary because amidst the wilderness surround-
Mexicans and hostile Indians, the families, including the ings, they afforded one of the few links to civilization. In
Carters, retreated to the forts in 1835 and remained there 1879 Kate Efnor, in her historical sketch of Brazos County,
until Texas won its independence in 1836. wrote that the ladies "being cut off from all intercourse
The 1840s ushered in an era of increased prosperity with the outside fashionable world, were fertile in ex-
far residents in the area that continued until the Civil War. pedients to establish and maintain the highest possible
The creation of Brazos County was one of the first major degree of sociability among themselves . . . ' 12 Quilting
achievements of that period. In 1837 Washington County bees were attended by women living as much as fifteen to
had been organized. It originally included all the land twenty miles away.
between the Brazos and the Navasota rivers and the area Early settlers were indeed fortunate in the amount
southwest of the junction of the two rivers. People in that and variety of natural resources in Brazos County. A corn-
part now included in Brazes County became dissatisfied fortable lifestyle could be sustained by utilizing the abun-
with their initial local government. For one thing, the dant wildlife and native vegetation. Large herds of wild
county seat, Mount Vernon, was fifty miles away, and to horses and cattle roamed the area, and wild game such as
reach it required the crossing of the Brazos River which deer, bear, javelina, turkey, quail, and prairie chicken
was almost impassible for as much as six months of the abounded. Men came from great distances to hunt. One
year. On January 13, 1841, citizens residing between the man from Washington County even referred to Brazos
two rivers petitioned for the creation of a new county.' By County as his "poultry yard."'I Women filled their aprons
an Act of the Congress of the Republic of Texas on Janu- with eggs laid by the prairie chickens in the open fields.
ary 30, 1841, that part of Washington County lying be- Using the bounteous indigenous fruits --• blackberries,
tween the Brazos and the Navasota rivers became dewberries, wild plums, strawberries, persimmons, grapes,
Navasota County. A government was organized in the and red haws, they preserved jellies and jams and made
spring, and by October 1841 the town of Boonville, named wine."
in honor of settler Mordecai Boon, was designated the Water was one of the few resources that was not
county seat. At the next session of Congress in January always to be found in abundance. There were only a few
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wells that could be counted on. Most families took up land 1860. Not only was there an increase in total population
along rivers or creeks in order to be assured of an ade- and in the number of slaves, but the amount of land in
quate water supply. But even the creeks that flowed did so cultivation and the value of farms had mushroomed. The
intermittently, and it was not unusual for farmers to haul number of horses, mules, work oxen, and cattle also ex-
water five or six miles.11 paraded; the increase was greatest in the number of cat-
One active member of the region, Harvey Mitchell, de.19 During this period of extremely rapid economic
began his career in Brazos County as a school teacher. A growth, the Houston and Texas Central Railroad,
native of Tennessee, Mitchell soon became involved in chartered in 1848, was extended to Millican in the south-
county politics. He was elected to various local offices and ern limits of the county. The genesis of the City of Bryan,
participated in a myriad of activities. He later played a the county's most influential trading center, had been
major role in the establishment of the Agricultural and rooted in the anticipation that the railroad would continue
Mechanical College of Texas in the county. His influence northward through the county.
penetrated so many aspects of community life that he William Joel Bryan, a nephew of Stephen F. Austin,
became known as the "Father of Brazos County."16 aided county development when he sold part of his land
The Carter family returned to their one-room log grant in the northern part of Brazos County as a right-of
cabin on Carter Creek in December 1841, and Carter de- way for the Houston and Texas Central. The townsite of
veloped a prosperous farm and ranching operation. In the Bryan was laid out in 1859 along the proposed railroad
1850 Census, Carter listed his occupation as farmer, and route. Surveyors set aside land for a courthouse, school,
reported that he owned 850 head of cattle, five horses, and Methodist church. The coming of the Civil War
and five slaves. At that time only three other Brazos delayed construction of the railroad although the route
County residents owned more cattle." already had been surveyed and graded as far as Hearne,
Using Negro slaves to manage the cattle, Carter ex- some twenty miles north of Bryan. In 1860 Bryan sold his
panded his ranching operation. The slaves' duties included interests in town lots to Abram Groesbeeck and W. R.
the rounding up of the cattle for branding and driving Baker, members of the board of directors of the Houston
them to Galveston where they were shipped to New and Texas Central Railroad. With the end of the war, the
Orleans. Although there was only a limited market for town again boomed. County residents encouraged the
Texas cattle before the Civil War, Carter's wealth multi- growth by voting in October 1866 to move the county seat
plied. The 1860 Census revealed that he owned 1000 head from Boonville to Bryan, a better location. The most effec-
of cattle, thirty-one horses, and twenty-two slaves. He was tive stimulus, however, carve when the railroad reached
considered to be one of the top cotton and corn producers Bryan the following year.20
in the county. Between 1846 and 1860, Carter's estate had The moral atmosphere of Bryan was characteristic of
increased from $5800 to $30,000. Much of this increase a modern frontier town. Stores unabashedly stayed
may be ascribed to an increase in the value of land and opened on Sunday. Numerous saloons encouraged drink-
cattle. The most significant factor, however, was the in. ing and gambling; on occasion shootings broke out. Busi-
creased value of slaves." ness continued to prosper, and more proprietors were
Carter's prosperity represented a .pattern that had attracted to the area. The city was formally incorporated
evolved throughout Brazos County between 1850 and
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in 18 7 2; city officials were appointed by the Republican derived from donated federal land, that would supply the
dominated state legislature.2' financial means to start a college.
The Civil War had had a devastating effect on the In 1866, Texas accepted 180,000 acres of federal land
original investors in Brazos County. Many citizens lost for the endowment of a land grant institution which was
much of their wealth with the freeing of slaves. Richard to be established within five years. Hampered by problems
Carter's estate, valued at $44,000 before 1865, had plum- arising from Reconstruction, Texas officials delayed creat-
meted to $9,800 by the close of the war. Although he had ing the school until the deadline set by Congress drew
lost three-fourths of his fortune, he still remained in the near. On April 17, 1871 the Agricultural and Mechanical
county's upper economic bracket.22 In order to improve College of Texas was officially established." Governor Ed-
conditions and increase the money supply, businessmen mund Davis appointed three commissioners,John G. Bell,
knew they must attract new settlers into the region. Vari- F. E. Grothaus, and George B. Slaughter, to select a suita-
ous enterprises were inaugurated. Promoters advertised ble location for the college within thirty days. It was
land in foreign language papers, staged land give-aways, hoped, however much in vain, to construct the college
and provided temporary homes for new arrivals." buildings by July 18 71 in order to comply with the terms
Leaders took advantage also of a new interest in of the agreement."
agriculture and engineering. The Bryan Male and Female The commissioners surveyed many sites, including
Seminary had been established with the purpose of con• ones in Austin, Galveston, Waco, San Marcos, Tehuacana,
centrating on those subjects. Harvey Mitchell organized and Kellum Springs and Piedmont Springs in Grimes
the Central Texas Agricultural and Mechanical Association County. When the men visited Bryan, the citizens lavishly
of Bryan in 1871 to sponsor annual fairs. The zeal behind entertained them, tentatively promising to contribute
these efforts to make the county more attractive economi- $20,000 or $30,000 to the college. Although the commis-
cally culminated in a drive to secure the location of the sioners were impressed, they would not commit them-
state's first public institution of higher education near selves to the area. In fact Commissioner Bell was eager to
Bryan.21 Ironically, this effort also sparked the beginning establish the college at Bellville in Austin County. On
of a rival community —College Station. June 20, 1871 Harvey Mitchell met with the commission in
Houston and on his own volition, donated 2,250 acres in
an effort to guarantee the establishment of the institution
The Beginning of the College Community near Bryan. The commissioners agreed to accept the con-
tribution if they received title to the land within forty-eight
Although a harrowing civil war monopolized the ac- hours. Otherwise, a site in Bellville would he selected.21
tivities of the United States' government from 1860 to With the help of other Bryan citizens, Mitchell pro-
1865, several remarkably progressive pieces of legislation, cured the necessary deeds and obtained money to
not directly related to the conflict, emerged from Con- purchase the needed land. Property of Harvey Mitchell,
gress. One such measure, the Morrill Land Grant Act of J. Frederick Cox, and Rebecca and Nelson Rector made up
1862, sought to make a utilitarian education, emphasizing the 2,416 acre tract of land that was "granted, bargained,
agriculture and mechanical arts, accessible to the working sold and released to A. and M. College" on June 21, 18 71
class. The Act provided states with a permanent fund, in Houston. Brazos County later held a special election
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approving the sale of$22,000 in bonds to pay for the land Although the site of the state's first public institution
appropriated to the college.28 of higher education had both its strengths and weaknesses,
The parcel of land designated for the new college was the decision to build had been made. The next step was to
four miles south of Bryan. The institution was to be con- construct adequate campus facilities so that the instruction
structed on the highest summit of the region. An immense in agricultural and mechanical arts might proceed
prairie, containing a scattering of post oak trees, en- smoothly.
veloped the site; only thirty acres in the donated Rector Work began on Old Main, the college's first building,
section had ever been cultivated. The area had previously in the fall of 1871. Unfortunately, progress ceased the
served as an assembly point for cattle drives, and a few following summer when the foundation and already er-
wild mustangs and longhorns still roamed the open coun- ected walls were found to be faulty. After the hiring of a
tryside. Other animal inhabitants included horned toads, new architect and the letting of new contracts, the build-
scorpions, rabbits, deer, and wolves.19 ing was completed in January 1875.11 The commission
Not all residents of Texas were satisfied with the site hoped to open the school in the fall of 1875, but neither
selected for the school. Some insinuated that the decision student nor faculty housing had been assembled, and
was shaded with intrigue, and claimed that the county's there was as yet no dining facility. In 1871 the legislature
bid was the lowest one made. Others objected to the passed a measure requiring the college to provide suitable
desolate environment. They argued that the "lands therea- buildings to accommodate professors and their families;
bout were among the poorest in the state, unfit for agricul• however, the legislators failed to appropriate funds for the
ture and that the region was very unhealthy.""' homes or for a student "boarding hall" until 1875. with
Although there were complaints about the surround- the completion of Steward Hall, later renamed Gathright
ings and lack of salubrious climate, the location was not Hall, and a few houses, the college was ready to open its
without its advantages. Brazos County in 1871 was near doors to the students. That important event took place on
the center of the state's population. The college site was October 4, 1876, with 106 students in attendance." The
well drained, and the Houston and Texas Central Railroad event also signaled the beginning of a new community.
ran through the center of the tract. The first architect for When persuading the commission to locate the col-
the college, Cale G. Forshey, was especially pleased with lege nearby, Bryan citizens had emphasized that the site
the site. He wrote: was "far enough away from evil influences of the city so
that the morals of the students would be protected.""
The grounds I found adapted to the purpose almost as Providing a wholesome environment for students was in-
if designed by stature, or prescribed by a most shillfull deed important. Yet, the college's remoteness virtually pre-
connoWeur. It would be difficult to find any other cluded reliance on the established town for necessary
fault, except the want of crater, and far this purpose we amenities. An interesting turn of events had occurred.
provide most amply by tanks or pools nearly to hand by Bryan citizens, who had worked hard and contributed
nature; And by the cisterns Already reported to you in much money to insure the establishment of the college
the plans of the College building." nearby, found that the distance between the town and the
school encouraged the development of an independent
community closer to the college.
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The college community was defined by a cluster of One building of permanence, the railroad depot, was
campus buildings perched on top of the knoll, and a few constructed in 1883 when the Houston and Texas Central
structures assembled near the railroad track. On campus, began making regular stops at College Station. That same
Old Main and Steward Hall faced west, looking out toward year William C. Boyett, a long-time resident of the sur-
the flagstop along the railroad. A block of five professors' rounding area, became the postmaster. He purchased the
homes stood to the southeast of the central buildings. general store and was awarded a contract to furnish fresh
These two-story brick homes, incorporating a common meat to the college." Apparently, there was little or no
style of architecture, were placed one beside another thus additional developments in the off campus area before the
encouraging the sobriquets, "Quality Row" and "The turn of the century. Because all of the citizens of the
Line."335 fledging community lived on the campus, the college grew
A post office under the supervision of Henry Parsons more rapidly than did the surrounding town. Off campus
stood near the railroad tracks. Letters sent to those on housing and lodging facilities did not become available
campus were addressed to "College Station, Texas." The until the 1920s.
U.S. Post Office Department had designated the commu- It was not an easy task for the college administrators
nity with that title in February 1877. Campus dwellers to bring order to the untamed environment or to furnish
immediately began to refer to their community as College necessary facilities for the campus community; nor did
Station rather than Bryan. By April 1877 Thomas S. Gath- they accomplish these objectives overnight. For the first
right, the first president of Texas A. and M., along with twenty-five years, the campus remained in an inchoate
the other residents began to cross out "Bryan" on the state. Robert Franklin Smith, a professor of mathematics,
letterhead of the college stationery and insert "College described the campus as a "wild waste" which was consid-
Station."16 ered unsafe at night. In a brief memoir of the college's
Although the post office designation suggested the early days, Smith recounted an incident in which an un-
existence of a town, offcampus community growth was identified wild animal peered into the dining room win-
minimal for at least fifty years. In the early years, the dow one night Thirty students and a few professors
Texas A. and M. Board of Directors encouraged off cam- rushed out to kill the predator only to have it escape. "The
pus development. InJune 1877, for example, the directors howling of wolves," Smith recorded, "furnished an every
leased three acres of college land adjacent to the post night and all night serenade."10
office to Henry Parsons, granting him permission to open The college did not have modern utilities until the
a general store provided that no intoxicating liquor would late 1890s. For years an antiquated sewer system served
be sold on the premises. The board was especially eager the inhabitants. Drinking water was collected in cisterns
for the construction of a lodging house for visitors near because well water was sulfurous and corrosive. Wood
the railroad because guests had to be accommodated in stoves heated the dormitories and homes.41 The college
rooms on campus. To anyone who would erect a "house first received electricity in 1890, when the directors ap-
of entertainment," the officials agreed to lease ten acres of proved a contract with the Water, Ice, and Electric Com-
college land west of the railroad.3' Five acres were leased pany of Bryan. A joint investigative committee later
to the second postmaster, Edward B. Pugh, but he never
constructed the much-needed facilities."
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suggested that the institution establish its own indepen- County, a part of the great cotton-producing region of
dent electric plant, and at the same time institute a curricu- Texas, enjoyed uniform temperatures and abundant rain-
lum for training in electrical engineering. The embryonic fall. The fertile upland soil was easily cultivated, yielding a
system went into operation in November 1893.41 variety of crops including cereal grains, vegetables, and
In May 1899 the Texas legislature appropriated fruits. Promotional literature emphasized the excellence of
$104,000 for improvements on the A. and M. campus. bottom lands along the river courses. One pamphlet pro-
The appropriation helped lift the college out of its rudi• claimed that the "richness and fertility of Brazos bottoms
mentary environment. Funds were allotted for such facili• have become famous and their productions are not ex-
ties and improvements as a steam heating plant, a sewage celled in any part of the world.""$ Most importantly, older
system, five new homes for professors, and a new electri- residents, according to the guide, eagerly welcomed imrni-
cal and ice plant." The new additions made the commu- grants into their midst. Inspired by this and similar ac-
nity more self-sufficient. The college was able to provide counts, small communities, populated by native European
for the needs of a moderate size school population. That farmers, germinated throughout the county in the late
ability would lessen with the increased growth of the nineteenth century years.
school. One such settlement, the community of Shiloh, devel-
oped in close proximity to the Texas A. and M. College.
Shiloh, located two miles south of the campus, consisted
Surrounding Rural ]Farm Communities predominantly of Czech immigrants, but also included
families native to Poland and Germany. Turmoil in Cen-
Efforts of Brazos residents to attract new inhabitants tral Europe in the 1880s, accompanied by military oppres-
to the county bore fruit in the late 1870s and early 188Os. sion and religious persecutions, encouraged these people
Immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe migrated to leave their homelands.46
to the United States in large numbers during those years, Frank Stasney, one of the early settlers in the Shiloh
and many made their way to the agricultural fields of area, fled to America to escape the feudalistic system that
Texas. Italians first arrived in Brazos County in 1870s. An shackled the peasants of Central Europe. In 1867 Stasney
Italian steamship line maintained an agent in Bryan, and bought his fast plot of land in Brazos County. In time he
by the late 1880s, Brazos County had the largest colony of would own approximately 550 acres extending west from
Italian farmers in the entire United States." Other immi• Carter Creek to present-day Highway 6. Like Stasney,
grant families settling in the area were recent arrivals from most families in the area purchased enough acreage so
Russia, Germany, Poland, Austria, and two European that their farms stretched two or three miles. Families such
provinces, Bohemia and Moravia, which later were incor- as the Kapchinskies, Blazeks, Tureks, and Boriskies lived in
porated in Czechoslovakia. the same vicinity as the Stasneys. The Sebestas, Bomnskies,
To these agrarian-oriented immigrants, Brazos Hrdlickas, and others settled closer to the Houston and
County represented an excellent environment for begun- Texas Central Railroad line. Immigrant farmers also pur•
ning a new life. Descriptions of the county, such as the one chased land surrounding the college. Some of the families
published in the South and Western Texas Guide for 1878, who settled near the campus were the Taubers to the
encouraged settlement. The guide reported that Brazos north, the Varas to the east, and the Holiks to the south.¢'
14
77.,*L
These encircling, fair-sized farms, populated by only a members pooled their money and bought such modern
handful of people, perhaps served to intensify the isolated equipment as a plow, a walking cultivator, and planters.
condition of the college. The tools belonged to the club, but they were available for
The community of Shiloh, its name derived from use by any member. Those joining the organization paid a
religious origins, developed as did other communities scat- $1.20 membership fee and ten cents a month dues.5c, Over
tered through the county. Rural families, living reasonably time the club evolved from an agriculturally-oriented or-
close, banded together in order to provide support for ganization into a socially-oriented one. The Shiloh Club is
each other. The farmers generally were involved in similar in existence today.
agricultural pursuits. They planted crops for their own Rural living conditions remain primitive for many
families and to sell to the college or to merchants in Bryan. years. Electricity was not furnished to the Shiloh area until
Livestock, such as cattle, goats, hogs, and chickens, was the 1930s; wood stoves and kerosene lamps served as the
raised for the farmer's own use; only a small amount was source of heat and light. Septic tanks also were not in-
sold locally. The families, not always of the same national- stalled until the 1930s; outhouses functioned as the only
ity, strove for the same goals and were not hindered by bathroom facility. Children carried well water to the house
ethnic differences. The children played together even in buckets several times a day. During the summer the
when they did not speak the same language. Herman stifling heat forced families to sleep on the porch which
Krenek, the grandson of Frank Stasney, recounted such a earlier had been splashed with water. "It was tough,"
situation from his childhood days. "We had Polish friends. explain Herman Krenek, "It wasn't easy, but you didn't
[the] Kapchinskies would come in. The boy would talk to know anything better."51
me in Polish. I would talk to him in Czech, and we would The preservation of food also presented a problem.
play all day long."" Some of the harvest could be canned and placed in a cool
Some residents supplemented their farming with cellar. Food used during the week, however, could be kept
other industrious enterprises. Stasney established a vine- from perishing only if protected by ice. Farmers dug a
yard and a mill, and his family enjoyed homemade molas• hole in the ground, placed a block of ice with the produce
ses and wine. He also constructed a blacksmith shop where in the hole, and covered the opening with a cloth. A 100
he repaired his tools along with those of his neighbors. The pound block of ice bought in Bryan on Saturday would last
farmers owned only the basic farming implements which until the following Thursday."
dulled easily with continual use. Stasney spent much time In the autumn hogs were butchered so that meat
sharpening sweeps, hoes, shovels, and other equipment.49 would be available for the evening meals through winter-
Farming with only these rudimentary instruments re- time. During the summer months, preservation of meat
quired tremendous effort on the part of the farmers. More was not possible. One family could not consume all the
efficient equipment was too expensive to be purchased by meat of a slaughtered animal before it became rancid. In
one individual. Six men of the Shiloh community, spurred order to prevent waste, twelve Shiloh families formed a
by this quandary, organized and chartered the Czechoslo- meat club. Each week a family would kill a beef, divide it
vakian Agricultural and Good. Will Club in 1881. The or- into twelve parts, and distribute it among the members. A
ganization, its name first delineated in the Czechoslovakian family received around twelve pounds, which usually
language, became known as the Shiloh Club. The original lasted three days."
15
Each week the farmers in Shiloh traveled into Bryan Bryan. Shiloh Hall remained at the same location until
. The 19 7 5, when it was moved to the northern border of the
P y
to sell their crops and buy essential commodities
family members packed their wagon in the early morning county.58
hours and began their trek along a dirt and gravel path The children of Shiloh attended a county school that
into the county's major town, passing Texas A. and M. was located at the present intersection of Highway 6 and
College on their way. Bryan, in the late 1880s, had become Farm to Market (FM) Road 2818. A two-room building
a manufacturing and trading center. Stores lined the main served forty to fifty students, one room contained the first
streets, and the saloons, located on each block, provided through the sixth grades, and the other held the seventh
entertainment.-4 A grist mill, a cotton• and eighth grades. The children walked to school, carrying
refreshments ad
seed mill, and two planing mills were in operation as well their shoes if it rained. School was in session on the aver-
as a chair factory, a carriage and wagon factory, and a age of five months a year because the money allotted for
cotton gin. Cotton buyers from larger cities were on hand operations lasted only that long. In 1920 the newly-formed
seasonally. By the end of the nineteenth century, buyers A. and M. Consolidated School District absorbed the shipped 20,000 bales from Bryan to Galveston annually." county school.59
After selling their produce and buying weekly supplies, Although the community no longer remains, four
families headed back home and reached their homestead acres in College Station's cemetery connects Shiloh's past
by twilight.-" to the city today. Mrs. William G. Rector deeded four
Many of the farmers in Shiloh sold vegetables, fruits, acres to the Methodist Church in 1870 to be used as a
and livestock to families on campus. Some had regular cemetery for settlers at Shiloh. The Shiloh Club assumed
customers, and delivered eggs and butter each week. the responsibility for keeping up the grounds. When Col
Frank Stasney sold much of his harvest to Bernard Sbisa, lege Station acquired those few acres and the surrounding
the manager for many years of dining facilities on the land for a city cemetery, the Shiloh Club continued to
campus. As a child Herman Krenek accompanied his donate money for the care of the original cemetery.110 The
grandfather to the college where Stasney displayed for community of Shiloh eventually disappeared; its lands
Sbisa a cornucopia of crops —corn, peanuts, cantaloupes, were absorbed by the city. The heritage of the immigrants,
watermelon, peaches, pears, or whatever else was in sea- however, does remain. It is incorporated into the many
son. Stasney also provided Sbisa with some poultry includ• facets of the city's character.
ing squabs or baby pigeons. Since they were considered a
delicacy, Krenek felt certain that only the professors were
Further Development of the Campus Commu-
served the squabs.-'
By the turn of the century, a few commercial estab• pity
lishments were in operation in Shiloh. In 1911 Krenek's
father built a grocery store that remained in business until At the turn of the century, Texas A. and M. was
the 1930s. The Golden Rule Poultry Farm was established gaining recognition and stature as a leading educational
with the purpose of raising and selling chickens on a com• institution. The college curriculum emphasized theoretical
mercial scale. Once a month and on holidays, local people study as well as practical application. For those students
held dances at Shiloh Hall, bringing in orchestras from enrolled in mechanical arts, machine shops and equipment
16
I
provided essential practical experience; those in agricul- campus so that businesses could be established. Eventually
trral studies were introduced to field work and the han- a butcher shop, shoe repair, tailor, barber, and photo
dling of animals.61 gallery offered their services to residents on campus. Boy-
Growth in student population placed demands on the ett was given a five year lease to continue his "first class
school that were difficult to satisfy. Texas A. and M. was grocery store" on college grounds.66 College residents ob-
still very much isolated, engulfed in a sea of prairie and tained access to facilities in Bryan only with the comple-
farmland. The campus itself was barren; only a few trees tion of a trolley line which provided a reliable mode of
stood among the buildings. The sole evidence of landscap- transportation between the two communities.
ing on the college was the line of cedar trees that bordered The ability to furnish an adequate transportation sys-
the road leading from Old Main to the railroad station. tem between Bryan and the college remained at an im-
The roads and sidewalks on campus were primitive. Side- passe for nearly thirty-five years. Houston and Texas
walks, blanketed with a thin layer of cinder and gravel, Central train took college residents into Bryan, but sched-
became, as one resident observed, "small rivulets during uling allowed little time to take care of business. Travelers
the rainy weather."61 in horse-drawn buggies or those on foot could use a sand
one of the constant concerns for college officials in and gravel road that paralleled the railroad tracks and
the new century was the furnishing of housing for students eventually veered east to connect with Bryan's main street.
and faculty and guest accommodations for visitors. As The path, however, was dusty and rutted, and pedestrians
early as 1906, tents served as quarters for some students had right-of-way over wagons." In 1897 faculty members
and were in continual use until after World War 1.11 The organized a bicycle club, and the college financed the con-
school constructed several more cottages for faculty south struction of a bicycle path adjacent to the railroad tracks.
of the drill held and also near the peach orchard on the Professors and their wives cycled between College Station
north side of campus.61 Rooms for visitors were non-exis- and Bryan along the trail for three years, but maintenance
tent. To alleviate this problem, a few faculty members of the path became increasingly difficult, and the club
organized the A. and M. College Club and proceeded to ceased to function in 1900.&8
build The Shirley, a two-story frame building, the first Different presidents of the college promoted the de-
hotel on campus.61 velopment of an effective transportation system. David
A committee appointed by A. and M.'s Board of Franklin Houston, president of Texas A. and M. between
Directors met with citizens of Bryan to encourage them to 1902 and 1905, addressed the Business League of Bryan
provide housing for college employees. The committee on September 1904 and suggested the construction of an
even suggested that Bryan citizens develop a residential interurban railway linking Bryan to the college." No ac•
and commercial area near the college. To facilitate devel- tion was taken until 1908 when O. E. Gammill, a business-
opment, the board requested that W. C. Boyett place some man from Shreveport, Louisiana, agreed to finance the
of his property at the north end of the campus on the construction of a gasoline-powered interurban railway. By
market "so that there may be built adjacent to the college June 1910 the line was making scheduled runs on the hour
a community which would relieve the congested condi- between Bryan and College Station."
tions on campus." When no development occurred by Nicknamed the "Toonerville Trolley," the Bryan•Col-
1912, the directors set aside land on the northern side of lege Interurban transported passengers with two cars that
17
1 I�
could be coupled with special park trailers. The fare was ostriches, an elephant, and a menagerie of native Amen-
it ten cents for a single trip or fifteen cents for a round trip; can animals." By the 1920s college residents were well
1 ticket books, containing passes for fifty rides, were availa- supplied with entertainment and felt less isolated. There
ble for five dollars. The slogan "To College the Easy Way" was a need, however, desired by both the officials of the
advertised the new transportation system, but the ride was institution and residents, for privately-owned homes off
not ,always smooth or without complications. Casey Jones, campus grounds.
the motorman, attempted to run the street cars on sched-
ule, but occasionally the failure of the trolley to start or its The Fist Off-Campus Residential Subdivisions
proclivity to jump the track prevented adherence to the P
posted schedule. The trolley had trouble climbing hills. At The number of faculty homes had grown to seventy.
Hillcrest, a long incline north of the college, passengers five by 1925, and yet, there still was not enough housing
helped push the trolley up the slope. Electric trolley cars,
installed in 1915, had more power and carrying capacity.'` for all the faculty families. The task of apportioning availa-
The Interurban operated until 1927, when the Bryan Trac• ble housing to the faculty was troublesome, and younger
Lion Company replaced the railway with buses. members of the staff felt that the assignments were inequi-
table. Faculty members without enough tenure to receive
Although Bryan was accessible by the thirty-minute
trolley ride, persons connected with the college tended to campus housing had to look for accommodations in
remain on or near the campus. Since the college comma- Bryan.F6 The less desirable housing was smaller, older cot-
nity was still of a modest size, social life on campus was tages scattered along the fringes of the campus. These
pleasant. Card parties and dances were held in faculty dwellings were constructed of wood and hastily assembled.
homes. Picnics were popular during the summer, the "Fish
Ernest Langford recalled that his first home at Texas
Tank" being the favorite picnic spot. The Fish Tank, a A. and M. was the "sorriest, most dilapidated house on
cam us."76 Although he was later assigned a better home,
swimming hale fed by springs, was located three miles P g
from campus near present Easterwood Airport. Young Langford built his own residence in the College Park addi-
couples rode out to the picnic area in hay wagons or tion at the first opportunity. Professors as well as college
traveled in buggies. The highlight of the outing was the officials were encouraged when College Park, the first resi-
consumption of refreshing watermelons which had been dential area adjacent to the campus, opened.
cooling under wet burlap sacks during the day-" College Park, located south of the college's border,
other programs on campus accommodated the re- was launched by Southside Development Company under
sidents' religious and cultural interests. The chapel offered the auspices of Dr. Floyd B. Clark. Dr. Clark, professor of
economics, aloe with four other professors incorporated
worship services on Sunday and devotional hours during g
the week. A Lyceum brought to campus lecturers, male the company on August 4, 1921. Clark had the assurance
quartets, and magicians. The wide veranda of the old of Dr. William B. Bizzell, president of Texas A. and M.,
Mess Hall provided a lovely setting for student dances.73 that when ten residences were erected in the new subdivi-
The college even operated a zoo. Located on the west side sion, college utility lines would be extended to the end of
of the railroad tracks, the zoo housed lions, tigers, snakes, A. and M.'s property where they could be connected to
the privately owned transmission lines. The development
18
I
company bought sixty-six acres south of the campus from streets were poorly constructed, but they allowed access to
Ed Hrdlicka in 1921 and seventeen additional acres in the area. To dispose of the subdivision's garbage, Burgess
1923. Professors were hired to work in their off hours to hired "Mayor" Wash Findley from Wellborn. Burgess re•
aid in the development of College Park. Frederick W. Hen- called vividly garbage day in the neighborhood:
sel, professor of landscape architecture, supervised the
planting of the area and constructed a small lake in the This old black roan, Wash Findley, had a wagon and
center of the subdivision." mule and it was his job to pick up the garbage. . .
The lots in College Park essentially sold themselves; a [Findley]had about three or four kids. The oldest one
salesman was never hired. Southside Development Com- was eleven or twelve and then on down. They would
pany's leaders stipulated that lots could not be sold for always stack the garbage in the wagon. The little white
speculative purposes, and they reserved the rights to buy kids would follow them around. Findley had two or
back the land parcels if no construction on the property three dogs that he lashed onto the wagon with a string
had occurred within three years. The company never lost or somethin& and it was kind of a comedy to see them
money, and there were no foreclosures." coming. . . the kids following, hollerin& and carrying
Hershel Burgess, a former student at Texas on. Findley did that for several years. When the city
A. and M., bought eighty acres of land next to College organized, then the city took over [the garbage pick-
Park and formed the Oakwood Realty Company in 1932. up]. That was real country — real backward way of
He subdivided the property and created Oakwood addi- doing it, but that was all we could do in those days.$1
tion. Burgess was able to take advantage of assistance
offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) The realty companies such as Southside and Oak-
which stimulated homebuilding in the residential areas off wood attempted to provide for the needs of the residents
campus. "It [the FHA-approved loan] made it easy," Bur- but, within a few years, it was apparent that a true govern-
gess explained, "for professors and other A. and M. em• mental organization had become essential. A community
ployees to buy their own homes, and they just filled up my had existed for sixty years, and an offcampus residential
little addition down there pretty Y�.uickl According to area had been developing since the 1920s. At the end of
Burgess, Oakwood was the first FHA-approved project be- the 1930s, a group of college professors gathered together
tween Houston and Dallas.79 to create a town that would better fulfill the needs of their
More residents were moving off`the campus, and yet, community.
a municipal government did not exist to supply essential
services. The burden of providing amenities fell to the
developer of the subdivision. Burgess, for example, erected
poles and electric lines from Oakwood to the A. and M.
campus. The realty company laid water pipes which were
tied onto the college's water system. Residents had to
install their own septic tanks. In order to pay for utility
use, street upkeep, and garbage pick-up, Oakwood Realty
taxed the residents according to the size of their lots.$D The
19
i
C,haPter II medical supplies at Aggieland Pharmacy or Lipscomb's
Pharmacy and groceries at Luke's Campus Grocery or
Charlie's Food Market. Occasionally, families enjoyed a
meal out at The College Inn or at the Texas A. and M.
Incorporating and Organizing College Grill.
Station, 1936 1942 One major reason for off-campus expansion in the
1930s was the corresponding growth of Texas A. and M.
College. The college entered a transitional period which
1 Off campus residents occasional) discussed the merits of propelled the institution forward from its formative past.
P y In July 1931, Texas A. and M. deeded approximately eight
organizing a local government, but they did not succeed in acres along its eastern campus boundary to the State High.
establishing a city until the late 1930s. The leadership that way Department to facilitate the construction of State
college officials had provided the community since its in- Highway 6 from Navasota to Waco. With the completion
ceptian perhaps lessened the urgency to create a separate of Texas. 6 in 1936, the once isolated institution and its
governmental entity. Yet, increased growth of the college community became more accessible to prospective stu-
and the off-campus residential and business areas during dents and residents..
the 1930s magnified the need for municipal incorporation. The school experienced spectacular growth in several
From 1936 to 1942, residents concentrated on bringing areas. From 1934 to 1938 enrollment increased from
the City of College Station into existence and establishing 3,00D to 6,000.s The Agricultural Experiment Station and
basic city functions. In these early years, the city remained the Extension Service underwent expansion, and agencies,
strongly attached to the college. Professors were leaders in such as the Texas Forest Service and the Triple A, estab-
the community, campus activities were discussed in city lished headquarters on campus.' These developments
meetings, and the city relied on many campus facilities. mandated the construction of additional campus facilities.
Nonetheless, incorporation marked the true beginning of The enlarged building program launched to meet
the municipality of College Station. these demands changed the orientation of the campus.
During the 1930s ever greater numbers of students, The construction of an administration building that faced
faculty members, and businessmen gravitated toward the the new highway signaled the relocation of the main en-
college community. The initial residential areas expanded, trance from west to east. New dormitories and a dining
and a new addition, College Hills Estates, developed at the hall were built in the southern portion of campus, a fair
East Gate. A small business district flourished along the distance from the center of college activities. The location
northern fringe of the campus. When the Post Office and of existing faculty homes had prevented the construction
Boyett's Store were relocated at North Gate in the early of new structures adjacent to older, longest established
twenties, other businesses, to the satisfaction of college facilities.'
officials, also settled in the area. Immediately prior to College officials became concerned when residential
incorporation, various merchants served the college popu- housing blocked expansion in the logical areas of the cam•
lation. Students frequented the barber shops, cleaners, mil- pus. During the 1930s the Board of Directors frequently
itary supply outlets, and tailors. Residents could purchase discussed the possibility of requiring faculty members to
20
F-
move off-campus and of tearing down or removing faculty Incorporatiion
homes. Providing faculty housing had become an exhaus-
tive burden, no longer necessary because residential devel- The first concrete step toward incorporation occurred
opments off campus existed to accommodate faculty on March 4, 1938 when twenty-three men, representing
families. In September 1939 the directors ordered profes- various interests on campus and in the off campus com-
sors to move off-campus. They were given until Septem• munity, appeared before the Board of Directors of Texas
ber 1, 1941 to find new residences.' It had never been A. and M. College. This self-organized committee re-
intended that Texas A. and M. should function as landlord quested a statement of policy by the board on the question
for the academic population. of incorporation. The group presented a list of twelve
Residents soon considered the possibility of creating "good and salient reasons for incorporation of the City of
their own municipal government. A city government. College, Texas." This was the only occasion when anyone
could oversee the installation and maintenance of utilities, referred to the future town simply as "College, Texas."ID
the extension and repair of streets, and the regulation of The petitioners gave assurance that the proposed city
growth. A police and a fire department were needed des- government would concentrate on meeting the needs of
perately. Of course, inhabitants of the college community the community and would not interfere with the adminis.
did have the option of asking Bryan to annex them. tration of the college. The status of college-owned utility
Bryan, with a population of more than 7,000, had the and distribution lines, for example, would remain un-
ability to provide basic city services.' Some people did changed, and would not be subjected to any franchise, tax,
decide that it would be advantageous to be part of an or regulation.I I
established community. Residents of the North Oakwood The petition enumerated benefits that incorporation
subdivision, located north of the campus along Highway 6, would provide. Public health and sanitation would be im.
unanimously voted to be annexed. Most people, however, proved by the construction of sewage disposal facilities, by
were not eager to be a part of Bryan, and there was some the provision of garbage collection at the North Gate busi•
feeling that Bryan had hindered the development of the ness district and residential areas, and by the establish•
off-campus area.' ment of health standards for commercial businesses.
By the mid•1930s a community with unique charac- Traffic and transportation problems could be eased. A
teristics had grown up around the college. Members of this municipal corporation could regulate traffic in the con-
homogeneous community felt close to their neighbors, gested off campus areas, grant franchises to bus lines and
understood their needs, and knew hest how to solve com- taxi companies, and provide a street building and repair
munal problems. With incorporation, the community program.12
which had begun many years earlier would at last have A local government could also address such issues as
legality. Incorporation would "insure retention of College fire safety and police protection. Standard cues for build-
Station, Texas for all time to come."' ings, wiring, and electrical equipment could be enforced
and thus prevent the construction of firetraps. The exis-
tence of a fire department would result in a reduction in
fire insurance rates by as much as fifty percent. Police
protection would also be a deterrent to crirne.13
21
i
I
Finally, the proposal stressed the need for a municipal Between March and June of 1938, the committee
government to sustain the A. and M. Consolidated School collected more than 165 signatures. According to the pro,
District which had been established on campus in the early posed plat of the new town, College Station would include
1920s. The petitioners wrote, "Incorporation is the only the Texas A. and M. campus, the College Park and Oak-
salvation for the public schools in this Independent School wood additions, the western boundaries of the Southern
District, and this problem alone makes the proposal worth- Pacific Railroad properties, the business district at North
while even should all other reasons be Wiled out."t4 It was Gate, and part of the College Hills Estates addition along
believed that if a city government was not organized, the Highway 6." The petition reached Brazos County Judge
school system would lose taxable land to other school John Marion Ferguson on June 2, and he set October 19,
districts and revert back to the jurisdiction of the county. 1938, as the election date."
The loss would be tragic for the children of the comma. Apparently, while citizens of the college community
nity. The petition concluded by reiterating that the re- worked to incorporate their own town, Bryan officials
sidents desired to incorporate their own town in order to looked into the possibility of annexing that same area.
solve problems that had arisen in their community. Early residents recall that Mayor E. E. Yeager and Attor-
The Board of Directors immediately responded, as- ney Law Henderson of Bryan favored annexation to the
surfing the petitioners that the board had no objections to older community.19 Because Texas statutes limit the
incorporation, and they advised the citizens to include a amount of land a city can incorporate in a single year,
belt of land around the campus in their proposed city. The Bryan was unable to annex the academic community.
incorporators called a community meeting for March 22, Bryan officials did, however, annex a much land as legally
1938 so that all concerned parties might debate the merits possible. The new city limits of Bryan extended almost to
of incorporation and so that an incorporation committee the North Gate business district, and encompassed areas
could be selected if citizens so desired. John Thomas La- that previously had been part of the A. and M. Consoh.
mar McNew, a professor of highway engineering and dated School District. This annexation severely limited fu-
leader of the delegation that had appeared before the ture northern expansion of the proposed city and
Board of Directors, chaired the meeting.t$ siphoned off part of its school district.10 The old rivalry
One result of the meeting was the election of ten men between the two communities, which had become dor-
to an incorporation committee, consisting of two repre- mant, was renewed and continued to increase in intensity
sentatives from each of the five sections of the commu- over this issue.
nity. Subsequently, John Henry Binney, a professor of On October 19, 1938 citizens voted 217 to 39 to
mathematics, headed the group. The primary function of incorporate the City of College Station, a community
the committee was to circulate a petition for incorporation which had existed for more than sixty years." The desig-
and then submit to the county judge the petition with at nated polling place, the Southern Pacific depot, added a
least fifty signatures along with a description and a map of symbolic touch to the election since the city derived its
the area to be incorporated. According to the Revised Civil name from that of the railroad station.
Statutes of the State of Texas, the county judge would Since the new city had fewer than 5,000 inhabitants,
establish a date for a vote on incorporation.16 it was required to operate under guidelines established in
Title 28 of the 1925 Revised Civil Statutes. The citizens
22
were to elect a mayor, five aldermen, and a city marshall. officers, and thus College Station's city officials could draw
In order to insure one definite ticket of city officers, the state pay. The officers were sworn into office, and College
incorporation committee called a mass meeting for No- Station began functioning as a municipality that same
vember 11 to be held in the Chemistry Lecture Room on day.21 Ironically, a similar issue would reappear in the
campus." At the meeting the residents nominated John H. early 1970s and again create turmoil for the city.
Binney for mayor and Letcher P. Gabbard for alderman at
large. The assembly then broke into groups that corre-
sponded with their place of residence to select a represen• The First City Government Begins Operation
tative from their area. Gilbert J. Samuelson, George W.
Wilcox, Alva Mitchell, and Luther G. Jones filled the re- On February 25, 1939 College Station City Council
maining positions of aldermen, and John S. Hopper re- held its first council meeting in the Administration Build-
ceived a nomination as city marshall.23 Each of these men, ing on campus. After a brief discussion, the council posed
with one exception, took office on November 28, 1938; for a group picture which appeared in the Battalion, Bryan
Ernest Langford replaced Mr. Samuelson. All the original Eagle, and various newspapers of neighboring cities. Dur-
city officers were faculty members of Texas A. and M. ing the first week of the city's existence, the council re-
College." ceived a letter from the Bryan mayor and city commission
Almost immediately the new city faced a serious which expressed good wishes and offered cooperation.
problem when the comptroller of the college questioned Bryan officials agreed to attend a future council meeting
whether the Texas Constitution allowed employees of the to discuss matters pertinent to both cities."
state to receive state warrants while serving as city offi- City officials decided to meet once a week in Room
cials. Sections 33 and 40 of Article 16 of the Texas Consti• 400 of the Agricultural Building until the operation of the
tution prohibited payment of warrants to a person who city was smoothly under way. The first few meetings were
held two positions of public trust. In December 1938, an devoted to working out administrative details. Joseph A.
assistant to Attorney General William McCraw unofficially Orr, professor of civil engineering and a fixture council
ruled that the recently elected officials could not serve in member, agreed to stake out the boundaries of College
both capacities and receive payment from the state. Each Station. The council appointed a city attorney, city engi-
of the men decided to forego taking the oath of office or neer, sanitary engineer, and city health officer. Sidney
starting municipal operation until the city could seek a Loveless, a recent graduate of Texas A. and M., was desig-
formal opinion from Attorney-General elect Gerald Mann nated city secretary; his regular duties were combined with
at the first of the year.25 those of treasurer and city assessor and collector. Loveless,
City officers and residents were dismayed by these who received a small salary, held office hours Thursday
complications since all had worked hard to establish the through Saturday to conduct city business."
city government. Ernest Langford recalled, "We had five The young municipality soon faced another election,
councilmen and nothing to do but twiddle our thumbs. the annual election of officers in April for all general law
We'd meet over a cup of coffee and talk."2b To the citi- cities. The mayor and the aldermen decided to seek sec-
zens' delight, Attorney General Mann ruled on February and terms. On April 4, 1939, voters re-elected John Binney
24, 1939, that college professors were not considered state as mayor and Luther Jones, Letcher Gabbard, and George
23
I
Wilcox as aldermen. Ernest Langford and Alva Mitchell, and cooperating with each other, this city can become a
however, were replaced in their positions by Samuel A. model after which others can pattern themselves."
Lipscomb and Wayne E. Long. In order to establish alter-
nating terms for aldermen as specified in the Civil Statues, Officials quickly realized that College Station required
the men drew lots. Jones and Gabbard drew one year a stronger fmancial foundation before the city could pro-
s teens; Lipscomb, Long, and Wilcox, two year terms.10 vide customary municipal services. The aldermen hoped to
instead of continuing to rely on campus space, Col- utilize many of the facilities offered on campus and thus
lege Station officials decided to establish their own office, met periodically with the A. and M.'s Board of Directors
one which would be used solely for council meetings and during the city's first year. The directors accommodated
city business. Joe Sosolik had an available room over his the young city in many ways. The college sanitary engi•
Aggieland Studio at Forth Gate which rented for $17.50 neer and his deputies collected the garbage in College
per month with utilities furnished. The council agreed to Station. The directors authorized the city's use of the col.
the terms and met for the first time in the new quarters on lege fire department on a fee basis. College sergeants
May 18, 1939.11 worked as deputy city marshalls, and students served on
Since the city leaders budgeted $4,320 for expenses in temporary traffic duty."
0' 1939, it became necessary to set up a tax program. The From the outset, the council encouraged A. and M.
! council set a tax rate of $.60 on each $10,0.00 of real or students to participate in city government. When the Bat-
personal property and required citizens to submit an in- talion, the`college newspaper, was adopted as the city's
ventory of their property by July 15, 1939. Three commis- official newspaper, the 1939 - 1940 editor, Bill Murray,
sioners served as a Board of Equalization to examine the appeared before the council to offer cooperation in run-
assessments, and taxes became due on December 15.s2 In ring items about the city. He also suggested that the coup-
order to meet immediate obligations, the council author- cil discuss the concerns of the student body with cadets.
ized Binney and Loveless to borrow on behalf of the city City officials found merit in the proposal and invited a
until the end of the year.33 The First State Bank and Trust student from the Student Welfare Committee and a repre•
Company of Bryan was declared the officiall depository of sentative from the Battalion to sit in on council meetings.97
College Station." One of the first goals set by officials was the acquisi-
The council was encouraged when the residents ap- tion of all utility distribution systems and the right to
proved the tax renditions. Impressed by the community manage utility services. Developers were eager to shift
spirit, the council, in an article in the Battalion, thanked the responsibility to municipal authority, and residents desired
residents for their support. a consistent, city-wide operation of utility services. With-
out greater financial resources than the city could master,
When the residents of a locality band themselves to- it could not purchase the existing systems outright, and
I gether and resolve to make of theirs a better community therefore, had to obtain them in a piecemeal fashion.
in which to live, and accept the burden of financing The city acquired its first utility lines in late 1939
the movements to make it such, then progress is being when residents from the Boyett addition in the north area
made. It is felt by the board of aldermen.that such is of town appeared before the council to urge the city to
the case here at College Station. By working together take over the power, sewer, and water lines in their small
II
24
subdivision.38 After consultation with college officials, the The A. and M. Consolidated School District
,council agreed to take jurisdiction over electric lines only.39
In February 1940, the council purchased facilities in Residents of College Station were determined that A.
the residential areas at Southside. The city paid $8,500 to and M. Consolidated School District, the public school
Oakwood Realty Company and $15,000 to Southside De- system which had originated on campus, would continue
velopment Company for their electric, water, and sewer to serve the children of their community. The school dis-
systems.¢° An inventory of the newly acquired equipment trict had recently encountered difficulties. It lost taxable
included such items as electric meters, poles and lines, land to Bryan, and it, too, was asked to vacate campus
transformers, water and sewer mains, laterals, outfall lines, property. Although faced with the necessity of procuring
fire plugs, and the sewer disposal system.41 land for a school and constructing educational facilities,
By the end of the year, the city also bought the water the citizens were fervent about supporting their school
lines in the Boyett addition and facilities in the recently district; it had provided education for their children since
developed West Park subdivision at Southside. The council 1920.
also procured water and sewer utilities from College Hills The genesis of the school district began at some time
Estates for$1,100.41 The electric lines in College Hills were around the first of the century. The Texas Legislature, in
Rural Electricification Administration (REA) lines owned order to provide for the educational needs of the children
by Bryan, and to the chagrin of College Station officials, of faculty at Texas A. and M., created the A. and M.
the city was not able to obtain the lines for several years. College Independent School District on March 10, 1909.44
College Station owned all the existing utility distribu- Since the district borders were the same as those of the
tion systems within its limit by the end of 1940 except for college, the district included 3500 acres of land and build-
the REA lines in College Hills. The city contracted with ings valued at $3,500,000. A school, however, did not
both Texas A. and M. and Bryan for utility services in the immediately materialize. College land was state owned
early days and would continue to do so until recent years. and thus not taxable. Campus families, with a total of only
The City of College Station was on its feet. Luther Jones, thirty to forty children, could not themselves support a
one of the original councilmen, felt that College Station modem school.45 Instead, professors operated an informal
had become a true municipality once the city owned its tutoring service for the children."
distribution systems and managed its utility services. Under the provisions of the 1917 Smith-Hughes Act,
Growth, he recalled, was constant. `We[the council]always funds were made available to Texas A. and M. for prepa-
got pleasure in every new house that was built. It was ration of prospective agricultural teachers. The act stipu-
surprising how fast people flocked in and built homes. fated, however, that students were to gain practical
Fortunately, we had a very ideal community, and every- teaching experience in public schools. In order to meet the
body worked for the same purpose."" criteria of the agricultural teaching program and at the
same time furnish an education for campus children, Presi-
dent William Bizzell and Professor Martin L. Hayes, head
of the Department of Vocational Teaching, decided to
establish a school on campus.4a
25
III �
Two major obstacles prevented implementation of failed to keep pace. In 1928 the four school districts con-
their plan — obtaining adequate finances and gathering a solidated and elected a board of seven trustees. Although
sufficient number of students. Professor Hayes persuaded financial burdens did not abate, the school managed to
the State Board of Education to grant rural aid funds to provide quality education through the 1930's.31
finance the operation of the school. For the construction Toward the latter 1930s, the trustees sought to relieve
of a school building, President Bizxell made available the school's congested condition. In November 1938 a I
$25,000 which previously had been appropriated by the committee conferred with college officials to investigate
legislature for a new president's home. In order to insure the prospect for obtaining a new school site. The officials
enough students, Hayes conceived of the idea to consoli- replied that they could not provide assistance, and thus
date the school with common schools that were in close implied that the school would eventually have to vacate
proxirn ty to the campus. The rural districts of Rock Prai- the campus.31 The directors reasoned that the school dis-
rie, Union Hill, and Wellborn agreed to help launch the trict more appropriately belonged under the auspices of
new school if transportation for their students could be the newly-established municipality rather than the college.
P
rovided.4$ At this same time, Bryan city commissioners and
The new school, which was to be "a model of its members of the Bryan school board offered to incorporate
kind,"opened on September 28, 1920 with 160 students in A. and M. Consolidated in their school district. Representa-
attendance. The students met in Guion Hall for the first tives from both school districts met in late 1938 to discuss
few weeks until the new building could be completed. the possibilities. Considering the financial situation of the
When the classes moved into the new building, they found consolidated school district, the proposal merited serious
themselves without adequate supplies. The principal had consideration. The Bryan Eagle, reported that even if the
to borrow surplus equipment from various departments impending incorporation of the College Station commu-
on campus." The high school curriculum was geared to. nity came to fruition, the two school districts, in all likeli-
ward both college preparation and vocational studies. Ex- hood, would merge."
tracurricular activities such as athletics and a dramatic club College Station citizens, however, did not want their
were available. The first class, consisting of six students, school district to be under the jurisdiction of another com-
graduated from A. and M. Consolidated in May, 1922.10 munity. They petitioned the school board to hold a bond
The young school district, inaugurated with sanguine election which, if passed, would finance the construction
aspirations, soon experienced problems. The school lost its of adequate facilities off-campus. On February 25, 1939
first leaders; Professor Hayes died in the early twenties voters overwhelmingly approved the issuance of $75,000
and Dr. Bizxell moved to Oklahoma in 1925. The college in bonds for this project.' In order to sell the bonds, the
discontinued its teacher training program, and the legisla- equalization board had to double the evaluation of all city
ture eliminated funds which previously had been appro. property. Residents accepted the assessment without
priated for educational purposes. The school rapidly complaint.55
outgrew its only building, and the entire high school de- The school board hired Ernest Langford and Clarence
partment had to be transferred to Pfeiffer Hall where it Jack Finney, professors in the Architecture Department, to
remained until it was moved off campus. Expenses in- design the new facilities. Two school sites were under
creased, but revenue from rural aid grants and local taxes consideration, a fifteen acre tract in College Hills Estates
26
III
a
and the Houk property site, also of fifteen acres. Residents Each section had its own residential areas with accompany-
favored the Elolik site. In order to purchase the land, some ing shops. Since modes of transportation were limited in
of the people organized a drive for funds and collected a the early days, residents patronized neighborhood stores.
total of $5,500.58 from 116 patrons.36 At the school North Gate continued to serve as the main business dis-
board's April meeting, men favoring the Houk site ex- trict. New additions to that area included a theatre, hard-
plained its advantages. It was conveniently located and ware store, dentist office, and a Methodist church.112 Luke's
was situated adjacent to the land that the board had Campus Grocery moved to East Gate where College Hills
hoped to receive from the college. The site afforded access Estates continued to expand. New subdivisions were being
to facilities on campus such as the library, laboratories, added at Southside along with a small commercial
and shops. Utilities were available from the Oakwood addi- development.61
tion, and school patrons were willing to pay for connecting One somewhat extravagant newspaper account de-
the school's lines to Oakwood. The board accepted this scribed College Station as "the fastest growing city in
generous offer.37 Texas."" Community leaders and citizens were aware that
Langford and Finney assigned their students the task they were in a position to institute programs at the outset
of making the necessary surveys and designing the school; that would insure orderly growth. In those initial years,
the architects, however, had final approval.31 The finished the council established policies and organized committees
facilities consisted of four elementary units containing to guide municipal expansion. Although these instruments
fourteen classrooms and additional office space, a high of regulation were not utilized consistently until the late
school with eight classrooms, and a building to house the 1960s, the principle of directing growth was established at
industrial arts and music departments.39 Men from the the city's inception.
community brought trees and shrubbery from the Brazes According to one early developer, College Station
and Navasota river bottoms for transplanting at the new became the first city between Houston and Dallas to estab•
school site.64 The buildings were formally accepted on lish zoning regulations.61 Residents enthusiastically sup-
March 8, 1940, ported zoning because they believed it prevented loss in
Within a year, another bond election was approved to land values and eliminated "internal strife among the citi-
finance the construction of a gymnasium-auditorium build- zenship."The city council created a Zoning Commission in
ing and an athletic field complete with a stadium." With July 1939 whose purpose was to recommend a compre-
the continuing support of the community, A. and M. Con- hensive plan consisting of zoning districts and regulations
solidated School District successfully made the transition which would make districting effective." The city's first
from the jurisdiction of the college to that of the zoning ordinance went into operation in January 1949."8
municipality. To complement the Zoning Commission, Mayor Binney
appointed a City Planning Board in November 1939. At
the request of Texas Governor W. Lee O'Daniel, the board
Planning for Community Growth also functioned as an Industrial Development
Committee.69
Three distinct divisions of the city, present even in the The first city council made provisions for the creation
pre-incorporated community, expanded during the 1940s. of the City Parks Board. Beginning in May 1939, the Parks
27
Y
I
ii
I
I' Board had authority to manage parks and public grounds his firm philosophy that citizens should receive little assis-
for recreational and beautification purposes. Although tance from the government and that a city should not
there was no official city park, the board had authority to spend more than it collected. When residents inquired
receive grants of money and donations of labor and about his campaign slogan, Anderson replied in jest, "I
materials.70 promise you ham sandwich trees and lemonade springs.""
The young municipality had undertaken many On April 2, 1940, Frank Anderson became College
projects and had made substantial progress during its first Station's second mayor. Earnest Langford and Thurmond
year of existence. Unfortunately, it soon lost the sagacious A. Munson were elected aldermen. The election was
leadership of its first mayor. In early 1940 John Binney unique in that Texas A. and M. students put up their own
was involved in a serious car accident. The injuries he candidate for mayor. Although their candidate lost 460 to
sustained in the accident prevented him from fulfilling his 12, it was the students' first venture into municipal polit-
mayoral term. The council accepted Binney's resignation ics. The trend would recur in later years."
effective April 1940, and a new election to select a mayor Anderson incorporated his philosophy in the adminis-
and two aldermen was slated for the same month." tering of city affairs. Revenue brought in by utility sales
A group of concerned citizens met to discuss who was used in the purchasing of additional utility facilities.
might make a suitable replacement for Binney. The fledg- When the citizens wanted to change to a metered water
ing community wanted a strong leader at its helm. Cone• system, the residents bought their own meters. The mayor
quently, the committee decided to ask Colonel Frank O. turned down offers of federal assistance, and he was also
Anderson, the track coach at Texas A. and M., to run for quite proud that College Station had no bonded indebted-
mayor. Anderson had many stalwart qualities and was not ness while he served the city.76
afraid to work for what he believed.' The daily operation of city affairs had not become
Anderson, born in Sparta, Tennessee in 1891, came complex enough to warrant a full-time staff. Anderson
to Texas A. and M. in the early 1920s. Dana X. Bible, then functioned as both the mayor and city manager. He held
A. and M.'s football coach, had been Anderson's high office hours each morning. Aided by one secretary, he
school teacher and college coach, and he encouraged his answered calls from citizens and tried to assist them. "If
former student to come to Texas. Anderson became the there was a polecat around, they [the citizens] would call
track coach at Texas A. and M. in 1922 and held that the city office, and I would go get my gun. If there was a
position continuously until 1957, except for the two years mad dog out, why I would go get my gun." The mayor
he served as Commandant of the ROTC and the time he frequently toured College Station with the city marshall to
spent in service in World War II. Anderson fought in inspect city property and repair any ruptured facility."
World War I and remained in the reserves where he held During Anderson's term in office, there was an im-
II the rank of Colonel; he was then called back into duty portant change in governmental procedure. After the
during World War II.71 1941 election, the council, as authorized by general law,
Anderson agreed to run for mayor, but he promised voted to divide the city into three wards. Two councilmen
to only serve one term. The citizens, he contended, would would represent each ward, and they would be elected in I
not like his conservative approach to.government. It was alternating years. The three established sections of College
Station provided a convenient pattern by which the city
28
could be divided. The area south of campus represented
Ward One; Ward Two was defined by the area east of
Highway 6; North Gate and any remaining part of the city
made up Ward Three. Under the new system, which
would take effect in the 1942 election, the council would
consist of seven members rather than six. In addition to
changing the election procedure, city leaders changed their
title of alderman to councilman.71
As the 1942 election approached, Anderson, although
fifty-two years old, was called to serve in World War II.
Even if the colonel had decided to run for a second term
as mayor, the war precluded him from doing so. Anderson
recalled that during his last council meeting, he asked each
councilman who they would like to have as their next
mayor. Each replied that his preference was Ernest Lang-
ford."'Ernest Langford did indeed become mayor in 1942,
and he held that prestigious title for twenty-four years.
During his tenure the city grew, and its character became
more fully defined. Langford and councilmen who held
similar views influenced the development of College Sta-
tion during a period when it evolved from a struggling
town to an established city.
29
Chapter III administration, it became apparent that the city's policies
needed to be re-evaluated.
The Langford Administration, 1942 — Officials Provide Progressive City Government
1966 College Station's election of 1942 was significant for
two important reasons. It marked the first time council-
men were elected by the ward system, and Ernest K. Lang-
served as mayor of College Station, a distinct philosophy
During the twenty-four years that Ernest K. Langford ford began his two decade-long tenure as mayor. Langford of city management emerged. Langford and the council did not set out to serve for a lengthy period. His original
intent was to offer himself as a candidate for the office
men, many of whom served several terms, believed that that became vacant when Colonel Anderson was called
the prime purpose of their city government was to provide into military service. "Somebody had to take his [Ander•
basic municipal services to the academic-oriented commu- son's] place," Langford explained in a 1964 interview,
nity. City leaders were eager to utilize the knowledge and "and I was elected. [I] Haven't stopped since."' To the
abilities of members of the learned community and to office of mayor, Langford brought many talents, limitless
institute such progressive features of city government as a energy, and a kind and gentle disposition. His leadership
city manager system and a home-rule charter. Fiscally con- capacity profoundly influenced the development and char•
servative, they expended city funds only on essential ser- aster of College Station.
vices. These officials had no desire to spend more money Born on May 30, 1891 in Ballinger, Ernest Langford
than was necessary, nor did they wish to increase taxes or spent his youth in two Central Texas towns of close prox-
accept assistance from other sources. unity, Briggs and Bertram in Burnet County.3 As Langford
The governing philosophy, a mixture of both con grew up, he became acutelyaware of the concern of nei h
servative and progressive tenets, was perhaps shaped by or for neighbor present in the fabric of small commu�i-
earlier political experiences of College Stations inhabitants ties and the sharing of joys and sorrows. This left an
and the manageable population size of the city during this indelible impression on him.
period. Many city leaders and residents were employed in Encouraged by his parents, he studied architecture at
academic pursuits at the college, were exposed to new Texas A. and M. College. On September 19, 1909, Lang-
ideas, and were willing to experiment with innovative city ford took the Houston and Texas Central to the school
management techniques. Yet, these people had also lived unaware that his lifework would be intertwined with the
through the Depression, which influenced them to budget college and the town that college spawned. "When Lang-
frugally.' Officials implemented only the necessary munid- ford stepped off the train at the depot . . . he found cotton
pal projects, and they were able to do so because the city's fields, pasture, and the site of the future city waiting."I
population remained under 10,000 until the 1960s. As the After graduating from Texas A. and M. in 1913,
growth rate accelerated in the later years of Langford's Langford served as apprentice under an architect in Austin
for two years. In 1915 Langford was employed with the
30
rank of instructor in the Department of Drawing at Texas the city's financial records had not been properly
A. and M. Three years later, he accepted a teaching posi- recorded."
tion at the University of Illinois where he also received a As early as 1942, the council became interested in
master's degree in architecture. Langford returned to adopting a procedure similar to the council-manager form
Texas A. and M. in 1925 as a full professor in the Architec- of government. This method of municipal organization
ture Department, and 1929 he became head of the provided for the appointment of a nonpartisan administra-
department.' for who would manage city affairs and carry out policies
Under Langford's twenty-seven year guidance, the established by the council. The mayor and councilmen
Architecture Department expanded and improved. The would serve the city in an advisory capacity.
department instituted a five year program which received The city manager concept of government was intro-
accreditation by the Association of Collegiate Schools of duced as part of the urban reform movement that swept
Architecture and the National Architectural Accrediting the nation at the turn of the century. It was first utilized in
Board. During this period Langford also achieved profes- the small city of Staunton, Virginia in 1908. Designed to
sional recognition. He became a member of the American answer citizen demand for efficient city management, the
Institute of Architects (AIA), served on the board of direc- system appeared successful.' Scholars at Texas A. and M.
tors of the Texas Society of Architects, and received one of studied municipal reforms, and beginning in the rnid-
the highest honors of the profession when he was elected a 1920s, the Civil Engineering Department offered graduate
1 fellow in the AIA.11 and undergraduate courses in city management, including
For a period of fifteen years, Langford devoted his instruction on the city manager concept.10 Joseph Orr-, a
time both to the management of the Architecture Depart• professor of that department and a councilman from 1939
ment and to his duties as mayor of College Station. While to 1966, taught municipal administration courses for
both positions required an inordinate amount of time, many years and was a strong advocate of the city manager
Langford enjoyed the work that each job entailed. Certain program for College Station. Most, if not all, of the mem.
characteristics of the architectural profession were also bers of the council agreed that a city manager would be
present in municipal government. Langford explained in a desirable.
1961 newspaper interview that "both fields call for a love One significant factor precluded College Station from
of creating something and watching it grow and establishing a council-manager form of government. The
develop."' Revised Civil Statutes of Texas made no provision for the
One of the goals of the council during Langrf-ord's employment of a city manager by general law cities. In
administration was to provide the best possible govern- order to fulfill their needs, the council created in late 1942
rnent for the community — one that ran efficiently, was the full-time position of business manager to essentially
responsive to residents' needs, and encouraged citizen par- function as would a city manager." J. Garland Brown
ticipation. With the demand that their full-time occupa- served as the first business manager for a month, but in
tions made on them, officials did not feel they could November 1942 Councilman Lloyd Smith took a leave of
effectively perform all necessary municipal duties. This absence from his elective post and assumed the duties.'2
realization perhaps crystallized when it was discovered that During the 1943 legislative session, the Texas Legisla-
ture authorized a bill to allow cities with a population of
31
fewer than 5,000 to adopt, through municipal elections, Kiwanis Club sponsored the first student government day;
the council-manager form of government. On April 4, high school students assumed the roles of city officials and
1944 College Station citizens gave their approval, and participated in municipal operations.20
Lloyd Smith, who retained his former duties, became Col- Although city leaders worked to develop College Sta-
lege Station's first city manager. College Station was the tion into a model municipality, the community displayed
first general law city in Texas to employ a city manager.13 one significant flaw. Many citizens apparently were not
Along with the installation of a city manager, Lang- concerned with the election process or were satisfied with
ford and the council employed other measures to enhance the performance of their municipal leaders. Through the
the responsiveness of city government. Committees of citi- 1940s and early 50s, residents were content to retain men
zens, such as the Advisory Committee, Sanitary Conditions in office, and at election time incumbents met with little or
Committee, and the Human Relations Council, were cre- no competition. Voter turnout for elections was consis-
ated to assist the public officials." City leaders frequently tently low.21 Usually fewer than 100 residents in each ward
arranged dinners with residents who represented various voted for their choice of councilman; office seekers in the
areas and businesses of the city. The dinners provided the small Ward Three easily won with only twenty votes.
council with an opportunity to allow citizens to air Langford faced only one opponent during his entire
problems and to discuss possible solutions." At least once lengthy tenure, in the 1946 election. Using the slogan,
a year the council held town meetings in the gymnasium "Build College Station Now," Ralph Steen, a professor in
of the high school to review major city projects and future the Department of History, ran for mayor with the desire
plans.t 6 to generate city growth. His platform included encourag-
In December 1947 residents celebrated the opening ing commercial development, expanding educational and
of College Station's first city hall. Although the city office recreational programs, establishing self sufficiency while
had moved and expanded in 1942 from one room at cooperating closely with Bryan, and limiting the tenure of
North Gate to two rooms in the Burgess building at South• mayor to two terms so as to keep office holders alert.22
` side, officials were delighted to have their own building for Langford, perhaps because of his close ties with small
transacting city business. The modern one-story structure, communities in his past, was less concerned with stimulat-
designed by architecture students under Langford's gui- ing commercial growth than he was with providing ser-
dance, was located in the North Gate area across Wellborn vices to residents. Even though Langford was the
Highway adjacent to the railroad tracks. The building incumbent, he won re-election by the slim margin of
housed office spaces for city personnel, a warehouse, and nineteen votes. Throughout the rest of Langford's political
a council chamber for monthly meetings." career, no other person chose to run against him.
The new city hall proved to be a boon for College While the mayoral position was not challenged again
Station's community activities. Civic organizations such as during the Langford period, citizens began taking an inter-
the College Station Development Association and Cham- est in the election of councilmen in the late 1950s. More
ber of Commerce, and the I{iwanis Club were encouraged people ran for office, more residents cast their votes, and
to use the council room for their meetings.18 In 1948 city the increase in competition resulted in closer races. Re-
leaders held College Station's first annual Christmas Open sidents in Ward Three, however, remained relatively
House in the council room."' The following year the inactive.
32
i
The city witnessed some growth to the north, east, organized a charter comrnission.25 The commission, con-
and south during the 1940s. College Station's status as a sisting of eighteen civic leaders, met for the first time in
general law city, however, limited officials'ability to annex April 1951. Under the leadership of Ernest Langford,
territory. Without its own city charter, the council could members of the commission discussed matters to be incur.
only annex property in areas where residents had peti- porated into the charter and appointed Joseph Orr, Sal
tioned for inclusion inside the city limits. This restriction Wright, and Howard Badgett as a subcommittee to handle
frustrated officials because they could not prevent Bryan the finer details of drafting the document.2,'
from absorbing territory in close proximity to College The proposed charter created a municipal organiza-
Station. tion similar to the one that was already in operation. It
In April 1951 there existed, according to the Battalion, retained the council-manager form of government. An
a "war of annexation" between College Station and elected mayor was considered the head of the government
Bryan. Bryan had annexed several parcels of land to the although he had no administrative duties. His vote carried
south so that the boundaries of the two cities were draw• the same weight as the vote of other council members,
ing together. Although Bryan's charter made the annexa- and he had no veto power. The council, the legislative
tion process easier for its officials, the College Station body of the city, consisted of the mayor and six represent-
council managed to include 150 acres in the city limits atives from the community. As before, councilmen were
before a northern border was permanently established. elected by the ward system for two year terms. The city
The council approved the annexation petition of residents manager, appointed by the council, was responsible for
living in an area northeast of the city the night before the preparing an annual budget, reporting on the financial
Bryan council was to meet to annex the same tract. Col- and administrative activities of the city, and proposing
lege Station officials also annexed the Tauber property plans for future development. While the city manager was
adjacent to North Gate." a full-time, salaried employee of the city, neither the
This annexation conflict encouraged city leaders to mayor or the councilmen received compensation for their
question the concept of home rule government for College services.27
Station. Through a state constitutional amendment of The charter would also grant officials more control
1912, Texas cities with at least 5,000 inhabitants had the over the city's annexation process. The council could ex-
legal right to compose and amend their own charters. tend the city limits if petitioned by a majority of qualified
Introduced as a facet of the urban reform movement, this voters in an area, or they could annex territory by ordi-
"home rule amendment", it was believed, would allow nance with or without the consent of inhabitants." City
cities to directly govern their citizens and thus, better meet leaders believed that this provision would allow them to
individual needs. Home rule cities could determine their develop College Station in a more orderly fashion.
own governmental organization of government and utilize Framers of the charter also incorporated new meth-
options not available to general law cities." ods of direct citizen participation in their municipal gov-
Strongly motivated by the liberal annexation powers ernment. College Station residents could utilize the
accessible to home rule cities, city leaders were eager to initiative to propose ordinances, the referendum to ap-
adopt a charter for College Station. When the 1950 Census prove or reject at the polls ordinances passed by council,
recorded College Station's population at 7,268, the council and the recall to remove elected city officials.19
33
On November 9, 1951 the commission submitted the bonds, and each time the constituents gave their support.
final draft of the charter to the council. After copies of the The city's first bond election was held in 1946; voters
document were distributed to qualified voters, a special approved $100,000 of bonded indebtedness for sewer,
election was held on January 8, 1952. College Station water, and electric extensions. A $200,000 bond proposal
residents voted 220 to 11 to adopt the charter.S' Officials passed in 1950 for additional extensions; and in 1954
and citizens were elated that the city was operating at last voters authorized $300,000 worth of bonds solely for the
under the directive of its own laws. construction of a sewer waste disposal system-"
In June 1952 the council appointed Ran Boswell as One important priority for the council was municipal
city manager of College Station. Following Lloyd Smith, ownership of all utility distribution systems in the city.
Francis Vaughn, and Raymond Rogers in the position, While College Station had purchased privately owned sys-
Boswell became the fourth administrative head of the city. tems and had established the policy that facilities in newly
He had not intended to work in municipal administration, annexed areas automatically became city property, the
I but came into the profession by accident. After moving to REA lines in College Hills still belonged to Bryan. College
Bryan in 1932, Boswell and his father operated a 7-Up Station officials entered negotiations in 1946 for the power
Bottling Company at a time when the drink was virtually lines, and the Bryan council agreed to set a valuation on
unknown. After selling the business in 1945, Boswell found the equipment." Four years later, however, the lines still
temporary employment with College Station to straighten remained in Bryan's possession. Unable to control rates in
out financial records. He remained with the city, serving as College Hills and tired of seeing residents' money going to
assistant city secretary and tax collector.' Boswell then Bryan, the council decided to erect their own lines, and
accepted the position of city manager with little inkling contacted Brazos River Transmission Electric Cooperative
that he would serve in that capacity for twenty-two years. about supplying service to the area."
The length of his tenure as well as that of Mayor Lang- Stirred by these developments, Bryan offered to sell
ford's exemplified the stability of city government during the REA lines in October 1950. The offer included two
this period. conditions: College Station would have to construct auxil•
iary lines around the city to serve REA patrons living
outside the city limits, and College Station must buy power
Extending City Services and Facail�ities from Bryan, charging its residents the same rate that
Bryan had set for its customers."
In addition to providing a responsive government, The two cities did not immediately reach an agree-
College Station officials desired to furnish residents with ment on the sale of the facilities. College Station officials
adequate utility systems, protective services, and other mu- agreed to build auxiliary lines, but they wanted to be able -
nicipal amenities. They approached these responsibilities to determine their own electric rates. Finally, on March 12,
with hopes of maintaining a moderate budget and utilizing 1951, a contract acceptable to both parties was concluded,
campus facilities when possible. Even so, officials realized and College Station purchased the REA lines for $38,109,
that they would have to subject the city to bonded indebt- using funds from the 1950 bond election. Mayor Langford
edness. During Langford's administration the council on proclaimed the purchase "the best money the city had
three occasions asked the residents for authority to issue spent during its ten years of existence." He speculated that
34
an additional $1500 a month would be added to the city's The State Fire Insurance Committee, however, rec-
treasury in the form of electric bill payments.gs ommended in 1957 and again in 1960 that College Station
By the 1950s College Station's electric and water sys- build its own fire station, construct a water tower, and
tems met the needs of her residents. The sewer facilities, employ full-time firemen. Although plans to implement
however, presented a problem. Bryan and College Station these items were set in motion in the early 1960s, very
worked together in 1949 to lay sewer lines in the North little materialized while Langford was mayor. The council
Gate area, and effluent from that section went to Bryan's did hire Virgil B. Phipps as the city's first full-time paid fire
new sewer treatment plant." chief in 1960.11
The rest of the sewage in College Station went to College Station's police force also remained small dur-
filter beds which were owned by F. B. Clark and had been ing the Langford era. For ten years the city marshall, later
utilized since the city's inception." This arrangement was renamed chief of police, served as the main peacekeeping
` inadequate and did not serve all the residents. The council, authority. Campus patrolmen were considered deputy city
therefore, made a considerable commitment; they decided marshalls although they were rarely called upon for ser-
to construct their own sewerage disposal and treatment vice. In 1949 the council authorized the purchase of a
plant, the city's first major facility. patrol car for Chief of Police Lee Norwood. A second
On December 1, 1954, voters overwhelmingly ap- police officer was employed to patrol the city, especially
proved the $300,000 bond proposal necessary to finance the business district, during the nighttime hours." Three
the project. Appreciating the confidence shown by the additional men were added to the force in 1956.44
electorate, Langford assured residents that every lot in the As College Station matured, residents welcomed addi-
city would have access to a sewer line and that the system tional amenities. One of the earliest ancillary facilities to
would service the city's needs for at least twenty-five years. be organized, with the hearty endorsement of the commu-
Boswell described the facilities as "the finest system for nity, was the city's first bank. A group of 105 petitioners
any town this size.''19 The city contracted with the E. E. applied for and received a charter from the State Banking
Farrow Company for construction of the plant, and by Commission in November 1945.45 College Station Bank
May 1956 the new facility went into operation."' opened its doors on May 1, 1946 in a small, two-roomed,
Influenced by the size and character of the city and by wooden building at North Gate, and the council author-
the availability of A. and M.'s facilities, the council turned ized the transfer of the city's banking business from Bryan
to budgeting items for additional services. For fire protec- to College Station. Residents enjoyed having the lending
tion, College Station continued to rely on the volunteer institution in their town not only because it served their
force of A. and M. employees, and for equipment, on financial needs, but also because it provided a convenient
Texas Fireman's Training School at the college. Annual place for monetary exchange."
fire protection expenditures included insurance fees on Unfortunately, within two years the small bank en-
men and equipment, salaries, charges for use of the truck countered difficulties. The executive vice president was
in the evert of a fire, and the cost of tuition to send one unable to control the bank's loans, and soon the institution
fireman to Fireman's Training School each summer. Since was without capital. The bank briefly stopped operation in
the college had all the necessary facilities, College Station 1948, but with the support of the community, it was reor-
enjoyed low key insurance ratings for several years.41 ganized that same year. The institution became a national
35
i
illy
f
bank in the next decade, changing its title to University the council and school officials discussed the possibility of
National Bank.a 7 making the school facility a city-school library and employ-
In the late 1940s, College Station obtained land for a ing a librarian for the entire year. The council appropri-
city cemetery. The only cemetery available to the commu- ated money to buy current fiction and books for young
nity before that time was the one established on the south children. Councilman Howard Badgett and City Attorney
side of Texas A. and M. campus at the turn of the century. Justus Wheeler Barger pledged to donate more than 100
When the cemetery was moved west across the railroad books, and the Kiwanis Club sponsored a book drive."
tracks to make room for building expansion, people Although the community was very optimistic about the
stopped using it. During a 1946 town meeting, residents city-school library, the program never really crystallized.
passed a resolution urging the council to acquire property Residents relied on the college or Bryan Public Libra
p �g q P P Y g rY ry
for a city cemetery. At the end of the year, the council leaving the high school's library to be used mainly by
authorized the printing of cemetery warrants in the students.
amount of $10,000 for that purpose.' Other than creating a Parks Board, the council gave
College Station subsequently purchased thirty-one little attention to the development of parks or a recrea-
acres from Victor Boriski for the cemetery. The tract, two tional program during the first decade of the city's exis•
miles south of the college, included the four acre cemetery tence. With purchases of land from F. B. Clark and
deeded to the Methodist Church in 1.870 to be used by Hershel. Burgess, the council established the first city park
Shiloh residents. The Methodist Conference turned the in 1947. The property, land which surrounded and in.
property over to College Station on the condition that it cluded the drained College Park Lake, because known as
would continue to be used for burial purposes. On Febru- Dexter Park and was later renamed Brison Park.51 The
ary 1, 1948, the picturesque acreage, which contained a residents, however, wanted more. In 1953 a large group of
small lake and would later be declared a wildflower pre- citizens, utilizing their newly-attained charter privileges,
serve, was dedicated as the College Station City suggested a possible referendum which, if passed, would
Cemetery.49 establish a Recreation Board. The board would operate
With the passage of a school bond election in the with a budget funded by an increase in taxes.-"
amount of $1 00,000, the school district planned to con- Rather than admit the proposal to a vote, Mayor
struct a new high school. Superintendent A. M. Whitis and Langford, with the approval of the council, appointed a
school board member Clarence A. Bonnen traveled five man Recreation Board.54 A recreation fund account
throughout Texas to inspect various high schools so that was created which would receive appropriations each year.
they could get an idea of what facility or design could best The board's duties included administering the parks and
be utilized in their structure. The new high school, located developing a recreational program with major emphasis
west of the existing school buildings, began operation in on youth activities.$5 Within a short period of time, the
1949. Lincoln School, the Negro facility located on the board sponsored programs in swimming, tennis, golf, and
southern limits of the city, was also opened that year.50 little league baseball, and arranged city picnics. Most of
The new high school gave citizens an opportunity to the programs were possible, however, only because Texas
organize what might be considered the city's first library. A. and M. officials allowed the city to use the college's
Urged by the president of the Development Association, recreational facilities.
36
Citizens were always interested in projects which capital outlay than the city could wisely expend, and a
would make their community more attractive. Although need to establish an organized method of municipal plan-
the council supported proposals made by various civic ring. One of the first issues that brought these problems
groups, they could offer little financial assistance. In 1958 into focus was the street improvement program of the late
Councilman David A. Anderson recommended an innova- 1950s.
tive plan for the city to participate in which would cost The streets of College Station had deteriorated to
very little. Since the sewerage plant had the right compo• such a condition by 1957 that citizens were demanding a
nents, such as light, water and fertilizer, to serve as a full-scale renovation program. Hired by the city to evalu-
nursery, Anderson suggested that tree seedlings be planted ate the situation, Spencer J. Buchanan reported in the
there which when grown could be placed in different sec- November 1957 council meeting that the older streets in
tions of the community.SG College Station were seriously cracked and much of the
The council wholeheartedly concurred. In March city base had been washed away. He expressed his amazement
employees tilled and bedded the soil and planted 300 that citizens traveled on those roads at all-"
seedlings which included specimens of pine, cedar, holly Buchanan recommended that the city repave, curb,
bay, live oak, magnolia, and pyracantha.5' The trees were and gutter the roads, absorbing one-third of the cost while
eventually planted in parks, along streets, and in individual assessing owners on each side of the street one-third. He
yards. When first conceived, the plan was designated a also explained that the project could be financed, by the
standing operation of the city; yet, over a period of years, passage of a $500,000 bond proposal which would allow
the practice, without explanation, was discontinued. the project to be completed in its entirety, or the city could
For the first fifteen years of Langford's tenure, Col- adopt a pay-as-you-go system. Ernest Brown, representa-
lege Station operated and developed with few complica• tive from Moroney, Beissner and Company, the firm
tions. The year 1957, however, proved to be a turning which financed College Station's Bonds, discouraged the
point for his administration. College Station had reached a use of the bond proposal. The assessed valuation of Col-
level of growth that mandated that if the city was to lege Station, he explained, was inadequate to support
continue to operate productively, its development would $500,000 in bonds. The city would have to double its
require more planning, more governmental involvement, property valuations.59
and an increase in municipal expenditures. College Station City officials discussed the various street improve-
was at the threshold of accelerated growth, and the adjust• ment alternatives with citizens. Mayor Langford appeared
ments made in the last years of Langford's administration before civic organizations and listened to the residents'
were important in making the transition from a quiet opinions. Joe Orr sent a letter to his Ward One constitu-
college town to an expanding city. ents in which he presented several improvement options.
He also stressed the seriousness of College Station's finan-
cial situation considering the other issues that required
The City Faces New Challenges attention. Besides street repair, College Station needed
such facilities as a water tower, a police and fire station, a
During the next nine years, the tasks that the council new city hall, and an underpass at the intersection of FM
encountered presented two problems: the need for more 60 and the railroad tracks near North Gate.sv
37
i
I
By March 1958 council had resolved that they would call an election, I think we should grant them that
not hold a bond election, but rather finance a street inn- privilege. Frankly, I think this council is still unani-
provement program on a pay-as-you-go basis. Officials mous in its previous stand to pay for our street im-
spent the next few months trying to establish a system provements on a pay-as-you-go basis. The state
under which to operate. They decided that when seventy government is in financial trouble, the federal govern-
percent of the residents agreed to pay their portion of the ment is in financial trouble, and some of our nearby
repair of their streets, a petition with the appropriate num- towns are in financial trouble. If we can stay out of
ber of signatures should be submitted to the council. Re- financial trouble, I believe we should"
sidents could also opt for curbs and gutters. The council
would establish the priority of streets to be reconstructed, On February 17, 1959, the first bond election de-
and the work would begin when funds became available."' manded by citizens in the history of College Station was
Not all citizens were content with the city's approach held. In a record voter turnout, the proposal was defeated
to the street improvement program. Many believed that by a four to one margin. Residents cast 93 7 votes; the
the proposed system would tape too long and that the previous high had been in the 1958 regular city election
value of College Station's property would significantly de- where 516 votes were cast.65 The election reinforced the
cline. During the November 24, 1958 council meeting, a council's decision to continue to spend prudently. Yet, it
group led by Fred Farrar presented a petition containing also emphasized the need for long-range planning. Had
268 signatures which asked council to call a $500,000 bond officials approached the street problems sooner, citizens
election. If passed, $350,000 could be used for street re- might not have called for the bond election.
pair, and $150,000 could be spent on a water tower, fire College Station invested in her first long-range plan-
station, and new city hall. Farrar asserted that the council ring project in the late 1950s. The project was not exclu-
might not be in touch with the residents' wishes. "We sive to the city; it was inaugurated to coordinate the
don't think," he explained, "that the council really knows development of Texas A. and M. College, College Station,
what the citizens want. What we want is some good and Bryan within Brazos County. Stimulated by an in-
streets. The town belongs to the people and the people are crease in college enrollment, thirty-two county-wide lead-
ready for some new streets."62 ers met on February 19, 1957 at the campus Memorial
Although officials were willing to hold the election, Student Center to discuss provisions for orderly growth.
they were concerned about the financial implications. The These men established the Brazos County Planning Com-
passage of the bond election would place College Station mission, and appointed a five man executive committee,
in eighty percent of its debt limit.63 Regardless, the council headed by Robert B. Butler, to oversee the project.16
set February 17, 1959 as the date for the $350,000 street Since Bryan and College Station were growing in par-
improvement bond election. Joe Orr, who made the mo- allel directions to the south and east, the committee de-
tion for the election, explained his philosophy: cided in October 195 7 to engage the Bryan consulting firm
of Caudill, Rowlett, Scott and Associates to help compile a
I am making this motion not because I think the study which would supervise the growth in the county.
election should be held or that it is desired. However, The plan would include guidance on future expansion of
anytime a group of 265 of our citizens petition us to utilities, streets, business districts, highways, parks, and
38 -
other facilities. The four entities agreed to share the cost of to plan for the development of parks in the city and make
the study which was estimated at $54,000. Although a recommendations for improvements to the council-" The
grant available from the federal government could finance Recreation Council began a long-range study in July 1964
one-half the cost of the project, leaders decided not to to identify the recreational needs of the community for
pursue that course of action. Local funding, as expressed the next twenty-five years. They proposed at that time the
by Langford, would insure that no strings would be acquisition of twenty-five acres behind the cemetery for
attached." use as a city park."
The fallowing year the Planning Commission dis- One important issue that officials analyzed was the
cussed the possibility of developing their organization into improvement of the city's traffic network. College Station
a non-profit corporation. First suggested by College Sta- needed more east-west thoroughfares and more streets
tion City Attorney, Clarence E. Dillon, the proposed corpo- that would aid traffic flow into Byran. Officials decided in
ration would have more latitude to accomplish the 1965 to extend Jersey, a major east-west road, to Easter-
commission's goals. It would be able to make contracts, wood Airport. Suggestions were made to open up the
enter into negotiations, and conduct business transactions. County Road which ran by Lincoln School from Highway
It was anticipated that the corporation would be able to 6 to Wellborn Road and to connect Lincoln Street to
obtain facilities for the Brazos area that the individual Bryan's East 29th Street." The council also agreed to con-
cities or the college alone could not.61 tribute the city's share of the construction cost of the
The Brazos Area Planning Corporation, considered a Highway 6 Bypass.15
pioneering effort, was the first non-profit corporation of One of the biggest transportation concerns that the
its type to be established in Texas.69 Under its auspices the council faced was the construction of an underpass at the
Brazos Area Plan was adopted. The plan offered profitable intersection of FM 60, also known as Sulphur Springs Road
guidelines for the community. Interest in the corporation, and later renamed University Drive, and the Southern
however, waned by the mid-1960s. Leaders soon concen- Pacific and Missouri Pacific railroad tracks. As early as
trated more heavily on the planning of their individual 1957, the District Engineer of the State Highway Commis-
communities than the whole Brazos County. sion, C. B. Thames, proposed the idea to the city. If Col-
During the early 1960s, College Station officials fo- lege Station would donate the right-of way and pay the
cused their attention on accommodating the growth of cost of utility adjustments, the state would coordinate the
their own city. The Planning and Zoning Committees had consolidation of the railroad tracks and build the under.
been combined into one in 1958, giving it more ability to pass.16 The city tentatively agreed to financially support
direct development.7° The council bought six lots facing the plans in 1961 with the understanding that Brazos
Highway 6 in the College Hills Estates subdivision as a site County would pay one-fourth of the condemnation fees.
for a future city hall complex, and they appointed a com- In 1964 Thames urged the city to begin right-of-way pro-
mittee to determine what facilities would be included in ceedings because the project was ready to enter the con-
the complex." struction phase."
With the urging of Councilman D. A. Anderson, the College Station, however, encountered difficulties
Parks Committee was reactivated in 1963. Using the Bra- which threatened to prevent the fruition of the project. At
zos Area Plan as a point of reference, the committee was first, the county was not willing; to absorb twenty-five
39
percent of the condemnation fees, and College Station Mayor Langford, who became seventy-six in 1966,
officials were not sure they could cover the total cost. had always wanted College Station to grow and to pros-
Within a short period of time, the county consented to per. Yet, because of his love for the warmth inherent in a
uphold its previous agreement." Secondly, Alton Boyett, a small community, he did not desire the city to develop
College Station councilman, and his nephew,Jack Boyett, beyond a "college town with a restful atmosphere." Since
were dissatisfied with the condemnation assessments of it was imperative that College Station continue to grow,
their property. Their decision to take their cases to court Langford believed that other civic leaders could better
p q
im eded the acquisition of all night-of-way properties. Una- guide the future expansion of the town. Can January 24,ll
ble to start construction, the Texas Highway Department 1966 Langford informed the council that he would not
considered diverting the funds to other projects-19 seek re-election. He also emphasized that he was still vitally
Fortunately, the county was able to find satisfactory interested in the growth and development of College Sta-
solutions to the last of the condemnation suits on March 8, tion. That same night David A. Anderson and Councilman
1965. The state immediately began consolidation of the Theo R. Holleman announced their intentions to run for
railroad tracks. Construction on the underpass was slated mayor.94
to start in July, and it was estimated that it would be College Station officials held an appreciation dinner
completed within fifteen months.8° for the city's "greatest citizen" on June 1, 1966. Friends
Although officials and residents enjoyed their close- and fellow council members made speeches, thanking
knit residential community, College Station had reached Langford for his twenty-eight years of service to the city.
the stage where it had become advantageous to encourage Fred Brison, who would serve as councilman and briefly as
commercial development and the establishment of light the mayor in the future, described the gratitude expressed
industry. Such facilities augmented tax revenues and thus at the event.
provided extra funds for the financing of municipal
projects. College Station had witnessed some commercial After twenty-four years as mayor of College Station,
growth in various sections of the city. Shopping centers 200 friends gathered to honor him [Langford] upon
were in the process of construction at Redmond Terrace his retirement from that office. He was reminded at
and along the north side of the campus at the intersection that happy time that on twelve previous dates, repre-
of Sulphur Springs Road and South College Avenue. City senting twenty four years, the people of College Station
officials had also attended ground breaking ceremonies for had, in their wisdom, gone to the ballot box to express
the Ramada Inn in 1962. their confidence in the leadership which he would pro-
Council members asked the Chamber of Commerce vide. He was elected. . . and re-elected without ever a
in 1965 to concentrate on attracting light industry to the platform or a pledge or a promise, but only with the
city. City leaders were especially interested in securing unspoken assurance of the integrity and fairness and
industry that would harmonize with the research con- will to do good that are a part of the Langford
ducted at the university. An Industrial Development Cam- heritage.83
mittee was created that same year for the purpose of
exploring the possibility of establishing an industrial area The Langford era had come to an end. Much had been
adjacent to or within city limits.' accomplished; yet much lay ahead for future leaders.
40
Chapter IV
Evidence of growth soon became visible in College
Station in the form of new stores, restaurants, and service
centers. The number of apartments mushroomed from
fewer than 100 in 1963 to more than 2,900 units ten years
A. New Direction, 1966-1974 later.' City leaders and residents alike realized the need to
direct this expansion. Not only was planning necessary to
insure provision for adequate municipal facilities, but also
Primarily due to an expansion program initiated at to preserve the city's neighborhoods. In the early 1970s
Texas A. and M. College, College Station entered a dy- the council began to prepare College Station's first com-
namic period of development beginning in the late 1960s. prehensive plan for development.
College officials, after evaluating the school's academic During this period of the city's history, more so than
program in 1961, adopted measures that stimulated the previous periods, College Station reflected events that
growth of both the college and the city. With hopes of were developing on the national level. At a time when the
attaining national recognition, officials upgraded academic federal government became more involved in local affairs,
and faculty standards and encouraged the enrollment of College Station residents elected David A. Anderson as
more students. In 1963 the college admitted women on a mayor. He sought to extend the role of city government.
limited basis, and by 1965 students were no longer re- Anderson believed that the mayor should be a strong
quired to participate in the ROTC program. The Board of administrator, and he took an active part in making the
Directors implemented an $S 5 million building program, government an efficient operation.
which included a six million dollar cyclotron complex, to College Station mirrored national issues in other
complement the broadened curriculum. The institution ways. Reversing their previous attitude, the council applied
also changed its name; Texas A. and M. College became for federal funds to finance municipal projects. The school
known as Texas A&M University.1 district faced the matter of integration, and city officials,
Officials had not fully envisioned the rapid rate of especially Mayor Anderson, took a new interest in the
expansion that followed. Between 1965 and 1975„ student problems of the Negro community. College Station men
enrollment more than doubled., escalating from 9,521 to also served in Viet Nam; two soldiers from the area be•
25,247.1 The ensuing changes were exciting for the city as came prisoners of war.
well as the university. The college's new program attracted In the midst of the invigorating expansion, a lawsuit,
an increasing number of professionally educated people, brought against College Station, temporarily limited city
encouraged future development of research facilities in the activities. Although several municipal projects were seri-
community, and provided jobs for citizens. The Bryan- ously hampered, the city withstood the crisis and contin•
College Station community was recognized as the main ued to develop. College Station was in the process of being
growth center for the Brazos Valley. A significant change, transformed from a college-oriented small town to a major
however, was the movement of major business activity out central Texas city. City leaders began charting the new
of downtown Bryan toward the university.' course in the mid-1960s.
41
I�
A New Mayor Takes Office community" label and suggested acquiring a separate
chamber of commerce and city newspaper.' Anderson was
For the first time in twenty years, the 1966 municipal most eager to stimulate growth. "We were no longer a
election offered voters a choice of candidates for the posi• little community," he explained. "We had to think big and
tion of mayor. David A. Anderson, employed with the grow big."9
Texas Forest Service, and Theo R. "Nikkie" Holleman, a The new mayor perceived the duties of his office to
professor in the Architecture Department, ran for the of include administrative tasks customarily handled by a city
fice Ernest Langford vacated. The electorate was almost manager. Since College Station had no written guidelines
equally divided. In the April 5, 1966 election, which had a for employees, policies were inconsistent. Anderson stud-
lower voter turnout than expected, Anderson received 437 ied the experiences of other municipalities and developed
votes to Holleman's 403.3 Anderson accepted the honor the city's first personnel manual in 1970.10 Department
with "deep humility" and assured the citizens that the files were not uniformly organized at city hall, making it
council was ready to confront the city's many challenges.' difficult to firsd dated material. Anderson proposed an
David A. Anderson, affectionately known as "Andy," archival key based on the one utilized by the Texas Munici-
was quite familiar with the procedures of governmental pal. League and National League of Cities to classify all
organizations. He had worked for federal and state agen- municipal papers and correspondence. His proposal,
cies and had previously served on the city council. Born in however, was never implemented.
Pittston, Pennsylvania, Anderson was graduated from Because he kept abreast of daily occurrences in the
Pennsylvania State University in 1934 with a degree in city, Anderson was able to inform the council of particular
forestry. Initially employed by the United States Depart. situations in a weekly memorandum. He discussed specific
ment of Agriculture, he joined the Texas Forest Service in items, proposed plans and goals, and encouraged coopera-
May 1936 and moved to College Station in 1939. Ander- tion among the council members by reminding them that
son represented Ward Two on the city council for the they were "working together as a team toward solving the
years 1957 to 1963 and was appointed to the Planning and problems of our city."12 The mayor also corresponded
Zoning Committee for a two-year term in 1963. With with state and national leaders and members of the media
encouragement from his former ward constituents, Ander- on issues that affected College Station.
son presented himself as a candidate for mayor in 1966. Anderson's approach to directing municipal growth
At the time of his election, Anderson was head of the was two-sided; he developed long-term projects, and he
Information and Education Department of the Texas For- informed and involved College Station citizens. Anticipat-
est Service on the Texas A&M campus.' ing as many future needs as possible, the mayor began the
Anderson immediately introduced a new philosophy practice of charting long-range goals. His suggestions re-
of government to College Station. He assumed an active vealed perceptive foresight, and many of his proposals
role in municipal operations, inspecting facilities, formulat- were incorporated in the city's two comprehensive plans
ing new projects, and listening to citizens' concerns. Intent more recently. In an interview, Anderson explained his
on establishing the individuality of College Station, he ex- chief reason for proposing goals: "I wanted to see our city
�
pressed his displeasure with the "Bryan-College Station move."Is
42
I
Anderson submitted his first five-year plan to the community. They questioned families about. specific
council in 1967. His "capital improvements" program in. needs, quality of housing, financial situation, and occupa-
cluded such amenities as a fire and police station, a new tional opportunity.'s
city park, expansion of the sewage disposal plant, and a Utilizing the results of the survey, the council imple•
cultural center." The council implemented some of these mented programs to improve existing conditions. Ander-
suggested projects after the tax payers approved the 1968 son met with Earl Rudder, president of Texas A&M
bond issue. In 1969 the mayor sent a list of his proposals University during this period, and worked on measures
to a cross-section of 100 citizens, asking them for com• that increased salaries and benefits of the black university
ments, criticism, and additional input. Most residents re- employees.20 The city continued to work on extending
spondedd.15 Anderson's list of seventeen goals for 1971, his Lincoln Street and the County Road which provided better
last year in office, focused on achieving municipal self access to black neighborhoods. The council also applied
sufficiency. Establishing the city's own water source and for a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant in
generating its own electricity were among the items he order to subsidize a housing project for low-income fami-
enumerated.ls lies. Although forty units were originally planned, only
Beside surveying opinions, Anderson employed other five or six houses materialized. Negro families, perhaps
measures to promote citizen interest in municipal affairs. because they did not want to leave familiar surroundings,
During his administration officials composed and mailed were reluctant to move into the new housing.21
to residents an annual report highlighting the city's yearly Officials also looked into the possibility of converting
activities. The accounts were attractive and readable; the the partially damaged Lincoln School into a recreational
1969 issue won an award as an outstanding city report at center for the blacks. In January 1966 the Lincoln School,
the Texas Municipal League conference." which housed educational facilities for Negro students,
The mayor also greatly expanded the number of had burned. With 600 to 700 spectators hindering fire-
committees, and engaged more residents in community fighting efforts, firemen and volunteers could not prevent
service. in the five years that he was in office, Anderson severe damage. Ten classrooms were lost along with the
introduced more than twelve new committees. He hoped library, principal's office, and all school records." A black
that such additional groups as the Health, Beautification, citizen admitted to Anderson that the fire was intention-
Safety, and Airport Zoning Committees plus the five com- ally set in order to force integration in College Station.
missions already established would strengthen community Black schools in Bryan met similar fates."
development.18 Periodically, Anderson wrote to each com• The school district agreed in 1968 to lease Lincoln
mittee, outlining goals and needs, and some groups sub- School to College Station for recreational purposes. The
witted yearly evaluations of their progress to the council. city also obtained use of property adjacent to the school
Anderson was most proud of the committee desig• for an all-purpose sports field. The project was not imme-
nated as the Mayor's Special. Committee. It met only dur. diately successful. Youngsters vandalized the facilities, and
ing his administration. Created to uplift the Negro only after Anderson pleaded with the black community
neighborhoods, the committee consisted of nine black for support did the destruction diminish.2' By 1973, how-
leaders representing different areas of town. At the re- ever, Lincoln Center offered a full-time recreational pro-
quest of the mayor, the members surveyed the Negro gram for all College Station residents and offered such
43
i
activities as basketball, softball, ping-pang, arts and crafts, the spring election. During his first term in office, Ander-
and judo.25 In 197 7 the center became city property. son and the Council had worked to make the government
A significant change in College Station's election pro- more responsive to the residents' needs. Now the mayor
cedure occurred near the end of Anderson's first mayoral wanted to focus attention on bringing necessary municipal
term. Supported by many citizens, the mayor spearheaded projects to fniition.
a movement to revise the charter by replacing the ward
system with election by place. The place system, in which
representatives ran at large rather than for a specific area City Expansion Keeps Pace with Growth
of town, seemed to offer a more equitable form of govern
ment. The then existing method gave to a councilman, The community's mushrooming growth intensified
elected by only a handful of people, the same authority as the need for implementation of projects that had long
one who won the office with ten times as many votes. been in developmental stages. College Station's population
College Station had faced this predicament for some increased from 11,396 to 17,676 during the decade of the
time. While the number of active voters in Wards One and 1960s, and the trend was expected to continue. Analysts
Two increased over the years, the population in Ward estimated that the population would reach 23,000 in 1973,
Three remained low. In the 1967 election, 321 residents in 27,000 in 1974, and exceed 30,000 by the end of the
Ward One and 258 residents in Ward Two cast their votes; decade.g° Faced with these predictions, city officials re-
only 37 citizens in Ward Three went to the polls.26 Friction evaluated their philosophy towards seeking federal and
caused by the perceived inequality of the ward system state funds for municipal projects. They concluded that it
intensified in the late 1960s. Alton P. Boyett, who had was advantageous to apply for available grants in order to
represented Ward Three since 1951, continually opposed ease predictable financial problems. To aid the community
programs that Anderson tried to initiate. Owner of an in acquiring necessary government funds, College Station
extensive amount of North Gate property, Boyett believed joined the Brazos Valley Development Council, an agency
that the council accommodated the needs of the university created to direct growth throughout the Brazos River
and its faculty members while devoting little attention to Valley."
business interests. He worked to defeat measures that con- College Station urgently needed to overhaul its origi•
flitted with private development. Antone Rosprim, coup- nal water system. Such facilities as a two million gallon
cilman from Ward "Three first elected in 1961, generally water storage tank, one million gallon water tower, new
" transmission lines, and a high service pumping station
supported Boyett s position. i g
were necessary, officials calculated the total cost to be
Officials held a charter revision election on Janu- �3', and o
ary 13, 1968, and the provision to change to the place more than one million dollars. In March 1966 College
system passed along with six other charter amendments." Station applied for its first federal grant. Because the city
College Station residents first elected their councilmen by could claim the Brazos Area Plan as its municipal develop-
Place in the April 2, 1968 election. In that race Theo ment guide, the federal government approved a grant of
Holleman defeated Alton Boyett 1083 to 452 for Place $484,250 to be matched by municipal appropriations.S2
Six.24 Shortly thereafter, Antone Rosprim resigned his posi- The council set September 17, 1966 as the date for a
tion. Citizens also re-elected D. A. Anderson as mayor in
I
44
$600,000 bond election to finance the remaining portion The council agreed to the request, and in February
of the project. 1968 voters approved an $840,000 bond election. The city
Concerned about existing conditions, citizens en- employed Charles R. Watson as architect for the city hall
dorsed the largest bond election to date by a four to one complex, and city leaders held ground-breaking ceremo-
margin." Contracts for the new or improved facilities nies for the new center on April 26, 1969.11 The project
were let in the summer of 1967. By the following year, the which Langford had dreamed of and initiated was con-
pump station and ground storage tank neared completion, structed across from Texas A&M University along High-
and thirteen miles of new water lines encircled the city. On way 6. City officials held their first council meeting in the
September 27, 1968 the new water tower, which would new building on March 9, 1970 and citizens celebrated the
serve the needs of the public for at least twenty years, dedication of city hall and the police fire station with an
began operation.' Open House on March 21, 1970.11
The council also focused their attention on expanding Once the city acquired its own fire station, council
sewer facilities. With the assistance of the Brazos Valley members worked toward expanding their fire-fighting ser-
Development Council the city sought funds from the Eco- vice to a full-time operation. Prior to the completion of the
nomic Development Administration (EDA) for sewer ex- station, the city had installed its own fire alarm system and
tensions. one of the objectives of an EDA-sponsored grant had purchased two 750 gallon per minute pumper fire
was to insure that the funded project would provide job trucks."' In 1971 city and university officials met to discuss
opportunities and services for people in underdeveloped the details of gradually transferring all firefighting activi•
areas. The EDA recognized Bryan-College Station as the ties to the city. It was hoped that the transition could be
growth center for the seven county area served by the completed within five years. Meanwhile, the city and the
Brazos Valley Development Council, and they awarded the university would both contribute to the salary of Fire Chief
city a $332,500 matching grant for sewer improvements in E. F. Sevison, and College Station would continue to use
May 1970.11 Officials, however, temporarily shelved the the school's volunteers and equipment."0
project when a lawsuit filed against the city that same year The council also investigated ways to improve College
consumed their energies. Station's police and emergencies services. Anderson ar-
College Station residents finally witnessed the comple- ranged to have officers from the Department of Public
tion of the long-awaited city hall complex. When Mayor Safety evaluate the police department; this made College
Anderson submitted his first five-year plan in 1967, calling Station unique among Texas cities. The state officers in-
for construction of new city offices and a combination spected every aspect of the Police Department organza-
police and fire station, he also suggested holding a bond tion and suggested in a report valuable guidelines for
election which would finance the proposals. The council at future expansion." In May 1967 Melvin Luedke became
the time tabled the motion. During the July 24, 1967 chief of police, and at the same time the city added four
council meeting, Joseph Orr, who had resigned from city more men to the force. Anderson was also instrumental in
government at the same time as Langford, presented a obtaining the national emergency phone number 911 for
petition signed by 428 citizens that asked for a special the community. College Station was one of the first cities
election for many of the same capital improvements ear- in Texas and the Southwest to employ this service.'
her endorsed by Anderson."
45
III
The street repair program begun in 1957 continued Recreation became a city department in 1971, although
to be a major municipal priority; officials earmarked the parks superintendent and his assistant were employed
$100,000 of the 1968 bond election monies expressly for on a part-time basis, and the rest of the recreational staff
the on-going project. Willing to try measures that might worked without compensation. The new department also
reduce the financial burden, the city agreed to participate continued to rely heavily on university fadhties.45 In order
in an experiment that utilized waste material in the recon- to insure future recreational areas, the council included
struction of streets. 1n late 1969 Dr. Douglas Bynum, re- parkland dedications in the Subdivision Ordinance. Ac-
search engineer at Texas A&M University, approached cording to the ordinance, developers were required to
Mayor Anderson and City Engineer Lloyd James about his donate a portion of their land, depending on the number
waste recycling project. Bynum proposed that he and his of units they constructed, for park sites, or they could give
assistants apply an interface substance consisting of the city the cash equivalent.16
ground rubber tires, plastic jugs, and beer bottles on se. Amid rapid municipal expansion, city leaders had to
verely cracked streets and then cover it with the normal resolve problems of growth so that College Station would
hot mixed topping. The professor theorized that the rub- develop in the best possible manner. Earlier, city fathers
ber interface would allow greater movement of the pave- employed zoning as a means of providing orderly growth.
ment without cracking and would act as a moisture Citizens approved because they saw zoning solely as a way
barrier. if successful, the city could adopt the procedure to protect their neighborhoods. One College Park resident
and significantly reduce repair costs." explained to the city council in 1970, "Shortly after the
Anderson agreed to support what was dubbed the City of College Station became incorporated, a Zoning
"Rubber Streets" project. He viewed it as a possible solu. Committee was established to make laws to protect the
tion to a nationwide problem, and also as an opportunity rights of people who had become permanent homeowners
to realize the mutual benefits of joint city-university partici- in each area.""l
pation. Badly worn concrete streets in the Carter Grove During the early period of steady growth in College
subdivision, constructed without reinforcement by the de. Station, city fathers could reasonably utilize zoning to safe-
veloper, provided an excellent testing ground. Bynum ap- guard residential areas. Yet, in the 1970s the city, if it was
plied the interface to a few streets, but the material did not to progress, needed the commercial centers, apartments,
settle as desired. Although not properly laid, the interface and industries that were developing in the area. Residents
appeared to perform as predicted. Bynum and James dis- had to adjust to the influx of these establishments even if
cussed the possibility of placing the substance on an un• it meant living in close proximity to them. College Sta-
reet but the project soon lost the attention tion's planning tools, however, were inadequate; officials
constructed street, p ,l p g
of the city." James suffered a heart attack, and most of relied on an outdated zoning ordinance and map, and the
the council members became involved with an impending city had no master plan to guide growth. Citizens' fears of
lawsuit. indiscr rninate zoning, piecemeal development, and even-
During Anderson's administration, officials realized tual chaos were valid.
that as the city expanded so must the recreational facili• Groups of citizens attended council meetings through
ties. The council and citizens discussed the possibility of the latter half of 1969 to express their concern about the
building a large park and a swimming pool. Parks and situation. They were suspicious about the council's closed
46
.�
sessions with the Planning and Zoning Commission, felt seventeen years, questioned the right of council members
the recent zoning measures bred ill will toward the elected who were employed by Texas A&M University to receive
officials, and they demanded the adoption of a master their salaries from the state while serving in elected posi-
plan. At the August council meeting, one resident revealed tions. Sections 38 and 40 prohibited payment of state
his anxiety about the zoning decisions. "We checked warrants to employees holding another office of "honor,
before we built and that property was zoned for single trust or profit." !The issue which College Station city fa-
family dwellings. We thought we had some protection thers had faced before they began municipal operations
before we built." Another citizen, bluntly summing up the was once again raised, and only after a labyrinth of court
situation, exclaimed, "We are building a future cess- activity, legislative discussion, and a state constitutional
pool."48 Herman Brown, representing the Glade subdivi- amendment election was the dispute finally resolved. The
sion, presented a petition which succinctly related the lawsuit, instigated perhaps because of personal grievances,
feelings of the Glade residents: greatly affected not only College Station but many other
cities throughout the state.
We question that City Council is acting in good faith After gaining twenty-four signatures for a petition
and expressing an honest and sincere concern for citi- which called for more business representation on the coun-
zenry that it was elected to serve. Until current ordi- cil, Alton P. Boyett initiated legal action to remove the
nances are changed, and a master plan for zoning has "university interests" from city government in June 1970.
been prepared, we can continue to expect piecemeal Boyett believed that recent governmental decisions had
and spot zoning which will only benefit the developer benefitted the university rather than the taxpayer. "The
and not the homeowner.49 council," he explained when he filed the suit, "has gotten
to the point where it is dominated so thoroughly by the
The council agreed that it was time to update the university that the local resident and local businessman
zoning ordinance and to develop a comprehensive city now feels he has only one representative on the council."s°
plan. In October 1970 Ran Boswell applied to the Texas In a 1988 interview, D. A. Anderson speculated that Boy-
governor for a grant to fund the project. Before officials ett's actual motive behind the lawsuit was his dismay at
could really begin on the plan, College Station faced a losing his council seat in the first place system election in
lawsuit which seriously affected the city's governing body 1968 and being prohibited by the council from using city
and temporarily halted municipal projects. streets as parking areas for his proposed apartment com-
plex at North Gate.51
If successful, the results of such legal action
College Station Confronts a Crisis threatened the livelihood of six of the seven council mem-
bers. Mayor D. A. Anderson and Councilmen Dan Davis,
Beginning in the summer of 1970, officers of the James Dozier,Joseph McGraw, Clifford Ransdell, and Cecil
court examined the meaning of Sections 33 and 40 in Ryan were employed by Texas A&M University; only
Article 16 of the Texas State Constitution and its implies. Councilman Bill Cooley remained unaffected. Since the
lions for College Station and other Texas cities. A lawsuit outcome could have serious repercussions in the city, Col•
filed by Alton P. Boyett, a College Station councilman for lege Station filed a class action suit in the Bryan 85th
47
District Court on August 1, 1970 before Boyett's suit came faculty members could not formulate state law nor could
to trial in Austin. The city asked Judge William C. Davis to they collect revenue or acquire property for the state. If
decide whether the councilmen were holding more than determined in another court that the terms in the con-
one "civil office of emolument" as forbidden by the Texas stituion did apply to the professors, then Davis believed
Constitution. If they were, the city further asked the judge Sections 33 and 40 were unconstitutional. The state consti-
to declare Sections 33 and 40 unconstitutional under the tution violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments by
United States Constitution. College Station officials wanted discriminating against a person's ability to seek a non-
the court to definitely determine whether university em- paying municipal office. Davis stated, however, that his
ployees could receive payment from the state while on the decision did not necessarily resolve the Boyett suit in the
II city council.12 Travis court because that case sought no declaratory judg-
College Station hired the Houston law firm of Baker, ment against other university employees who might hold
Botts, Shepherd and Coates, and Boyett retained Elsner municipal office in the future. Boyett immediately ap•
Patman of Austin. The trial began on September 11, 1970. pealed Davis' niling to the First Court of Civil Appeals in
During the proceedings Tatman tried to establish that the Houston."
j college had received special treatment from the city, such Judge Herman Jones of the 53rd District Court in
as street lighting around the perimeter of the campus, the Travis County considered postponing Boyett's original suit
underpass at FM 60, and the overhead walkway across until after the appellate court had reviewed the decision
Wellborn Road. He also questioned the professors as to handed down in Bryan. He decided to go ahead with the
whether they ever used their state-supplied campus offices trial, and scheduled the court date for November 10, 1970.
for city business, or if their civic duties ever conflicted with In the meantime, several signers of Boyett's petition, who
their professional obligations.'-' were also named co-plaintiffs in the case, reconsidered
Frank Harmon, the lawyer handling the city's case, their decision. Many had not understood the actual pur•
stressed the advantages that College Station won by hav- pose of the petition. Believing he had signed a document
ing professors on its council. Ernest Brown, the city's finan- asking the council to re-evaluate municipal spending, Pat
cial advisor, confirmed that College Station received better Callahan, manager of the Western Motel, explained that
bond ratings because of its highly qualified municipal the intent of the petition was misrepresented. He ex-
leaders. He also emphasized that the case was detrimental pressed his apologies to city leaders in a newspaper article:
to the city's ability to obtain funds for various projects.
James Dozier testified that he had tried to get businessmen I did sign along with my neighbors a protest against
to run for the council but many declined because they did government paid low housing]rents, high costs of this
not want to jeopardize any business they had with the and that including the center highway stripe in front
city.34 [of the motell. My advice to anyone in buying an
f
Davis nded on September 23, 1970 that Texas A&M insurance policy or signing a petition is don't depend
University employees were not `.`officers, agents, or ap- on what the man says. `Read the fine print.' With
pointees" of the state within the meaning of Article 16 in regrets to the mayor and city o�ffuials over this unfortu-
the Texas Constitution. He emphasized that university nate delay in our city's forward progress'.s6
48
Id By the time the case came to trial, ten of the twenty- Austin appellate court ruled that the professors could not
if four petitioners had withdrawn from the suit. be paid with any state funds including local monies or
n- Proceedings in the Boyett lawsuit lasted three days appropriations generated from the federal government.6'
,d with lawyers covering issues similar to those used in the At the time of the Austin appellate court decision,
ti- class action suit heard in Bryan. On November 13, 1970 only four of the original six councilmen named in Boyett's
,y Jones stated his decision which countered the previous suit remained in office. Dan Davis opted not to run again
,n- ruling. Jones contended that the five councilmen were when his term ended, and Joseph McGraw lost his council.
us violating the Texas Constitution, and thus their salaries seat by a slim margin in the April 1971 election. Faced
fte could not be paid with state warrants. He stipulated, how- with losing their means of financial support, the men con-
ig- ever, that since Anderson worked for the federally funded sidered the impact of their next course of action on their
,ld Texas Forest Service, he could continue to receive his sal- families as well as the community. Four university employ.
Lp. ary. The university could also use local funds such as ees had already resigned from the school board. By May 5,
in tuition fees to pay the other professors. Although it was 1971 the council members reached their decision, Ander-
not certain that the councilmen had to either forego their son and Dozier decided to remain in office while Ryan and
in salaries or resign their posts, Dozier, who had a law degree, Ransdell submitted their resignations.6'
lit filed an appeal for the individual defendants with the 3rd In the following emotion-filled days, the council mem-
an Court of Civil Appeals in Austin.3' bers discussed their decisions. Dozier vowed to continue to
he Judge Jones' ruling had a widespread impact through- appeal the case even to the Texas or United States Su-
r o. out Texas, affecting as many as fifty cities and towns. It preme Court. Anderson said that it was essential that he
ho not only applied to municipal officers, but also to state make sure that the city was not "tom asunder'„ by any
ed employees who worked with soil conservation districts, premature action on his part. With sorrow, Ransdell pub-
ur_ water districts, and school boards. Officials in Austin, licly expressed his regrets. "I felt the outcome of [the
!nt Denton, Canyon, Waco, Commerce, Greenville, and Del suit]," he stressed, "was to disenfranchise all the people in
'at Rio grappled with the problem-" College Station who depend on the university for their
iat Since the professors would lose their right to appeal if livelihood . . . I feel my resignation is, in a way, letting
ax. they resigned from public office, Jack K. Williams„ presi- them [the citizens] down." Ransdell encouraged the citi
Je- dent of Texas A&M University, agreed to use local funds zenry to stop the "bickering'„ because College Station was
to pay the mea's salaries. The university offered to sup- rapidly maturing and had many municipal matters to
port the city officials in this manner only until their pre- handle.6'
sent terms expired and refused to extend the arrangement. The city utilized another avenue of approach in solv-
to any other employee who decided to run for a council ing its dilemma. Urged by Anderson, Representative Bill
position.-`9 Presnal of Bryan introduced a resolution in the Texas
The courts soon prohibited this temporary solution House that called for a constitutional amendment commit-
and further reduced College Station councilmen's ability to tee meeting to consider changing the two controversial
remain in office. The Houston court of appeals threw out sections in Article 16. On May 4, 1971, mayors from the
the Bryan class action suit because it involved the same cities of Denton, Canyon, Greenville and Schulenberg, as
issues as the earlier Boyett case.110 On April 28, 1971, the well as Mayor Anderson, testified to the hardships created
I
49
by the court's recent interpretation of the constitution. The Hervey Administration
organizations such as the Texas State Teachers Associa.
tion, Texas Municipal League, Texas School Board Associ- During 1971, College Station had held four municipal
ation, and Texas Association of College Teachers also lent elections, the regular spring election and three special elec-
their support.6' The legislators eventually agreed to submit tions. Encouraged by Anderson, retired Texas A&M
a constitutional amendment proposal to voters in the No. professors James D. Lindsay and C. A. Bonnen ran for and
vmber 1972 state election. won the places vacated by Ransdell and Ryan. Homer
Although encouraged by the possibility of a favorable Adams captured Dower's seat in December. When D. A.
constitutional amendment, Anderson and Dozier could not Anderson submitted his resignation as mayor, only
forego their salaries for an extended period of time. By James B. "Dick" Hervey announced his candidacy for the
the end of June, Anderson concluded that he must relin- office. on August 17, 1971, Hervey became the fifth
quish his office. He submitted a letter of resignation to the elected head of College Station's government.
council on June 28, 1971, apologizing for not being able to A native of Greenville, Texas, Hervey was the first
serve his full term and expressing the distress he suffered College Station mayor to have business affiliations. He was
through the proceedings. "The suit," he wrote, "has been graduated from Texas A. and M. College in 1942 and
a most trying period to me and my family. . . it is difficult served as executive director for the university's Former
to relate how it has affected one's peace of mind.""s Students Association for seventeen years. Shortly there-
Mayor Pro•Tempore Fred Brison acted as head of College after, he became a vice president of University National
Station's government until a special mayoral election was Bank. Utilizing his banking skills, Hervey helped organize
conducted in August 1971. the Community Savings and Loan and was appointed its
James Dozier continued to battle the issue alone, ex- president in 1966. Hervey also served four years on the
hausting all legal measures available to him. After the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce. At the time
Texas Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling in of his election, he was a member of the A&M Consoh-
the Boyett case, Dozier decided he could no longer remain dated School Board. While publicly expressing his regrets
in office and on October 31, 1971, he resigned his posi- that professors were prevented from serving on the city
tion.66 Anderson and his wife sent letters to Texas re- council, Hervey hoped he could fairly represent both uni-
sidents and officials urging them to vote for the versity and business constituents. He outlined his main
amendment proposal. The proposal was approved the fol- goals as furthering orderly municipal growth and at-
lowing November, and by the April 1973 municipal elec- tracting more businesses and light industry to the city."'
tions, professors could once again run for offrce.61 The Soon after Hervey took office, another lawsuit was
issue which caused great turmoil for College Station had filed against College Station. Bruce Clay, a student at
been permanently resolved. Texas A&M, wanted to compete for Dozier's vacated
council position. He found, however, that College Station's
charter required that candidates own real property in the
city."9 Hervey quickly resolved the conflict by allowing
Clay's name to be placed on the ballot and by appointing a
50
charter revision committee to make recommendations pool. The city hired J.W. Wood as architect-engineer for
that remedied the unconstitutional clause.70 the project, and although the budget would not allow all
Although Clay did not win in the special election, he requested amenities to be constructed, residents soon en.
continued to strengthen the students' voice in city govern• joyed the availability of an olympic-size swimming pool in
ment. He presented a resolution, which was approved by their community." College Station's first aquatic facility,
the council, that called for a conference between council later named Adamson Municipal Pool, opened in Bee
members and the executive committee of the student sen- Creek Park on October 5, 1974.11
ate in order to increase communications between the two In September 1973 College Station followed the ac•
bodies. Clay also made a significant showing in the 1972 tions of forty-five other Texas cities and adopted a hotel/
election, losing to C.A. Bonnen by a vote of 516 to 465.11 motel tax. Officials planned to use the three percent tax to
It was through Clay's efforts that the council established increase tourism." Early on, council members discussed
the first student polling place on campus in July 1972.72 donating the proceeds to the Chamber of Commerce and
Under Hervey's guidance, the council worked to ex- Texas A&M's convention fund, or to establishing the city's
tend facilities, using government grants when available own tourist-convention center. Although city leaders were
and to develop a comprehensive municipal plan. The 1970 undecided on how to utilize the funds effectively, they
Census recorded the combined population of the Bryan- believed the tax would greatly benefit the community in
College Station area at 51,395, and thus in February 1971 the future. Officials now had the financial means to spon-
the adjacent municipalities received the Standard Metro- sor creative projects which would enhance the environ-
politan Statistical Area (SMSA) designation. The SMSA cer- ment of the city.
tificate prompted the listing of the communities in Perhaps the most important project initiated during
research-oriented magazines and made them eligible for Hervey's short tenure was the city's first comprehensive
more federal funds." College Station used the majority of plan. In June 1972 the city accepted a 701 Planning Grant
its appropriated 1972 and 1973 revenue sharing funds to from the Texas Department of Community Affairs that
finance the earlier scheduled sewer extensions. Federal financed seventy-five percent of the development of a city
monies designated for the project in 1970 were im- plan. The Bryan-based planning firm of Charles Pinnell
pounded before the city could utilize them." By the end of and Associates was hired to direct the progression of the
Hervey's term, College Station had completed a new two plan through three stages: preliminary objectives, recom-
million gallon waste disposal plant. mendations for directing growth, and plan proposals and
The council made substantial progress in establishing implementation." To help facilitate the planning process,
the long-awaited municipal park with swimming facilities the council organized ten citizen advisory committees,
during the early 1970s. College Station learned that begin- each consisting of six members and representing different
ning in the summer of 1973 its residents could not use the geographical districts of the city.''
Texas A&M pool, and it became imperative that the city During the first phase, the committees surveyed the
develop the proposed park. In 1973 William Fitch donated goals that residents in each section wanted to see adopted
sixteen additional acres adjacent to the selected park site, by the city. Citizens reported that while they would like an
and the federal Bureau of outdoor Recreation approved a increase in shopping and entertainment facilities and light
matching grant of $132,000 for the development of a industry, they hoped College Station would remain a quiet
51
town. They were not in favor of bringing heavy industry did not immediately adopt the finished guide. City leaders
into the area and discouraged promoting the city's popula- discussed its strengths and weaknesses for the next eigh-
tion beyond 40,000. Residents also listed their major mu- teen months. The council finally accepted the Pinnell Plan
{, nicipal concerns as street repair, fire service, and spot in September 1976.11 Unfortunately, by that time many of
xoning.s0 the suggestions were inapplicable or outdated, and city
Also in this phase, Pinnell and city leaders identified officials soon looked into the possibility of developing an-
future municipal services needs. They discussed the possi- other comprehensive plan.
bility of the city drilling its own water well, negotiating a Ran Boswell, College Station's city manager for
long-term electrical contract, providing low cost housing, twenty-two years, submitted his resignation in Decem-
and establishing a network of sidewalks and bicycle paths. ber 1973. Six months earlier, Boswell revealed his inten-
College Station had only made a small dent in securing tion to retire, and the city carefully planned for a
adequate parkland; the city had set aside forty-five acres, transition. In September Boswell hired North Bardell as
p its but j
b population required at least 200 acres. Pinnell p q also assistant city manager with the intention of preparing him
suggested that the city separate its fire and police depart- for the city manager's position. Bardell was a graduate of
ments and expand the number of city employees Texas A&M University, receiving both Bachelor and
threefold." Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering. An associ-
Phase Two, the stage in which Pinnell and Associates ate professor of Engineering Design Graphics at Texas
made recommendations for directing growth, began in A&M and a member of that department for twenty years,
October 1973. The planners worked on a management he had also served as College Station's assistant city engi-
study, a transportation analysis, and land use plans." Citi- neer for the previous eleven years.16 The city council
zens were most concerned about future land use propos- named Boswell "City Manager .Emeritus" on Decem•
als; this was the main reason they wanted a master plan. ber 15, 1973 and scheduled a retirement celebration in his
In October 1972 council members completely revised the honor." After Bardell assumed the duties of city manager
city's original zoning ordinance, although many residents in January 1974, Boswell, whom the Eagle claimed "possi-
requested that the council wait and work on zoning in bly served as the same city's manager longer than any
conjunction with the 701 Plan. Believing they could not other person in Texas," continued to be a consultant to
afford to delay, the council mapped out the different zon- the city.
ing areas in the city and increased the types of zoning After serving as mayor for three years, Hervey an.
districts from five to fifteen." Citizens now hoped that pounced in February 1974 that he would not seek re-
Ordinance 850, the city's zoning program, could be suc. election. In a brief written report, Hervey explained his
cessfully integrated into the comprehensive plan. reason for relinquishing the office. "I stated I would not be
Pinnell introduced the last phase in April 1974. At this a long term mayor or office seeker but would do my best
point, specific plans focusing on city administration and while serving. That commitment has been met."" During
organization, parks and recreation, and capital improve- Hervey's administration, the city completed a new waste
ments were delineated. Planners also drew up a method of disposal plant, obtained a large city park with a swimming
implementing the proposed projects.84 The final part of pool, and initiated the long range 701 Plan. Most impor-
the project was completed within a year, but the council tantly, Hervey provided leadership at a crucial period in
52
College Station's history ,and helped return stability to city
government. Officials had shown that College Station was
capable of adjusting to rapid growth and able to withstand
a crisis. With these signs of strength, future leaders aimed
their goal toward municipal self-sufficiency.
53
Chapter V The first election after Mayor Hervey announced his
decision not to run again for office reflected this competi-
tiveness. In the closest mayoral election in College Sta-
tion's history, Oris M. Holt, a retired Texas A&M
MOOED. CITY, 1.974-1988 professor of Agriculture Education, narrowly defeated Bob
Bell by a vote of 857 to 842.' The young Bell, manager of
the KTAM-KORA radio station, received support from the
Beginning in the middle 1970s, College Station en- business community and also captured a majority of the
tered a fourth stage of development. As in the previous surprisingly large student vote in the 1974 election.
period, the city continued to expand rapidly, and policies Throughout the remainder of the 1970s Texas A&M stu-
earlier outlined aided in directing growth. Yet, during this dents continued to vote in larger numbers, offer more
period, College Station revealed a new dimension; the candidates for office, and voice their opinions in municipal
relatively young municipality made significant strides to- government.
ward its goal of self-sufficiency. Leaders loosened ties with College Station's progression toward self-sufficiency
both Texas A&M University and the City of Bryan and escalated when the city began to phase out its strong
initiated key municipal projects. The council gave financial reliance on Bryan's utility services. Although the city had
support to a variety of community programs, but also met earlier purchased water and electricity from Texas A&M,
with more citizen confrontations. The excitement in this College Station now almost exclusively depended on
period is keenly evident; officials and residents alike Bryan for utilities. By 1975, however, city officials had
worked to make their city a prosperous community. grown dissatisfied with rates charged by Bryan. The coun-
cil sent a letter of protest concerning utility increases in
May 1975, but agreed to accept the assessments until
Officials Strive for Self-Sufficiency Bryan submitted a new rate proposal at the first of the
year-9 Meanwhile, they discussed the possibility of con-
During the last half of the 1970s, the maturation of tracting with other distributors or constructing their own
College Station became apparent in many areas of growth. facilities to supply residents' needs. Leaders took the first
A Capital Improvements Committee, first appointed in initial step in that direction when they negotiated with the
1975, began to guide the implementation of major munici- Whalen Corporation of Dallas to dig the city's first water
pal projects. Utilizing many of the proposals suggested in well.
the comprehensive plan, the committee established priori- In order to determine whether College Station's water
ties and set project starting dates. To finance the expan- was potable, city officials authorized a water contract with
sive programs, the council presented bond elections for Whalen in June 1975 to drill a well near the ground water
substantial amounts of money, and residents usually gave storage site. If the project proved unsuccessful, College
their approval. New commercial establishments developed Station agreed to share half of the expense already in-
in the community as well as the city's first industries. curred. if, on the other hand, the water could be used,
Municipal elections also became competitive, and the new Whalen contracted to pay all construction costs and sell
leaders were men and women eager to take action. the city 400,000 gallons of water a day for ten years at a
I' 54
cheaper rate than that being charged by Bryan.4
p At the They decided to present a large bond proposal to the
end of that time period, the equipment would become city public in the summer of 1976 which would provide the
property. To the delight of city officials, potable water was financial means for the necessary capital improvements.
discovered, and College Station's first well began pumping Mayor Lorence Bravenec, an accounting professor at
water on April 12, 1976. Since the facility supplied only Texas A&M who ran unopposed for the office in the 1976
approximately one-third of the city's demands, officials elections, concluded that if voters approved the hands for
continued to buy water from Bryan, but also initiated utility expansions, then the city would view that as a
plans to drill two additional wells.' mandate for change.
The new utility rates proposed by Bryan in January The $12.8 million bond election included other pro-
1976 greatly disturbed College Station council members. positions besides the ones for utility improvements. City
Not only were the electricity rates forty percent higher officials asked voters to endorse funds for street improve-
than those of a leading competitor, but the agreement also ments, parkland acquisition, and construction of a new
included conditions that would adversely affect College police station, fire substation, city warehouse, and mainte-
Station's ability to purchase utilities from other sources. In nance building. They also added a proposal meant to
the current contract between the two cities which expired canvass the residents' interest in a civic center. On June 29,
in January 1979, College Station had the option to buy 1976 voters affirmed each proposition and overwhelm-
utilities from other companies. The council, therefore, re. ingly supported the utility system improvements.9
jetted the offer and asked for a new proposal with compet- Encouraged by the election results, council members
itive electrical rates, or the city would negotiate a contract immediately secured a new contract for electricity. The
with a different distributor.6 following day they signed an agreement with Gulf States
Although Bryan wanted to continue supplying utili• Utilities Company which afforded partial sevice until 1979.
ties to College Station, its officials believed the rate propo• At that time the company would then supply all power to
sal represented a fair compensation for the services they the city. After concluding the pact, Bravenec expressed his
provided. They explained that their city needed to in- concern about the impending break with the neighboring
crease its overall supply of revenue in order to keep a city. "It's with a certain amount of sadness," he remarked,
satisfactory rating with bonding companies. They further "that we say farewell to Bryan."10 The complete change-
agreed to return a portion of the savings to College Station over in utility services, however, was not immediate or
if utility expenditures were less than predicted.' Bryan without complications, and in some instances, Bryan im-
Mayor Lloyd Joyce, however, stipulated in a letter to Col- peded the progress.
lege Station council members that if the two cities did not Two weeks after the June bond election, city officials
reach an agreement and College Station purchased power applied for a one million dollar matching EDA grant
from another utility company, then Bryan would termi- through the Brazos Valley Development Council to aid in
nate all utility services, including water and sewer, when the implementation of a new water system. The city
their contract expired in 1979.1 planned to utilize the funds for the construction of two
College Station municipal leaders were uncertain that new wells and additional water lines. Mayor Joyce of
the city could provide all the necessary utility facilities and Bryan protested to the Development Council about Col-
services if the contract with Bryan was indeed abrogated. lege Station's petition because he believed the money
55
i
ts of
in both
would be used to repeat facilities already in the area or in
and Councilman Traserve the best svis BryanzIII sfelt Bryan residents fa-
theplanning process. Bryan had recently submitted a he _
quest for a one million dollar grant to construct an ele- $ran the idea.
welcome think,"
chanceexplained,
to eunify t with College
,vated storage tank which would meet local needs for ten Bryan
Station. We could be one big happy family and solve this
years."
n College whole deal [with the utility systems]. . . no more piece
The Development Council deferred action o
Station's application for some time. Finally the group con- meal reemedi Station council members, however, did not
cluded that since Bryan would not sell water separatelycollege
from electricity to the city, College Station's project was express much support for a merger. Mayor Bravenec indi.
not a duplication in facilities. The council agreed to send would preclude a harmonious u the two cities' nion,ent pand he philosophy
stated his
he request to the federal government with its approval, P ate all activities. Other
t q
but they also decided to include Joyce's written protest.II concern that Bryan might omen
College Station unfortunately never received federal funds College ti al tandnvi wed cooperation d not consider
then best the proposal
to
with which to develop their water program. P problems
During the following year Bryan continued to create achieA hetie d to1978,, many between
capital improvement
difficulties. In May 1977 Bryan officials filed a suit with the ro ects implemented to handle the change in utility ser
Public Utilities Commission for the purpose of preventing p J P
Gulf States from serving College Station. The Commission, vice and to facilitate municipal expansion approached
however, denied their request.' That September Bryan completion. A new waste disposal plant and the sewer line
municipal leaders abrogated the joint ownership of the for near North t Gate
weescheduled
ed t amenities operation
included in the
North Gate sewer line with College Station and announcedExpanded
re
the construction of their own complete system. City Man- lines. Law eadditional nforcement personnel station,station, switching o
moved into the Police
alter Bardell determined that College Station could install a
� new transmission line for North Gate by 1979, but esti- , and Municipal Courts Building, and maintenance and
mated that additional bond money might be required warehouse facilities were already in use. City employees
and
since a lift station would be essential to the project. As a and residents enjoyed the finished
addition
proved into city 1.976
possible solution to the problem, Bardell asked Bryan offi- its spacious co P
cials to consider creating a regional sewer authority con- combined with funds from the 1978 $9.2 million bond
sisting of the two cities, the county, and the university. electionfinancede these
p ea Station's proposed water Sys
Bryan, which had earlier suggested that College Station de y g
annex the North Gate area, rejected the proposal.14 tem was still in the construction stage. After the utility
Ironically, within a week after severing the partner- contract with Bryan expired, city leaders concluded an
ship in the joint North Gate sewer line, Bryan councilmen arrangement with Texas A&M University. Until the city
vide
seriously proposed merging the two cities into one. They completed tssystem,
water a�versi univ
ersity
e d t exchange
ro
emphasized that this action would avoid duplication of College Station
services and provide a united front for federal grant appli• for ownership"of Nelle x pre r s l ly drilled for s 7 9 College the sch s�tw t
cations. Councilman Wayne Gibson believed it would y P y
56
new wells, located north of Bryan, were successfully corn- electronic, and research-oriented firms into the
pleted, but it took two additional years to finish the nine community.22
million dollar water system. officials dedicated the new College Station's desire to invite specialized industries
facilities, which included two pump stations, a cooling to the area complemented its goal of attaining self-suffi•
tower, a three million gallon ground storage tank, and ciency. In the early 1980s the community displayed signs
fourteen males of transmission lines, in December 1981. of drawing closer to that objective. The city had con-
Since the new system could pump 27 million gallons of structed new municipal facilities, experienced increasing
water a day, College Station had for the first time its own commercial and industrial growth, and provided its own
independent water supply.19 sewer and water utility systems for its residents. Officials
Announcements of the location of a prominent indus- continued to discuss and plan for additional far-reaching
try and the construction of a regional mall in College projects.
Station were made within a month of each other during
the summer of 1979. Texas Instruments hoped to open a
manufacturing facility on a 250 acre tract east of the city Council-Community Relations
in early 1980.21 Developers of the mall proposed to build a
center near the East Bypass and Highway 30 which would Although city leaders concentrated heavily on estab.
house four major stores and more than 100 smaller shops. lishing facilities for municipal operation, they also realized
They expected the commercial facilities to provide 2500 the importance of an emotionally enriched community.
new jobs for residents and to attract shoppers from all Council members believed that the city's recreational, cul•
around the adjoining counties.2' Citizens celebrated the tural, and social facilities needed to keep pace with the
opening of Post Oak Mall in February 1982. rapid growth, and during this period they initiated or
These recent industrial and commercial establish- provided funds for a myriad of programs. Even with the
ments reflected a new direction in the maturation of Col- increased support for civic activities, officials encountered
lee Station. Whereas earlier development had focused conflicts with various citizen groups. While the difficulties
g p were not always easy to resolve, the experiences contained
mainly around the university, officials now made aeon- Y Y p
certed effort to diversify interests in the community. Effec- positive aspects. Citizens exercised their right to express
tive future expansion required that the city obtain a concern about their government, and officials worked to-
broader, more balanced tax base. In order to achieve that ward solutions that benefitted the community as a whole
goal, the council adopted a policy of attracting industry to Since the early 1950s, residents expressed interest in a
the city. Using funds from the hotel/motel tax, the council city-wide recreational program and in acquiring municipal
agreed in October 1980 to help finance the newly-formed park sites. City leaders, especially in recent years, had
College Station Industrial Development Foundation. Den- made significant progress toward that goal. The expansion
nis H. Goehring, previously the chief executive officer at in city parks and recreational facilities during this period,
the Bank of A&M, headed the organization and many city however, was phenomenal. Not only did the amount of
bankers and businessmen were members. The major park acreage double, but officials also sought to accommo•
thrust of the foundation was to bring high-technology, date a variety of activities. The development of the Parks
and Recreation Department reflected the growth. The
57
parks director and department employees worked full- to a multi-purpose recreational area. Tennis courts, picnic
time and worked meticulously to implement the projects. areas, playground facilities, nature trails, and a group
With additional funds allocated from the Bureau of pavillion to accommodate 300 people were included in the
Outdoor Recreation in 1974, the city added tennis courts, plans. College Station residents celebrated the completion
w� ball fields, and playgrounds at Bee Creek Park.2" In Sep- of their largest municipal park in August 1982. The Parks
tember 1975 the Brazos County Bicentennial Committee Department not only decided to use Central Park as a
inquired about the possibility of establishing an official model for future developments, but also chose to establish
county arboretum at Bee Creek in conjunction with the their office building and maintenance warehouse amid its
�+ national celebration. The council enthusiastically sup- scenic setting.28
ported the idea and donated seventeen undeveloped acres. Besides planning for recreational facilities, the council
Citizens from both the city and county planted and labeled participated in various projects which they hoped would
various species of trees and mapped out a nature trail." benefit the community. In 1976, they considered the feasi- 1
The arboretum was ready in time for the 1976 Fourth of bility of establishing bicycle lanes in several residential
July festivities. areas, primarily for use by college students. The Brazos
Through the late 1970s, the council continuously ad- Valley League of Women Voters, after conducting an
ded land and facilities to the parks system. They changed eight month study, recommended to the city that paths be
the parkland dedication ordinance in 1975 so that develop- striped and signs posted in subdivisions east and south of
M' ers were required to donate additional acres for neighbor- the campus. By August 1976 the proposed paths had been
hood recreational areas as their total number of housing marked, and the city applied for federal funds to construct
units increased.2-1 The following year the city established a more elaborate system.29 The funds, however, never
the College Station Parks and Recreation Foundation, a materialized, and the council revised their policy in 1980.
trust fund created expressly for the purpose of purchasing Since residents complained about the twenty-four hour
Lincoln Center from the school district.26 Using federal parking restriction along the paths, officials only striped
money received in December 1977, the Parks Department such busy streets as Jersey and Southwest Parkway; all
developed facilities at the Thomas and Oaks Parks on the other roads were now designated with bicycle route signs
east side of the city. A second municipal pool opened in which did not prohibit on-street parking."'
Thomas Park on June 21, 1980. Its accessories included a The council agreed in 1978 to use hotel/motel tax
plastic bubble dome which allowed indoor swimming dur- funds to subsidize a municipal art collection program. Or-
ing the winter months.2' ganized by the Arts Council of Brazos Valley, the program,
Perhaps the Parks and Recreation Department's great• described as a "first in Texas," consisted of a statewide
est achievement was the development of College Station competition for paintings depicting College Station as it
Central Park. Originally, council members purchased forty- appeared in 1978.11 The Arts Council scheduled a show in
seven acres in June 19 7 8 near the East Bypass and Krenek March 19 7 9; paintings were judged and prizes totaling
Tap Road in order to provide athletic fields for the com• over $13,000 were awarded. The prize-winning entries be-
�I munity's organized softball and soccer teams. The site also came city property and were publicly displayed.32
contained a large wooded expanse and a pond. The natu- A county-sponsored Tourist Information Center also
ral setting convinced parks officials to expand the facility received financial support from the College Station City
58
L�
Council in January 1978 when the council appropriated Station residents who supported a change to the ward
$50,000 for its share of operating expenses and donated a system did so because they wanted to prevent special inter.
city-owned house across from the cemetery for temporary est groups, such as students, from gaining a majority of
quarters. The Information and Hospitality Center of Bra- council positions."
zos County, the group that operated the facility, hoped to The votes tallied in the April. 3, 1976 election revealed
promote area tourist attractions and increase convention that 1,190 citizens voted for the institution of wards while
activity in the community." 1,161 residents elected to keep the at-large system. City
Although citizens had approved funds for a civic officials were surprised at the outcome and suggested that
center in the 1976 bond election, city officials did not the complexity of the proposition caused accidental pas.
concentrate on acquiring the facility until 1979. At that sage. At the next council meeting, council members ds-
time council members discussed the possibility of purchas- cussed this quandary. They were confronted with the task
ing the old A&M Consolidated High School built in 1949 of identifying six precincts with equal population although
and renovating it as a community center. Representatives they had no viable population data to guide them. Since
from various organizations, especially the senior citizens, the wards would not align with county voting districts, the
urged the council to take action; the center would provide city would have to maintain its own voter registration lists.
space for club meetings.14 In a trade with the school dis- Councilmen estimated that the extra expense would be
trict, College Station received the brick structure in ex- between $5,000 and $10,000 per year.31
change for city-owned property near the new high school. Marty citizens were also dismayed with the prospect
The council spent one million dollars in renovations and of reverting back to the ward system. Former Mayor D. A.
additions, and the civic center, featuring six meeting Anderson presented a petition with over 700 signatures to
rooms, a kitchen, two patios, and a large multi-purpose the council on April 27, 1976 which asked officials to
room, opened in June 1982.1- contest the election. Anderson explained that the wording
The first complication with citizen groups during this of the proposed charter amendment was ambiguous. He
period occurred in 1976 and resulted in a complete revi- also pointed out that minority groups would not benefit
sion in the city's voting procedure. Texas A&M students from a six ward system since College Station had no area
wanted to return to the election of officials by the ward of high minority concentration."'
system, and they submitted a student senate bill request- Concerned with the citizens' petition and their own
ing such a measure to the council during the September misgivings about the election outcome, the council decided
24, 1973 city meeting." They believed that election by to include a straw vote on voting procedure with the June
wards would provide more representation for the student 1976 bond election. They simply asked residents to indi-
body in municipal affairs. cate whether they wanted the ward system or at-large
Previous charter amendments prevented the proposal method of election. The straw vote revealed that sixty-
from appearing on the ballot until the 1976 spring elec• eight percent of the voters favored the at-large system."
tion. At that time the Charter Revision Commission of Since the city could not formally protest, Mayor Bravenec
fered the public an amendment with three options: retain helped citizens file a suit contesting the election, and Col-
the at-large system, establish six wards, or combine the lege Station City Attorney hieeley Lewis agreed to present
ward/at-large programs. Ironically, permanent College
59
i
I� the case. The court date was scheduled for September 9, citizen group in the city's history. During a December 1980
1976 in the 85th District Court.' Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, John Law-
Many Texas A&M students, who earlier were pleased rence, a representative of an undisclosed firm, presented a
with the results of the charter amendment election, did request to rezone a fifty-four acre tract near the Raintree
not want to see the vote for the wards annulled. Three subdivision from single family residential to planned indus-
members of Texas A&M student government, erri Ward, trial. The firm was considering the purchase of the land
g J g
Mary Ellen Martin, and Robert Harvey, conferred with for the purpose of developing an industrial project. Law-
Attorney Kent Caperton about a possible avenue of de- rence described the industry as a light metal manufacturer
fense. Under Caperton's counsel, the students submitted a listed among the top 500 companies in the nation. Devel-
�' letter to the county courthouse, asking Judge W. C. Davis opers of the proposed plant planned to employ 500 work-
to uphold the charter revision election. Caperton also en- ers, include recreational facilities for employees, and
tered a plea of intervention which allowed him to present allocate seventy-five percent of the property for landscap-
support for the ward system vote during the September ing. Lawrence also noted that the College Station Indus-
9th hearing-" trial Development Foundation would announce the
In the decision announced on October 22, 1976, identity of the Firm at a future date.'-'
Judge Davis upheld the validity of the election. Davis ex- At the Planning and Zoning Commission's public
planned that the contestants failed to prove that irregulari• hearing of Lawrence's request, several Raintree residents
ties affected or changed the result of the election. He expressed their displeasure with the possible change. They
believed the confusion that occurred at the polls did not emphatically stressed that the commission should not vote
stem from the wording of the amendment but from fail- on the issue until they knew the identity of the industry.
ure on the part of the voter to take sufficient time to read To placate the disgruntled citizens, Lawrence explained
the entire proposal.41 City officials had no other choice but the company did not want to reveal its name until plans
to delineate six ward boundaries, equally dividing the pop- were finalized in order to avoid harassment from other
!� ulation, and submit them to the United States Justice De- firms and cities and that it was common for other large
partment for approval. Firms to adopt a similar philosophy. City Planner Albert
College Station's new ward system, which required Mayo also enumerated checks within the planned indus-
great effort to accurately outline, did not remain in effect trial zoning designation which allowed the city to regulate
for long. In the April 2, 1978 municipal election, voters the type of facility constructed. Although Commission
chose by a three to one margin to re-instate the at-large Chairman Richard Maher sympathized with the residents'
system." Although the Justice Department had a right to concerns, he believed a negative vote would seriously ham•
reverse the decision College Station's homogeneous demo per industrial recruitment. With a vote of six to one the
e � g g
graphic makeup precluded the need for ward representa- commission approved the zoning change."
tion. By the next spring election, councilmen were once Before the rezoning request was presented to the
again elected by place. council for consideration, a group of Raintree residents
In their attempt to encourage industry to settle in met to discuss ways to block the change. The citizens
II College Station during the early 1980s, the council exper• warned of "extremely unfavorable consequences" and
ienced what was probably the most serious conflict with a threatened a possible lawsuit if the motion passed. Since
III
60
11
the rezoning measure contradicted the city's comprehen- and were considering establishing a plant which would
sive plan, the residents argued that the plan would no manufacture computer-related parts. Mayor Halter hoped
longer be effective. City Planner Mayo explained that the the announcement from the respected firm would relieve
master plan did not restrict the uses of the disputed prop• the anxieties of Raintree residents, and Councilman
erty to residential, but that any new zoning designation Runnels admitted that the industry "has the potential for
must agree "with the character of the whole area." The being a good community neighbor."50 Within a week
group, however, felt the change would set a harmful Westinghouse confirmed that they would buy the prop-
precedent." erty. The company's spokesman, Tom Duncan, assured
During the January 8, 1981 council meeting, which the neighboring residents that they would adhere to all
drew an overflow crowd, many Raintree residents voiced environmental regulations, take aesthetics into account
strong opposition to the rezoning measure. They empha- when designing the plant, and hopefully be an asset to the
sized that "noise, traffic, and esthetics" would prevent the neighborhood.51 Westinghouse finalized the purchase on
industry from conforming to the character of the neigh. March 4, 1981.
borhood. Even after hearing the citizens' objections, the The Citizens for Responsible Government, the cam-
council approved the proposal by a six to one vote. In an mittee subsequently organized by Raintree residents, con-
interview after the meeting, Mayor Gary Halter, a political tinued with their plans to block construction of the plant.
science professor who ran unopposed in the 1980 munici• Although they had a productive meeting with the mayor
pal elections, revealed that most of the council members on January 16, the group decided to circulate a petition to
were already aware of the identity of the firm and ex- force the city council to act on a referendum request. The
pressed his belief that residents would be pleased with the residents believed that once they submitted the petition
industry. Councilman Robert Runnells, who had cast the containing 300 signatures of qualified voters, the council
dissenting vote, considered the secrecy aspect of the issue had two legal options. Officials could call an election and
unnecessary and felt the decision would cause "an in- let the public determine the issue or they could repeal their
creased distrust in government.1148 earlier rezoning decision.12
The Raintree group soon announced that they were To their dismay, members of the newly-formed or.
forming a city-wide organization and would campaign for ganization learned that even if they presented a valid peti•
a recall election of all council members who approved the tion, the council would be under no legal obligation to call
rezoning request. Mayor Halter believed such action would a referendum. College Station City Attorney Lowell
be detrimental for the community, and he pointed out the Denton explained to the group that his study of several
difficulty of obtaining the required signatures of forty per- court cases and the state law verified that residents had no
cent of the qualified voters. Instead of a recall drive, Hal- authority to enact or repeal zoning ordinances through
ter suggested that a better approach might be a referendums. The state specifically conferred authority for
referendum on whether or not zoning for the property zoning matters to the council who in turn had to provide
should be industrial.49 public hearings for citizen expression on the issue. Denton,
On January 14, 1981 Westinghouse Electric Corpora- who obtained the consensus of seven other municipal at-
tion disclosed that they had obtained an option to tomeys on his assessments, advised the group that holding
purchase the fifty-four acre tract off the Highway 6 Bypass an election would be futile since the results would be void.
61
If they wanted to appeal the rezoning decision, they must a proposed plant with the neighborhood and to enforce
file a suit in a court of law."s aesthetic conditions. The Planning and Zoning Commis-
Despite Denton's opinion, the Citizens for Responsible sion agreed to research the land use concept which desig-
Government decided to proceed with their original course nated large sections of property in the city or just outside
of action. On January 28, 1981 Chairman Robert Webb its limits for industrial, commercial, or residential develop-
filed petitions containing 489 signatures with City Secre• meat." The council also decided to include a non-binding
tary Glenn Schroeder calling for repeal of the rezoning poll on the April 4, 1981 election ballot in order to canvass
ordinance or the scheduling of a referendum. David public opinion on how the city should approach industrial
Stasny, a Bryan attorney who represented some Raintree development.-"'
residents, believed the council was legally obligated to pur- Although opposition groups created an atmosphere
sue one of the two choices presented in the petitions. of controversy, the April 4th election revealed a mandate
College Station City Council set February 26, 1981 as the for the city government. Incumbent Councilmen Larry
date for a public hearing on the issue.54 Ringer and Tony Jones were returned to their positions,
During the February public hearing, council members and while Dr. Alvin Prause defeated incumbent Roy Kelly,
affirmed their previous decision, with an identical six to Prause was not affiliated with the dissenting groups. The
one vote, by denying both a repeal of and referendum on results of the informal poll showed that the majority of
the rezoning ordinance. Agreeing with Denton's recom- citizens concurred with the city's goal of industrial recruit-
mendations, the majority of the council viewed a referen• ment. They agreed that the council should financially sup-
dum as a violation of state law, and they believed a repeal port recruitment, and they believed officials should
of the zoning designation could result in a lawsuit filed by especially encourage the establishment of high-technology
Westinghouse which the city in all probability would lose." industries and commercial facilities. Voters also approved
The Raintree caucus immediately filed a suit against the the "flexible plan" which allowed zoning and land use
�I College Station City Council. Represented by Stasny, they changes that correspond with actual municipal
sought a court order to force the referendum. The group development.'Q
also vowed to be active in the upcoming municipal The group of Raintree residents decided to end their
y elections."' fight against the rezoning measure in May 1981. The previ-
Not all citizens shared the sentiments of the Citizens ous month Judge Bradley Smith ruled against their case
for Responsible Government. Another ;group, Citizens for because of insufficient evidence, and the contestants deter-
Progress, was formed and advertised their support for the mined than an appeal would be too costly. Chairman
council and the industrial rezoning ordinance. Mayor Hal. Webb believed that the organization had achieved some
ter also received an informal petition with 600 signatures accomplishments; he felt that the council would be more
of residents which indicated approval of recent council sensitive to the sentiments of residents in the future.
actions."' Mayor Halter agreed that the situation could have been
In order to prevent future friction, city officials dis- handled more diplomatically. The council might have
r cussed ways to smoothly assimilate industry into the com- spent additional time discussing the issue with Raintree
munity. Mayo suggested an industrial ordinance which residents before they voted on the ordinance." With the
would allow the council to fully review the compatibility of conflict behind them and the results of the industry poll
62
known, city officials now hoped to bring industry into the citizens repeatedly stressed the necessity of avoiding strip
area without creating excessive discord. zoning. Instead, they encouraged centralized commercial
developments, industrial parks, and most importantly, the
protection of single family residential areas. Other goals
Planning for the Future included maintaining growth within the service capacity of
the city, expanding the city staff to adequately serve the
City leaders worked to strengthen the framework of public, and analyzing some form of mass transit.ss The
municipal operations during the 1970s and early 1980s so council hired the consulting firms of Samual L. Wyse &
that College Station would become a self-reliant entity. Associates and Wayne W. Snyder & Associates in July
Aware of the ramifications of undirected growth, officials 1981 to complete the preparation of the documents¢
decided to update the city's comprehensive plan. In late That same month College Station embarked on its
1979, they began such a project with the purpose of evalu- most exciting municipal project. Hoping to utilize the
ating College Station's current development and guiding much discussed land use concept, the council approved on
its expansion into the next century. Within the same time July 9, 1981 the purchase of 1,266 acres two miles south of
period, the council invested in land for a proposed indus- the city limits for the location of future municipal facilities
trial park, an auspicious venture which promises to dy- and an industrial park."' Originally, council members dis•
namically shape College Station's future goals, cussed buying 450 acres of that tract, which lay between
environment, and character. Rock Prairie Road and Highway 6, for such new amenities
Revision of the Pinnell 701 Plan commenced in Octo- as a sewer plant, cemetery, and warehouse, and for expan-
ber 1979 when the council appointed an advisory commit- sion of the city's landfill site located in the same vicinity.
tee consisting of twelve citizens to study such municipal When presented with a favorable proposal that included
needs as land use programs, transportation, schools, indus- 800 additional acres, the council agreed to accept the of-
trial and commercial development, parks, and public ser- fer. They reasoned that the Industrial Foundation could
vice. Director of City Community Development lames buy or lease the remaining portion of the tract for indus-
Callaway assigned the committee members to one of six trial development."
designated areas in the city in order to gather citizens' All the council members were enthusiastic about the
viewpoints for the plan. The selected representatives impending acquisition. Councilwoman Patricia Boughton
scheduled several neighborhood meetings before city offi- described it as `one of the best deals the city's made in a
cials and the committee began formulating preliminary long, long time" while Councilman Larry Ringer termed it
goals.61 "an opportunity to purchase land that's vitally needed in
Throughout 1980 the city planning department the near future." Councilman James Dozier extolled the
charted prospective land use maps, and officials and citi- foresight of the transaction. "Very few cities," he ex-
zeros compiled more that sixty long-range goals for "Plan plained, "have looked far ahead in areas of land purchase
2000." In February 1981 City Planner Mayo presented a for city needs.""' City Manager Bardell signed a $1.58
rough version of the goals to the Planning and Zoning million contract with R. F. "Bob" Spearman, a local real
Commission. Many of the objectives focused on establish- estate developer, for the land on July 17, 1981, and within
ing a harmonious land use arrangement. Mayo noted that a week all accompanying details had been concluded.da
63
1
1
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a
ri.
a �
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i
Richard Carter received a league of land for settlement from the government of Mexico in 18.31,
and built his home on Carter Creek in October of that year, thus becoming "College Station's"first
resident. His statue is located in the Richard Carter Park along the east by-Mass.
COURTESY❑FPARTMF.NT OF PARKS AND RECRYATION
66
f
r
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=Ie rr
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At the turn of the century the Shiloh Community, now encompassed within the city limits, was a farm community which boasted its own
one-room school. Pictured, left to right (back row) are: Liddie Hrdlicka, Prusa Baraa, Emma Stasney; Fannie Blazek, Victoria Kapchinsk)�
Josie Stasny.John Bfazek,Janie Stasny, Ed Boriskie, Albina Boriskie, Sophie Kapchinsky�John Boriskie; (second row) Stella Hrdlicka, Mary
Heduica, Frank Boriskie, Mary Stasny, Mary Barak, Annie Blazek, Nora Elbrick, Mary Kulak, Victoria Dominik, Albino Blazek, Mary
Hrdlicka, Felix Kopchinsky, Frank Kulak,John Holik; (front row)John Kulak, Tom Holik,Joe Hrdlicka, Leon Stasny, Louis Domenik,
Frank Dominik, Leon Boriskie, Lawrence Stasny, Frank Kulak. The teacher is John Stasny.
'']
COURTESY%IRS.JANIF%RF:NFK
67
II 01 1
i
fir• !
.ir man wr
•
Boyetts store about 1915. The Boyett family ptayed a major role in the deve4ment of the city's
commercial district on the North site of the Campus.
COURTESY TF.XA5 A&M Uu1V}ASM ARC IMTS
68
1
1
r � � r r •rr •r r e r 'r
I
4K
- ILA -
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The Shirley Hotel was built on the A&M Campus in 1906 by private subscriptions from faculty to
help solve the housing shortage. The Shirley was named for the daughter of professor John A.
Lomax. It was the inn for visitors, a temporary quarters for faculty families awaiting regular
housing, and a residence hotel far bachelor professors. Mrs. Asa j Neff operated the dining room.
COURTESY TEXAS A&M VNWFRSITy ARCH{VFS
70
law
• , �a4:Dr+nxcs
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x
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North Gate about 1920 provided the community its first commercial strip shopping center." The
United States Post Office is on the left.
COURTESY T-XAS A&M UMVFASrrY ARCHIVES
71
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The `College"and the "Station"dominate the landscape in this 1925 aerial view of the A&M
College. Faculty and staff lived on campus in College-owned housing (lower left and right), or
commuted to Bryan, some four unpaved miles away.
COUTITI'SY TORMRR.SfUOF;NTS ASSOCIATION
72
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fit f� .;,� tn�e •+�f
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y� f -
s
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t r `.ems.* �� � .#►�` _ � �� � � ��`
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LOVE
� yam'^ ��� ,L ��1 e�r� � k ^I�•
'f r f r r f If• rr r f r r F r r r e
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The home above is one of College Station's first off-campus residences located across "Dexter Lake"
on what is now West Dexter Street. The home in the 1980s is the Property of Doc Burk.
caortTFsv BU.L LANC"Tea
V
74
r
_ . I
Although an Independent School District was organized as early as 1909, public education lacked
a real tax base until the incorporation of the City in 1939. This building was constructed on
campus in 1920 and served school-aged children until the construction of the "new"A&M
Consolidated School on the corner of jersey and Holik in 1940.
CbURFFSY YF.HAS A&M UNIVFRSM ARCH VIS
f
75
Td T+�TE° A
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T Hai MAP
i rk ti y `s►st '"0 CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
:'I t IL , Im
are Lr..n, wool MAW4, pw[ .L.ucs,
'MTEh rorER, INK6iAilOM me
9[NISM [TIIE[T L-YMT
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PROKSE4 ZONES
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The first map of the City of College Station (1939)shows residential areas south of the Texas A&M
University Campus afong jersey and the Welborn Road, "Boyett's Addition" near Narthgate, and
College Hills estates east of the campus along Highway 6.
COURTESY MY OF COULGE STATION
I
76
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The f rst College Station City Council, 1938— 1939. From left to right,John S. Hopper, City
Marshall;Letcher P. Gabbard, George.B. Wilcox,,John H. BinneX Ernest Langford, Alva Mitchell,
Luther G.,Jones.
COURTESY TI-XAS A&M UNIVERSITY ARQiIV1S
5
77
A
i
John H. Binney Frank G. Anderson
College Station Mayor 1939- 1940 College Station Mayor 1940--1949
COURTESY CITY OE OOU"F[:F.STATION COURTESY CITY OF COUJI:GF STATION
78
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This Composite view,shows the development of the three business districts surrounding the College as
of 1948. Top—North Gate; Midrli+e—East Cate;Bottom—southside.
COURTf.SY fiE XAS A&M UNIVERSM ARCHIVES
80
A.
,I
Ernest Langford David A. Anderson
College Station Mayor 1942—1966 College Station Mayor 1966— 1971
COURTVSY CITY%CRLUkGE STATION GOVRTFsv CCTV"%couf-Gt STAtION
81
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The 1952 City Council in a planning meeting. Left to right are:J. Wheeler Barger, Bill Fitch,
Marian Pugh,,Joe Sorrels, Mayor Ernest Langford, Howard Badgett, Harry Boyer, N.M.
McGinnis, and City Manager Ran Boswell.
couRMw errw OF co>ucE srer"
I
82
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City Managers Ran Baswell(left) 1952—1974, and North Bardell (right) 1974— 1986,
managed the business affairs of the City through most of its first fifty years.
[xauxrFS'i THE e+c[F
83
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The City Council in January 1967, at the beginning of a period of unparalleled growth and
expansion, included, standing, left to right:A.L. Rosl7ren, City Manager Ran Boswell, Robert R.
Rhodes, Dr. D.M. Holt, Attorney Don Dillon, and Secretary C.F. Richardson. seated:A.P. Boyett,
Mayor D.A. Anderson, Bj. Cooley and Homer B. Adams.
01)URTFSY Cf7Y os COUT.GX SrAr10N
84
' 4
ci
1 �
1, 1 lii yyII
V
I
1 4
1s
C(7iMMUNITy
T W.A. Tarnow served as teacher and principal in the College Station schools
(Lincoln Highschool and College Station Elementary)for over twenty years. He
1 r , is pictured here with students in Mrs. Brown's sixth grade; (Front row left to
right)Keith Boutain,Jimmy Bohanan, Shelia Taylor, Delphine Barron, Kathy
'y Dawson (Back rou; left to right)Principal W.A. Tarrov4 Kennard Rod Charles
rt Merchant Michael Lenz, Hebree Searq Richard Groot, Mary Brown. Tarrow
helped organize and served as president of Community House, a day care and
social services organization begun with private donations and volunteers in
1953. He received the Lane Bryant Award for distinguished community str-
f vice,presented at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in 1966.
,• a :.",��' _� COL IRTF.SY EDNA rARROW AN 1)10 I..F.V SI MEAN
85
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The College Station Planning and Zoning Commission meets with Mayor D.M. Holt to discuss
expansion plans. Present are (left to right)Dennis Goehring, Everett Janne, Tommy Preston, Bill
Smith, Ed Cooper, Mayor Holt, and City Manager Ran Boswell.
COURTESY CITY M COLUGE STATION
86
Lorence Bravanec
James B. "Dick"Hervey College Station Mayor 1976- 1979
College Station Mayor 1971 - 1974
[his M. Holt
College Station Mayor 1974-- 1976
C6URTFSY'CITY OF Cf]LLF:4:F:STATION
87
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�,`�.Yi�X<y i�� �la�• S 1..�• i-� �` t d•��i� .ti;MtiTs�' a}�`` -� •�sy- �.� � '! t _- -._.
The expansion offersey Street in 1968 provided better access to the A&M Campus. This view is
looking guest from Anderson Street.
COLFRYFsr CITY OF COLLEGE.SrATM
I
88
5
5 \
Rapid city growthi r and power crews occuppied constantly Forr
years '! utility servicesandfireprotectionfiromTexasor B7an.
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'� "'J.ate. ;' r•�.�rfl,� •ter• ,_-�r..' -r r r."� y..aw .'
Completion of the east by-pass in the 1970s eased the trap problems on Highway 6 which had
became the main commercial artery for Bryan and College Station in the 1950s and 1960s.
COUR-nSY CITY UM COLLI-,[:F SrA rION
90
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This scene from Gabbard Park suggests the considerable investment in community darks and
recreational facilities by the people of College Station, who have a commitment to a quality living
environment.
COURnSY DF.PA R7M.F:lV7'OF PARMS AND RF'.CRi AMN
91
4
i
4
W&ON
.J
"Action"and "activity"are bywords of the College Station community where two-thirds of the
Polhulation, when Texas A&M University's 40,000 students are included, are under the age of
twenty-one.
C4NJRMY MPARIMEN`S'M PARRS AND RECUA71DN
92
. .
PRUITTS
BUUrV
49
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Little League action about 1975 at Wayne Smith Park. New park and field developments in the
1980s have caused the retirement and razing of the old ball field at Wayne Smith which provided
almost three decades of play for College Station youth.
C0Lr9'PSV CITY M caW.C&STATION
93
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Community Education Programs for youth and adults offer athletics of all kinds, and include
instructional programs, exercise, health care, pottery weaving, computers and languages, among
the many options.
COURTESY DEPARTMENT OF PAR%5 AND RE-CREATION
94
SCE' •' �•
? _+. �� �.. _.` �! f"^«,x �•-> �/ice ,. •� �r'i1R•��,
"WorldHeadquarters" r Department of Recreation and Parhj in Central
r RECRFATION
95
+I
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That "Second"Cray Nall completed in 1970.
COEIRTFSY CITY OF WLLFGF.STATION
96
y I,
CIS I
• 1!
The City Hall Annex, completed in 1984, blends with the City Hall to pmide a modern and
comfortable municipal complex.
COURTISY CM OF COLU-GF:STATION
F 4�]
J J'
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Ill
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Texas Street or Highway 6 is the major thoroughfare for College Station and Bryan.. On the
horizon to the left 6 the oceanography Building on the Texas A&M University Campm, and in
the center is the Ramada Inn.
98
I 11 II
—NOOOr .woe
Gary Halter Larry Ringer
College Station Mayor 198€1-1986 College station Mayor 1986-
COURTESY CRY OF COI IEGF.STATION COURTESY CITY OF COLLEGE:STATION
99
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it
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II
Chapter I 31. Clarence Ousley, History of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
(College Station,Texas:Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, 1935),
I. Rupert N. Richardson, Ernest Wallace, and Adrian Anderson, Texas; The pp- 40-41.
Lane Star State, 3rd ed. (Engelwood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 32. Crawford, One Hundred Years of Engineering, p. 4.
1970), p. 9. 33.Joseph M. Nance, foreword to Henry C. Dethloff,A Centennial History of
2.Joseph Milton Nance, The Early History of Bryan and the Surrounding Area Texas A&M University, 2 vols. (College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University
(Bryan,Texas: Hood's Brigade e Bryan Centennial Committee, 1962,) p. 1. Press, 1975), I, p. xi.
3 Ibid 34. Crawford,One Hundred Years of Engineering, p. 4.
4. Ibid, 35. Langford, Getting the College Under Way, p. 55.
5.T.R. Fehrenbach,Lone Star:A History of Texas and the Texans(New York:The 36. Dethloff, Centennial History of Texas A&M, I, p. 44.
Dial press, 1968), pp. 90-91, 37. Ibid., 1, p. 46.
6. Kate Efnor, "Historical Sketch of Brazos County, Texas,"American Sketch 3S.Jane Mills Smith, "CS Recent Community," The Eagle,June 24, 1979, in
Book 4 (1879), p. 237. College Station Publicity Notebook„ vol. 19, p. 142.
7, Shawn Carlson, College Station's First Settler (College Station, Texas: Arts 39. Ibid.
Council of Brazos Valley, [n.d.D. p. 4. 49. Robert Franklin Smith, "A Brief Sketch of the Agricultural and Mechani•
8. Nance,Early History of Bryan, p. 2, cal College of Texas," 1914, in Harvey Mitchell File, Texas A&M University
9. Efnor, "Historical Sketch," P. 237. Archives, College Station,Texas.
10. Elmer Grady Marshall, "The History of Brazos County, Texas" (M.A. 41. David Brooks Cofer, ed., Early History of Texas A&M College through Letters
thesis, University of Texas at Austin, 1937), p. 28. and Papers (College Station, Texas: Association of Former Students, 1952),
IL Efnor, "Historical Sketch," p. 242. pp. 82-84.
12. i6id. 42. Dethloff, Centennial History of Texas A&M, 1, pp. 158, 166.
13. Nance, Early History of Bryan, p. I. 43. Ibid., 1, p. 181.
14. Marshall, "History of Brazos County," p. 8. 44. Marshall, "History of Brazos County," p. 108.
15. Brazos County Historical Tour, Compiled by students of Bryan High School 45.James L. Rack and W. 1. Smith,South and Western Texas Guide for 1878(St.
under the direction of Mrs. Charlene Ragsdale(Bryan,Texas: Wallace Print- Louis, Missouri: A. H. Granger, 1878), p. 53.
ing Co., 1976), p 5 46. Estelle Hudson and Henry R. Maresh, Czech Pioneers of the Southwest,
16. Efnor„ "Historical Sketch," pp. 239-240. (Dallas, Texas: South-West Press, Inc., 1934), p. 38.
17. Shawn Carlson, "The Economic Development of an East Central Texas 47. Interview with Herman Krenek, April 28, 1983.
Rancher 1931 - 1878," paper presented at the 53rd meeting of the Texas 4& Ibid.
Archeological Society, College Station, Texas, October 1982, pp. 3-4. 49. Ibid.
18. Ibid, 50. Ibid,
19. Nance,Early History of Bryan, p. 13. 51. Ibid,
20. Ibid„ p. 27. 52. Ibid.
21. Ibid, 53. Ibid.
22. Carlson, "Economic Development," pp 4-5. 54.Brazos County Historical Tour, p. 9.
23. Marshall, "History of Brazos County,'- p. 106. 55. Rock and Smith, Texas Guide for 1878, p. 53.
24. Henry C. Dethloff, A Centennial History of Texas AdrM University, 2 vols. 56. Interview with Krenek.
(College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press, 1975), 1, pp. 16- 17. 57. Ibid.
25. Marshall, "History of Brazos County,"p. 119- 121. 58. ibid.
26. Ernest Langford, Getting the College Under Way (College Station, Texas: 59. Ibid.
University Library, 1970), pp. 1 -5. 60. City of College Station, Minutes of the Meeting of City Council, Vol. 3,
27. C.W.Crawford and others,One Hundred Years of Engineering at Texas A&M October 15, 1947, p. 242.
1876 1976 (College Station, Texas: By the Author, 1976), p. 3. 61. Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas,Annual Catalog, 1900(Col-
28. Dethloff, Centennial History of Texas AW I, pp. 18, 20-21. lege Station, Texas: Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, 1900),
29. ibid., I, p. 3. p. 82.
30. Ibid., I, p. 19. 62. Ernest Langford, Remembrance of Things Past (College Station, Texas: By
the Author, 1975), p. 156.
63. Dethloff, Centennial History of Texas A&M, I, p. 198.
101
64. David Brooks Cofer,Fragments of Early History of Texas A&M College(College 15. "Election on Proposal Is to be Asked," Bryan Eagle, March 23, 1938, in
Station,Texas: Association of Former Students, 1953), p. 36. College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 1, p. 1.
65. Dethloff, Centennial History of Texas A&M, I, p. 226. 16. Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas(1925),Title 28,pp. 289, 940.
66. Ibid„ I, pp. 228-229. 17. Petition to the County judge of Brazos County,Texas from Residents of
67. Cofer, ed.,Letters and Papers, p. 83. the Unincorporated Town of College Station,College Station,Texas,June 2,
68. Cofer,Fragments, p. 10. 1938, P. I.
69. Dethloff, Centennial History of Texas A&M, I, p. 160. 18. "College Station Property'Holders Will Vote Oct. 19,"Bryan Eagle,Octo-
70. Cofer,Fragments, p. 10. her 8, 1938, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 1, p. 5.
71. Ibid, 19. Interview with Charles Crawford, March 24, 1983.
72. George Sessions Petry, The Story of Texas A&M (New York: McGraw-Hill 20. Interview with Bonnen.
Book Co., 1951), p. 81. 21. "College Area Citizens for Municipality,"Bryan Eagle, October 20, 1938,
73. Iba in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 1, p. 7.
74. Dethloff, Centennial History of Texas A&M, II, p. 407. 22. "Election of City Officials Due Nov. 28,"Battalion, November 4, 1938.
75. Interview with C.A. Bonnen, March 25, 198& 23. "Officials For City Nominated,"Battalion, November 15, 1938.
76. Langford,Remembrance, p. 120. 24. "College Station Names Mayor and Five Alderman," Houston Post, No-
77. Tad Moses, "Your City—Fifth of a Series,"Battalion,July 12, 1945, in vernber 30, 1938, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 1, p. 28.
College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 1, p. 69. 25."Ruling to be Sought as to Eligibility,"Bryan Eagle,December 19, 1938,in
78. Ibid, College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 35.
79. Interview with Hershel Burgess, 16 March 1983. 26. Robert Stewart, "Mayor Langford Views Birth,Growth of Town,"Bryan
80. Ibid. Daily Eagle, August 2, 1964, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 5,
81. ibid. P. Ill.
27. "College Station Goes into Municipal Rule," Waco Tribune-Herald, Febru-
ary 26, 1939, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 43.
28. City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, Vol 1,
Chapter 11 March 9, 1939 and March 23, 1939, pp. 3, 7.
29. ibid., Vol. 1, February 25, 1939, February 27, 1939, March 6, 1939 and
1. Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, The Longhorn, 1938(College March 9, 1939, pp. i -5.
Station, Texas: Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, 1939); Inter. 30. Ibid., Vol. 1, April 5, 1939 and April 12, 1939, pp. 9- 11.
view with J.O. White,July 11, 1983. 31. Ibid, Vol. 1, April 20, 1939 and May 18, 1939, pp. 13, 16.
2. Henry C. Dethloff, A Centennial History of Texas A&M University, 2 vols. 32. City of College Station,Ordinances,Vol. 1, March 16, 1939 and April 20,
(College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press, 1975), II, p. 424. 1939, pp. 4, 13- 14.
3. "Your City," Battalion, undated clipping, in College Station Publicity 33. Minutes, Vol. 1,June 8, 1939, p. 19.
Notebook, Vol. 1, p. 65. 34. Ordinances, Vol. 1, April 12, 1939, p. 11.
4. Tad Moses, "Your City," Battalion, undated clipping, in College Station 35, "City Tax Situation,"Battalion, October 1939,in College Station Publicity
Publicity Notebook, Vol. 1, p. 66. Notebook, Vol. 1, p. 62.
5. "Your City," undated clipping, Vol. 1, p. 65. 36. Minutes, Vol. 1,June 8, 1939 and July 6, 1939, pp. 19-22.
6. Ibid. 37. Ibid., Vol. 1, March 30, 1939, September 18, 1939 and November 17,
7. Elmer Grady Marshall, "The History of Brazos County, Texas" (M.A. 1939, pp. 8, 27, 35.
thesis, University of Texas at Austin, 1937), p. 213. 38. ibid, Vol. 1, September 18, 1939, p. 27.
8. Interview with Hershel Burgess, March 16, 1983; Interview with C.A. 39. Ordinances, Vol. 1, September 28, 1939, p. 37.
Bonnen, March 25, 1983. 40. Minutes, Vol. 1, February 6, 1940 and February 29, 1940, pp. 45, 47.
9. Moses, "Your City," Vol. 1, p. 66. 41. Ordinances,Vol. 1,February 15, 1940 and February 29, 1940, pp. 94, 95.
10. Petition to the Board of Directors, A. and M. College, through the 42. Minutes, vol. 1, September 5, 1940 and October 28, 1940, pp. 67, 71.
President of the College, College Station,Texas, March 4, 1938, p. 1. 43. Interview with Luther G.Jones, March 25, 1993.
11. Ibid., pp. 3-4. 44. Creation of Agricultural and Mechanical College Independent School
12. ibid., pp. 2-4. District, S. B. No 70, in City of College Station Files,Texas A&M University
13- ibid., p. 4. Archives, College Station, Texas.
IC Ibid,
102
45.W.L. Hughes,"Your City—Sixth of a Series,"Battalion,July 19, 1945,in Chrbter III
College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 70.
46, "Early School Districts Traced,"Eagle,June 24, 1979, in College Station 1. Interview with David A. Anderson, September 22, 1983.
Publicity Notebook, vol. 19, p. 142. 2. Robert Stewart, "Mayor Langford Views Birth, Growth of Town,"Bryan
47. Hughes, "Your City—Sixth of a Series," p 70. Daily Eagle, August 2, 1964, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 5,
48. Ibid. P. 111.
49, Ibid. 3.Ernest Langford,Remembrance of Things Past(College Station,Texas: By the
50.W.L. Hughes, "Your City—Seventh of a Series,"Battalion,July 26, 1945, Author, 1975), pp. 18, 45.
in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 71. 4. Stewart, "Mayor Langford," vol. 5, p. 111.
51.W.L.Hughes, "Your City—Eighth of a Series,"Battalion,August 2, 1945, 5. Langford,Remembrance, pp. 95- 119.
in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 72. 6. Ibid., pp. 122, 128- 129,
52.W.D.Bunting,"Your City—Ninth of a Series,"Battalion,August 2, 1945, 7. Donald D, Burchard, "Profile: Ernest Langford,"Brazos Valley Review, Au-
in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 73. gust 31, 1961, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 4, p. 42.
53. "Incorporation Is Discussed at A. and M. Meeting,"Bryan Eagle, Octo• 8. City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, vol. 2,Janu-
ber 18, 1938, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 6. ary 28, 1943, p. 123.
54. Bunting, "Your City,"vol. 1, p. 73. 9, David R. Goldfield and Blaine A. Brownell, Urban America:From Downtown
55. Interview with Bonnen. to No Town (Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1979), p. 359.
56. City of College Station, Community Center: Grand Opening, College 10. Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas,Annual Catalog, 1926 (Col-
Station, Texas,June 13, 1982. [Typescript.] lege Station, Texas: Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, 1926).
57.John Mitchell, et. al., March 13, 1939, to Mr. E.E. Vexey, Chairman of 11. City of College Station, ordinances, voi. 1, October 22, 1942, pp. 161 -
Board of Trustees,A.and M.Consolidated School,in City Hall Miscellaneous 162.
Files, College Station , Texas. 12. Minutes, vol. 2, November 30, 1942, p. 121.
58. S.B. Zisman, "Community Plans its Schools,"American School and Univer- 13. "College Station Adopts Manager Plan," Texas MunictWities 31 (May
sity 13 (1941), pp. 28-36. 1944), p. 97.
59. Bunting, "Your City,"vol. 1, p. 73. 14. City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, vol. 3,
60. Interview with Jones. February 20, 1947,July 6, 1948 and June 12, 1950, pp. 225, 263, 334.
6L Bunting, "Your City,"vol. 1, p. 73. 15. Minutes, vol. 2, September 13, 1945, p. 172.
62, Bill Clarkson,"College Station Is Fastest Growing City for its Sue in State 16. "Big Crowd Urged for Bond Meeting at College Station," unidentified
of Texas,"unidentified newspaper clipping, undated,in College Station Pub- newspaper clipping, December 19, 1950,in College College Station Publicity
licity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 64. Notebook, vol. 1, p. 206..
63. Interview with Crawford. 17. George Charlton, "City Makes Rapid Growth in Short 12 Year History,"
64. Clarkson, "College Station," vol. 1, p. 64. unidentified newspaper clipping, undated, in College Station Publicity
65. Interview with Burgess. Notebook, vol. 1, p. 171.
66."Incorporation of College Station Has Resulted in Greater Expansion and 18. "College Station City Operations,"unidentified newspaper clipping, un-
Passage of Needed Regulations,"Battalion, November 18, 1939• dated, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 89.
67. Ordinances, vol.. 1,July 6, 1939, p. 23. 19. "College Station's City Council Will Hold Open House," unidentified
68. Ibid., vol. 1,January 22, 1940, pp. 54-88. newspaper clipping, December 18, 1950, in College Station Publicity
69. Minutes, vol. 1, December 7, 1939, p. 37. Notebook, vol. 1, p. 206.
70. Ordinances, vol. 1, May 25, 1939, p. 21. 20. Minutes, vol. 3, November 14, 1949, p, 296.
71. Minutes, voi. 1, February 15, 1940, p. 46. 21. "College Station City Unusual Community,"The Bryan News,February 14,
72. Interview with Frank G. Anderson, March 23, 1983. 1950, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 177.
73. Ibid. 22. "Steen Announces Platform for Mayor's Race; Adopts Slogan, `Build
74. Ibid. College Station Now,"'Battalion,March 27, 1946,in College Station Publicity
75. Minutes, voi. I, April 2, 1940, p. 52. Notebook, vol. 1, p. 119.
76. Interview with Anderson. 23. "City Out-Grabs Bryan for Land," Battalion, April 135 1951, in College
77. Ibid. Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2, p. 26.
78. Minutes, vol. 1, April 17, 1941, p. 87. 24. Institute of Public Affairs, Texas Council-Manager Charters (Austin, Texas:
79. Interview with Anderson. The University of Texas, 1961), p. 1.
103
25. Minutes, voL 3,June 12, 1950, p. 334. 53.Jon Kinslow, "Election to Decide Recreation Tax Increase," Battalion,
26.Joel Austin, "Committee Discusses Charter,"Battalion, April 5, 1951, in January 29, 1953, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2, p. 50.
College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2 p. 34. 54. Minutes, vol. 4, April 28, 1953, p. 479.
27. The Charter of the City of College Station, City Charters and Amend- 55. City of College Station, Ordinances,vol. 3,January 30, 19535 p. 438.
ments, Book 13, in Texas State Archives,Austin,Texas, pp. 137-- 144. 56. "New Street Plan Unveiled at Meeting,"Bryan Daily Eagle, February 25,
28.Ibid, p. 139. 1938, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 3, p. 11.
29.Ibid., pp. 153- 155. 57. "CS Plant Nursery Completed Monday," Battalion, March 12, 1958, in
30. City of College Station, Minutes of City Council,vol. 4,January 9, 1952, College station Publicity Notebook, vol. 3, p. 17.
p. 443. 58.Gayle McNutt,"Council Making Bid for Better Streets,"Battalion,Novem-
31.Jon Kinslow, "Roswell Serving Third Year Here,"Battalion, February 24, ber 26, 1957, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2, p. 207.
1955, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2,p. 88. 59. Ibid
32. Minutes, vol. 3. December 17, 1946 and January 9, 1951, pp. 206, 372; 60. "College Station Property Owners Faced with Dilemma," Bryan Daily
Minutes, vol. 4, December 2, 1954, p. 524. Eagle,January 19, 1958, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 3, p. I.
33. Minutes, vol. $, September 12, 1946, p. 194. 61 "City Council Announces Policy on Street Repair,New Building,"Battal-
34.Joel Austin, "Electricity Story; Past Views Told,"Battalion, February 23, ion,November 12, 1958,in College Station Publicity Notebook,vol. 3,p.61.
1951, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2,p. 18. 62. Dave Stoker, "Petition for Street Bond Vote Presented to CS City Coun-
35.Ibid cil," Battalion, November 25, 1958, in College Station Publicity Notebook,
36. "CS Hands Bryan $38,109 Check for REA Lines," Battalion, March 31, vol. 3, p. 67.
1951, in College Station Publicity Notebook,vol. 2, p. 21. 63, "New Street Plan Unveiled," vol. 3, P. 11.
37. Minutes, vol. 3. April 11, 1949, p. 280. 64. "Street Bond Vote Set by CS Council," Bryan Daily Eagle,January 27,
38. Ibid., vol. 3,January 9, 1951, p. 373. 1959, in College Station Publicity Notebook,. vol. 3, p. 72.
39. "Band Issue Approved by College Station Voters 431 -20," Battalion, 65.Johnny Johnson,"Heavy Vote Blasts Street Bond Issue,"Battalion,Febru-
December 2, 1954, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2, p. 75. ary 18, 1959, in College Station Publicity Notebook,vol 3,p. 85.
40. Minutes, vol. 4, August 15, 1955 and May 28, 1956, pp. 545, 567. 66. "Civic Leaders Plan Discussion of Expansion," Battalion, February 19,
41. Bill Cobble, "Your Fire Department Offers Best for Less," Battalion, 1957, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2, p. 169.
June 9, 1956, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2,p. 57. 67.Gayle McNutt,"Brazos County Planners Hear Expansion Plan,"Battalion,
42. "Little Action in City Council," Battalion, March 26, 1957, in College October 17, 1957, in College Station Publicity Notebook,vol. 2, p. 201.
Station Publicity Notebook,vol. 2,p. 182;"College Station Makes Fire Insur- 68. "Group Asked to Aid in Cities` Growth," Battalion, March 26, 1958, in
ance Study,"Bryan Daily Eagle,August 23, 1960 and"Changes Urged by State College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 3, p. 22.
Man," Bryan Daily Eagle, August 23, 1960, in College Station Publicity 69. "City Council Approves Water Rate Increase,"Battalion, April 29, 1958.
Notebook,vol. 3, pp. 151, 152. in College Station Publicity Notebook, vok 3, p. 29.
43. "City Budget Discussed at Hearing Last Night," unidentified newspaper 70. Minutes, vol. 4, April 28, 1958, p. 635.
clipping, August 5, 1949, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, 71.Ibid., vol. 4,February 5, 1957 and April 27, 1959, pp. 597, 682; City of
P. 105, College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, vol. 5, December 17,
44. "City Council Assigns New Water Contracts," Battalion, November 27, 1962, p. 787.
1956, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2, p. 160. 72. Ibid, vol. 5, March 23, 1963, p. 801.
45. "Charter Is Granted for College Station Bank; Location is Undeter- 73. Ibid, vol. 5,July 27, 1964, p. 849.
mined,"Battalion,November 8, 1945,in College Station Publicity Notebook, 74."Alderman Carr Will Run for Re-Election in CS,"Bryon Daily Eagle,Febru
vol. 1, p. 82. ary 14, 1965,in College Station Publicity Notebook,vol. 2, p. 173.
46. Interview with Hershel Burgess, March 16, 1983. 73. Minutes, vol. 5,June 11, 1965, p. 884.
4 7, Ibid 76. Welton Jones,"Dispute Rises Over Zoning at CS City Council Meeting,"
48. Minutes,vol. 3,June 8, 1946 and December 12, 1946, pp. 188, 204. Battalion, February 26, 1957, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 2,
49. City of College Station, A Condensed History of College Station Ceme• p. 173.
tery, College Station, October 27, 1966, pp. 1 -2. [Typescript.] 77. Minutes, vol. 5, March 16, 1961, p. 730; "City Dads Discuss Railroad
50. Interview with C.A. Bonnen, March 25, 1983. Underpass,"Bryan Daily Eagle,February 25, 1964,in College Station Publicity
51. Otto Kunze, "City Council Takes Action for Library," Battalion, Au- Notebook,vol. 5, p. 63.
gust 17, 1949, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 1, p. 160. 78. "CS,Brazos in Dissent on Interchange Funds,"Bryan Daily Eagle,July 28,
52. Minutes,vol. 3,July 15, 1947, p. 284. 1964, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 5, p. 106.
104
79. M. Rutherford, "Senator Herring May Force Delay in College In- 18. Minutes, vol. 8, April 27, 1970, pp. 1292- 1299.
terchange," Bryan Daily Eagle, March 8, 1965, in College Station Publicity 19. Minutes, vol. 6, February 3, 1967, p. 978; Interview with Anderson.
Notebook, vol. 5, p. 162. 20. Ibid.
80. "Interchange Land Ready,"Bryan Daily Eagle, March 8„ 1965, in College 21.Ibid.; Frank Griffis,"`House Breaking'in CS Signal Program Start,"Daily
Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 5, p. 162. Eagle, April 1, 1971, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 8, p. 38.
81. Minutes, voL 5,January 25, 1965 and February 4, 1965,. pp. 960, 864. 22. "Lincoln School Blaze Displaces 100,"Bryan Daily Eagle,January 21, 1966,
82. Ibid., vol. 5,January 24, 1966, p. 902. in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 5, pp. 227 -230.
83. Langford, Remembrances. 23. Interview with Anderson.
2C Ibid.; City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, vol. 7,
June 24, 1968, p. 1082.
25. Joe Griska, "Lincoln Center Expands Fun„" Eagle, August 5, 1973, in
Chapter IV College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 10, p. 47.
26. Minutes, vol. 6, April 5, 1967, p. 987.
1. Henry C. Dethloff, A Centennial History of Texas A&M University, 2 vols. 27. Interview with Anderson; Interview with C.A. Bonnen, March 25, 1983.
(College Station,Texas:Texas A&M University, 1975),11,pp.561,568,573 - 28. Minutes, vol. 7,January 15, 1968, p. 1040.
7C 29. Ibid., vol. 7, April 3, 1968, p. 1063.
2. Ibid- 1I, p. 576. 30. City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of Planning and Zoning
3. D.A.Anderson, "Why the Need for a Federal Building and Its Location in Commission, April 2, 1973 in City Hall Miscellaneous Files, College Station,
the City of College Station,"College Station,Texas,August 1, 1971,pp. 1- 2 Texas
[Typescript.] 31. Minutes, vol. 7, October 31, 1968, P. 1104.
4.Jim Peters, "Population Hike Is Seen for CS,"Eagle, undated newspaper 32. "CS ,Gets Grant for Water Plan," unidentified newspaper clipping,
clipping, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 9, p. 66. July 51, 1966, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 6, p. 52.
5.City of College Station,Minutes of Meeting of City Council,vol.5,April 7, 33„ Elton Jones, "CS 'Voters Okay Water Bond," Bryan Daily Eagle, Septem•
1966, p. 908. ber 18, 1966, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 6, p. 74,
6. Elton R.Jones, "Anderson Picked Mayor in Close College Ballot,"Bryan 34. City of College Station, Annual Report, 1968, College Station, 'Texas,
Daily Eagle,April 6, 1966, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 6,p. 7. pp. 10- 11.
7. Inter-iew with David A. Anderson, September 22, 1983. 35. Ran Boswell, City Manager of College Station, June 30, 1970, to Joe
8. Kate Thomas, "Mayor Eyes Separate Chambers,"Daily Eagle, March 29, Sorrels,Director of Field Operations,Texas Water Quality Board in City Hall
1970, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 7, p. 16C Miscellaneous Files,College Station,Texas; "College Station to Receive EDA
9. Interview with Anderson. $332,500 Grant,"Dallas Morning News, May 1, 1970, in College Station Public-
10. City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, vol. 8, ity Notebook, vol. 7, p. 180.
November 23, 1970, p. 1370. 36. Minutes, vol. 7,July 24, 1967, pp. 1 109- 1012.
11.Ibid.,vol. 8,October 21, 1970, p. 1360; D.A.Anderson, Memorandum to 37. "College Station Breaks Ground for City Building," Bryan Daily Eagle,
City Council and City Manager on Honorary Key, October 7, 1970, in City April 27, 1969, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 7, p. 92.
Hall Miscellaneous Files, College Station, Texas. 38. Minutes, vol. 8, March 9, 1970, p. 1258.
12. D.A. Anderson, Memorandum to City Council and City Manager on 39. Annual Report 1968, p. 3.
Sundry Items, May 4, 1970, in City Hall Miscellaneous Minutes, College 40. Minutes, vol. 8, November 18, 1971, p. 1448.
Station, Texas. 41. Interview with Anderson.
13. Interview with Anderson. 42. D.A. Anderson, Memorandum to City Council and City Manager on
14. Elton R.Jones, "College Station Five Year Plan Proposed," Bryan Daily Sundry Items, March 23, 1970, in City Hall Miscellaneous Files, College
Eagle,June 12, 1967, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 6, p. 125. Station,Texas.
15. D.A. Anderson, "Some Activities and Goals for City of College Station, 43. Lloyd L..James, "Notes on a Test Project Utilizing Ground Scrap Rubber
Texas,"College Station,"Texas,October 1969,pp. I -29.[Typescript.];Inter- Tires as a Stress Relieving Interface in the Rehabilitation of Pavements,"
view with Anderson. College Station, Texas, September 17, 1970, pp. 1 -5. [Typescript.]
16. Minutes, vol. 8, April 27, 1970, pp. 1292- 1299. 4C Ibid.
17. City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, vol. 6, 45. Bob Stump, "Parks Readied for Summer,"Daily Eagle, May 20, 1971, in
April 25, 1966, p. 914; Report of Annual Report Committee, May 12, 1970, College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 8, p. 57.
in City Hall Miscellaneous Files, College Station, Texas. 46. Minutes, vol. 8,July 15, 1970, p. 1337.
105
47. [bid., vol. 8, March 23, 1970, p. 1271. 73. have Mayes, "There's 51,395 of Us, B-CS Probably SMSA," Daily Eagle,
48. "Major Development Plans Outlined in CS,"Dady Eagle August 1969, in. February 5, 1971, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 8, p. 21.
College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 7, p. 124. 74. Minutes, vol. 9, April 26, 1973, p. 1587.
49. Minutes, vol. 7, August 25, 1969, pp. 1188- 1191, 75. Minutes,vol. 9,July 24, 1972,January 22, 1973, February 26, 1973,and
50, "City's Suit Delayed; Venue Change Denied," Battalion, September 9, April 23, 1973, pp. 1492, 1549, 1562, 1578.
1970, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 7, p. 199. 76. "CS Swimming Pool Sets Unofficial Date,"Battalion, October 4, 1974, in
51. Interview with Anderson. College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 11, p. 130.
52. "CS Files Counter Suit Here," Daily Eagle, August 2, 1970, in College 77. Connie Greenwall, "CS Okays 3 Per Cent Room Tax," Eagle, Septem-
Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 7, p. 196. ber 14, 1973, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 10, p. 88.
53. Kate Thomas, `Judge Says He Will Decide CS Case in a Week," Daily 78. "Pinnell Gets Pact,"Eagle,November 11, 1972,in College Station Public-
Eagle, September 11, 1970, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 7, ity Notebook, vol. S. p. 164.
p, 200. 79.Jim Peters, "CS Looking at Its Future,"Eagle, March 11, 1973,in College
54.Ibid, Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 9, p. 44.
55. Kate Thomas, "CS Wins Class Action Suit,"Daily Eagle, September 23, 80. "Residents Satisfied with CS," Eagle, April 20, 1973, in College Station
1970, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 7, p. 207. Publicity Notebook, vol. 9, p. 70.
56. "Pat Callahan Wants Out of CS Lawsuit,"Daily Eagle,October 5, 1970, in 81. Connie Greenwell, "Romantic?—No, but Necessary," Eagle, May 19,
College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 7, p. 207. 1973, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 9, p. 116; Connie Green-
57. "Ruling Hits A&M Profs,"Dallas Morning News, November 13, 1970, in well,"Land Use Key Phase,"Eagle,May 27, 1973,in College Station Publicity
College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 8, p. 7. Notebook, vol. 9, p. 122.
58. Robert Ford, "Effects of CS Suit Widening," Daily Eagle, December 20, 82. Bobby Templeton, "City Plan Enters Phase II," Eagle, November 25,
1970, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 8, p. 16. 1973, in College Station Publicity Notebook,vol. 10,p. 116;Minutes, vol. 9,
59. D.A. Anderson, Mayor of College Station, November 30, 1970, to Dr. January 24, 1974,. p. 1659.
Jack K.Williams,President of Texas A&M University,in City Hall Miscellane- 83. Minutes, vol. 9, October 23, 1972, p. 1532.
ous Files, College Station, Texas. 8C [bid., vol. 9, April 16, 1974, p. 1696,
60. Kate Thomas, "CS Class Action Suit Thrown Chit,"Daily Eagle,April 28, 85.Jamie Aitken, "City Adopts Master Plan,"Battalion, September 10, 1976,
1971, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 8, p. 27. in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 14, p. 59.
61. Kate Thomas, "Prof Pay Ban Widened, Resignations Expected," Daily 86. Bobby Templeton, "`Getting Along with People Is the Trick,"' Eagle,
Eagle, April 28, 1971, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 8, p. 47- December 2, 1973, in College Station Publicity Notebook, voi. 10, p. 113;
62. Minutes, vol. 8, May 5, 1971, p. 1411. Bobby Templeton, "Bardell Starts New Career,"Eagle, December 15, 1973,
63.Kate 1 homas, "Ryan and Ransdel]Quit Council Post,"Daily Eagle,May 6, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 10, p. 130.
1971, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 8, P. 53. 87. Minutes, vol. 9, December 14, 1973, p. 1656.
64. D.A. Anderson, Memorandum to Whom Addressed on Constitutional 88. "Hervey Won't Run for CS Mayor,"Eagle, February 19, 1974,in College
Amendment, State Employees, May 10, 1971, in City Hall Miscellaneous Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 10, p. 148.
Files, College Station, Texas.
65. D.A. Anderson,Mayor of College Station,June 28, 1971, to Members of
the College Station City Council, in City Hall Miscellaneous Files, College
Station, Texas. Chapter V
66. Minutes, vol. 8, November 4, 1971, p. 1439.
1. City of College Station,Minutes of Meeting of City Council,val.9,April 4,
67. Interview with Anderson.
68. Frank Griffis, "Hervey Eyeing CS Unity Needs," Daily Eagle, August 2, 1974, p. 1693. I
1971, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 8, p. 74. 2. Bobby Templeton, "Slim Margin Makes Holt New CS Mayor," Eagle,
69.John Curylo,"Suit Filed by Student Over CS Elections,"Battalion,Novem- April 3, I974, in College Station.Publicity Notebook, vol. 11, p. C
ber 23, 1971, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 8, p. 109. 3. City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, vol. 10,
70. Minutes, vol. 8, December 17, 1971, pp. 1456- 1457. May 15, 1975 and July 10, 1975, pp. 1808. 1826.
71. City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, vol. 9, 4. Ibid., vol. 10,June 12, 1975, p. 1816.
April 5, 1972, p. 1473. 5. "Water Well Dedicated by CS,"Eagle, April 22, 1976, in College Station
72. Ibid., vol. 9,July 24, 1972, p. 1493. Publicity Notebook, vol. 13, p. 146.
106
6. O.M. Holt, Mayor of College Station, February 2, 1976, to Lloyd Joyce, 28. "Choppers, Music to Fill Air at Park Dedication,"Eagle,August 27, 1982,
Mayor of Bryan, in City Hall Miscellaneous Files, College Station,Texas. in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 26, p. 186.
7.June T. Bonarrigo, "Cities A-Buzz with Utility Talks," Eagle,January 27, 29. "College Station Bike Paths to be Completed in Month," Battalion, Au-
1976, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 13, p. 40. gust 4, 1976, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 14, p. 25.
8. Lloyd Joyce,Mayor of Bryan,May 18, 1976, to Lorene Bravenec, Mayor 30. Jane M. Smith, "Scratch Bike Plan," Eagle, May 15, 1980, in College
of College Station, in City Hall Miscellaneous Files, College Station, Texas. Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 22, p. IC
9.City of College Station,Minutes of Meeting of City Council,Vol. 11,May 3, 31. City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, vol. 12,
1976 and June 30, 1976, pp. 1935, 1966, February 9, 1978, p. 2389.
10. Jerry Gray, "CS Council Inks Gulf States Pact After Election," Eagle, 32. Kathy Ricketts, "An Artistic Look at College Station," Eagle, March 4,
July 1, 1976, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 14, p. 1. 1979, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 19, p. 24.
11. "Bryan Bucks CS Plan for Water Development„"Eagle,July 9, 1976, in 33. Minutes, Vol. 12,January 26, 1978, p. 2372.
College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 14, p, 6. 34. Jane M. Smith, "CS Council Considering Consol Building Purchase,"
12. Hank Wahrmund, "BVDC Approves College Station $1.2 Million Re- Eagle,August 9, 1979, in College Station Publicity Notebook,Vol. 19, p. 198.
quest,"Eagle,August 13, 1976,in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 14, 35. Rebecca Zimmerman, "CS Civic Center Recent Addition,"Battalion, Au-
p. 32. gust 30, 1982, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 26, p. 188.
13. Public Utility Commission of Texas,Application of the City of Bryan for 36. Minutes, vol. 9, September 24, 1973, p. 1628.
a Cease and Desist Order Against Gulf States Utilities Company, May 19, 37. Steve Gray, "Election System Sought," Battalion, February 11, 1976, in
1977, in City Hall Miscellaneous Files, College Station,Texas. College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 13, p. 58.
14.Jane M.Smith, "Sewer Construction to be Studied in CS,"Eagle,Septem. 38. Minutes, Vol. 10, April 5, 1976, and April 8, 1976, pp. 1911,. 1917.
her 22, 1977, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 16, p. 20. 39. Ibid., vol. 10, April 27, 1976, p. 1931.
15.Jane M. Smith, "Bryan Proposes Cities Merge, but CS is Cool," Eagle, 40.Jerry Needham, "CS Voters Pass All 9 Bond Issues,"Battalion,June 30,
September 27, 1977, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 16, p. 35. 1976, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 13, p. 204.
16, Ibid. 41. Jerry Gray, "Ward System Vote Upheld," Eagle, October 22, 1976, in
17. Jane M. Smith, "College Station Experiences Capital Improvements College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 14, p. 90.
Boom," Eagle, January 1, 1979, in College Station Publicity Notebook, 42.Jamie Aitken, "Intervention Suit Filed,"Battalion, September 8, 1976, in
Vol. 18, p. 1.53. College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 14, p. 56-
18.Jane M. Smith, "Drilling Finished on CS Water Wells," Eagle, Novem- 43. Gray, "Ward system," vol. 14, p. 90.
ber 5, 1979, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 20, p. 112. 44. Minutes, Vol. 12, April 3, 1978, p. 2423.
19, David Crisp, "CS Dedicates Water System,"Eagle, December 3, 1981, in 45, Frank May, "No Opposition to Industry Voiced," Eagle, December 18,
College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 25, p. 160. 1980, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 23, p. 92.
20. Sam Logan, "TI Confirms Construction Plans for CS Plant; Size Not 46.Frank May,"Planners Pave Way for industry,"Eagle,December 19, 1980,
Revealed," Eagle, July 30, 1979, in College Station Publicity Notebook, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 23, p. 94.
Vol. 19, P. 185. 47.Frank May,"Residents Meet to Plan Strategy,"Eagle,December 19, 1980,
21. "Regional Mall Announcement Good News for Whole Area," Eagle, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 23, p. 100.
June 7, 1979,. in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 19, p. 112. 48. Frank May, "College Station Mayor Defends Decision,"Eagle,January 9,
22, City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of City Council, Vol. 14, 1981, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 23, p. 105.
October 23, 1980, p. 3051, 49. Frank May, "Raintree Group Begins Recall,"Eagle,January 11. 1981, in
23.Hazel Campbell, "Matching Funds to build new 45-Acre Bee Creek Park," College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 23, p. 106.
Battalion,September 11, 1976,in College Station Publicity Notebook,Vol. 11, 50. Frank May, "Industry Discloses Its Identity,"Eagle,January 14, 1981, in
p. 114. College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 23, p. 107.
24, Minutes, Vol. 10. September 25, 1975, p. 1843, 51. Frank May, "Westinghouse to Buy Land," Eagle,January 22, 1981, in
25.Jerry Needham, "CS Council Passes Land Dedication Plans," Battalion, College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 23, p. 116.
November 14„ 1975, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 13, p. 6. 52.Frank May,"Westinghouse Eyes Option to Buy Land,"Eagle,January 11,
26.Jerry Gray, "CS Sets Up Trust for City Park Donations,"Eagle,July 9, 1981, in College Station,Publicity Notebook, vol. 23, p. 110.
1976, in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 14, p, 7. 53. Frank May, "Referendum Non-Binding, Says Attorney," Eagle, Janu-
27. "College Station Opens Thomas Park Pool Today,"Eagle,June 21, 1980, ary 30, 1981, in College Station Publicity Notebook,. vol. 23, p. 113.
in College Station Publicity Notebook, Vol. 22, p. 65. 54. Belinda McCoy, "Residents to File Petition Today,"Battalion,January 28,
1981, in College Station Floblicity Notebook, Vol. 23, p. 123.
107
55. Frank May,"Council Denies Raintree Petition,"Eagle,February 27, 1981,
in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 24, p. 40.
56. Belinda McCoy, "Raintree Residents to File Suit," Battalion, March 4,
1981, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 24, p. 40.
57. Frank May, "Public to Speak on Rezoning,"Eagle, February 25, 1981, in
College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 24, p. 33; Frank May, "Westing-
house Buys Disputed Site,"Eagle, March 4, 1981,in College Station Publicity
Notebook, vol. 24, p. 54.
58. May, "Public to Speak," vol. 24, p. 33.
59. Frank May, "Survey Added to College Station Ballot,"Eagle, March 12,
1981, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 24, p. 72.
60. Frank May, "Voters Pick Ringer,Jones, Prause,"Eagle, April 5, 1981, in
College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 24, p. 124.
61. Frank May,"Raintree Residents Call it Quits in Squabble,"Eagle,May 2,
1981, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 24, p. 145.
62.Jane Mills Smith,"College Station Citizens Prepare to Revise Comprehen•
sive Plan," Eagle, October 7, 1979, in College Station Publicity Notebook,
vol. 20, p. 79.
63.Frank May, "Updated CS Comprehensive Plan Ready,"Eagle,January 30,
1981, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 23, p. 126.
64. City of College Station, Minutes of Meeting of College Station, vol. 15,
July 23, 1981, p. 3286.
65. Ibid., vol. 15,July 9, 1981, p. 3269.
66. Frank May, "Land Buy Called a Low-Risk Opportunity,"Eagle,July 11,
1981, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol.. 25, p. 23.
67. Ibid,
68. Frank May, "Spearman Swings CS Land Purchase,"Eagle,July 24, 1991,
in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 25, p. 40.
69.Frank May,"College Station Completes Purchase of Land,"Eagle,July 24,
1981, College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 25, p. 42.
70. David Crisp, "CS Industrial Park May be Just What Texas is Looking
For," Eagle, December 21, 1981, in College Station Publicity Notebook,
vol. 25, p. 171.
71. May, "College Station Completes Purchase," p. 42.
72. Mavis Crisp, "CS Officials Advance Plans for Industrial Park," Eagle,
April 14, 1982, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 26, p. 84.
73.David Crisp, "Commission Hearing on Plan 2000 Today,"Eagle,June 17,
1982, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 26, p. 12%
74. David Crisp, "Future Growth Outlined in Plan 2000," Eagle,June 22,
1982, in College Station Publicity Notebook, vol. 26, p. 134.
i
108
i
Appendix
College Station Mayors & Councilmen Since Incorporation
1938 Ward II Charles W. Crawford Ward III E.E. Ames
Mayor John H. Binney Marion T. Harrington Frank B. Brown,Jr.
L.etcher P. Gabbard Ward III Ewing E. Brown 1949
Luther G.Jones Robert L Brown Mayor Ernest K. Langford
Ernest K. Langford 1944 Ward I W. Howard Badgett
Alva Mitchell Mayor Ernest K. Langford Joseph A. Orr
George B. Wilcox Ward I Joseph A. Orr Ward IL Grady W. Black
1939 George B. Wilcox Robert B. Halpin
Mayor John H. Binney Ward II Charles W. Crawford Ward III E.E. Ames
Letcher P. Gabbard Marion T. Harrington Ewing E. Brown(resigned 6/49)
Luther G.Jones Ward III Ewing E. Brown William D. Fitch (replaced Brown
Samuel A. Lipscomb Robert L Brown 7/49)
Wayne E. Long(resigned 9/39) 1945 1950
Joseph A. Orr(replaced Long 10/39) Mayor Ernest K. Langford Mayor Ernest K. Langford
George B. Wilcox Ward I Joseph A. Orr Ward I W. Howard Badgett
1940 George B. Wilcox Joseph A. Orr
Mayor Frank.G. Anderson Ward II Charles W. Crawford Ward 11 Grady W. Black
Ernest K. Langford Marion T. Harrington Robert B. Halpin
Samuel A. Lipscomb Ward III Ewing E. Brown Ward III E.E. Ames
Thurmond A. Munson Robert L Brown William D. Fitch i
Joseph A. Orr 1946 1951
George B. Wilcox. Mayor Ernest K. Langford Mayor Ernest K. Langford
1941 Ward I Joseph A. Orr Ward I W. Howard Badgett
Mayor Frank G. Anderson George B. Wilcox Joseph A. Orr
Ernest K. Langford Ward II Charles W. Crawford Ward II Harry L Boyer
Samuel A. Lipscomb Marion T. Harrington Robert B. Halpin
Thurmond A. Munson Ward III E.E. Ames Ward III E.E. Ames(resigned 7/51)
Joseph A. Orr Robert L Brown Alton P. Boyett(replaced Ames
George B. Wilcox 1947 7/61)
1942 Mayor Ernest K. Langford William D. Fitch
Ward System First Instated Ward I W. Howard Badgett 1952
Mayor Ernest K. Langford Joseph A. Orr Mayor Ernest K. Langford
Ward I Joseph A. Orr Ward II Grady W. Black Ward I W. Howard Badgett
George B. Wilcox Marion T. Harrington Marion Pugh
Ward II Patton W. Burns Ward III E.E. Ames Ward II Harry L Boyer
Thurmond A. Munson Frank B. Brown,Jr. Joseph H. Sorrels
Ward III Walter D. Lloyd (resigned 11/42) 1948 Ward III Alton P. Boyett
Lloyd Smith(resigned 11/42) Mayor Ernest K. Langford William D. Fitch
1943 Ward I W. Howard Badgett 1953
Mayor Ernest K. Langford Joseph A. Orr Mayor Ernest K. Langford
Ward I Joseph A. Orr Ward 11 Grady W. Black Ward I Joseph A. Orr
George B. Wilcox Robert B. Halpin Marion Pugh
109
Ward II Grady W. Black Ward I Carl W. Landiss Mayor Ernest KK Langford
Joseph H. Sorrels Joseph A. Orr Ward I Theo R. Holleman
Ward III Alton P. Boyett Ward II David A. Anderson Joseph A. Orr
Ernest Seeger Joseph H. Sorrels Ward II Oris M. Holt
1954 Ward III Alton P. Boyett Robert R. Rhodes
Mayor Ernest K. Langford William A. Smith Ward III Alton P. Boyett
Ward I Joseph A. Orr 1960 Antone Rosprim
Marion Pugh Mayor Ernest K_ Langford 1966
Ward II Grady W. Black Ward I Carl W. Landiss Mayor David A. Anderson
Joseph H. Sorrels Joseph A. Orr Ward I Horner Adams
Ward III Alton P. Boyett Ward II David A. Anderson Joseph A. Orr(resigned 3/66)
Ernest Seeger Joseph H. Sorrels Bill J. Cooley(replaced Orr 5/66)
1955 Ward III Alton P. Boyett Ward II Oris M. Holt
Mayor Ernest K. Langford William A. Smith Robert R. Rhodes
Ward I Joseph A. Orr 1961 Ward III Alton P. Boyett
Marion Pugh Mayor Ernest K. Langford Antone Rosprim
Ward II Grady W. Black Ward I Karl W. Landiss 1967
Joseph H. Sorrels Joseph A. Orr Mayor David A. Anderson
Ward III Alton P. Boyett Ward II David A. Anderson Ward I Homer Adams
Ernest Seeger Joseph H. Sorrels Bill J. Cooley
1956 Ward III Alton P. Boyett Ward II Oris M. Holt
Mayor Ernest K. Langford Antone Rosprim Robert R Rhodes
Ward I Joseph A. Orr 1962 Ward III Alton P. Boyett
Marion Pugh Mayor Ernest.K. Langford Antone Rosprim
Ward II Grady W. Black Ward. I Carl W. Landiss 1968
Joseph H. Sorrels Joseph A. Orr Place S)ute n Instated
Ward III Alton P. Boyett Ward II David A. Anderson Mayor David A. Anderson
Ernest Seeger Joseph H. Sorrels Ward I Bill J. Cooley
1957 Ward III Alton P. Boyett Ward Il Robert R. Rhodes
Mayor Ernest K. Langford Antone Rosprim Ward III Antone Rosprim(resigned 5/68)
Ward I Joseph A. Orr 1963 Dan R. Davis(replaced Rosprim
Marion Pugh Mayor Ernest K. Langford 5/68)
Ward Ii David A. Anderson Ward I Carl W. Landiss Place II James H. Dozier
Joseph H. Sorrels Joseph A. Orr Place IV Oris M. Holt
Ward III Alton P. Boyett Ward H Robert R. Rhodes Place VI Theo R. Holleman(died 10168)
L.J. McCall Joseph H. Sorrels Clifford H. Ransdell(replaced
1958 Ward III Alton P. Boyett Holleman 12/68)
Mayor Ernest K. Langford Antone Rospriin 1969
Ward I Carl W. Landis 1964 Mayor David A. Anderson
Joseph A. Orr Mayor Ernest K. Langford Place I Bill J. Cooley
Ward II David A. Anderson Ward I Theo R. Holleman Place N James H. Dozier
Joseph H. Sorrels Joseph A. Orr Place III Joseph J. McGraw
Ward III Alton P. Boyett Ward II Oris M. Holt Place IV Oris M. Holt
L.J. McCall Robert R. Rhodes Place V Dan R. Davis
1959 Ward III Alton P. Boyett Place VI Clifford H. Ransdell
Mayor Ernest K Langford Antone Rosprim 1970
1965 Mayor David A. Anderson
110
Place I Bill J. Cooley Place V Lorence Bravenec Place II Robert Runnels
Place II James H. Dozier Place VI James H. Dozier Place III Larry Ringer
Place III Joseph J. McGraw 1975 Place IV Patricia Boughton
Place IV Cecil B. Ryan Mayor[iris M. Holt Place V Tony Jones
Place V Dan R. Davis Place I Gary Halter Place VI James H. Dozier
Place VI Clifford H. Ransdell Place I1 Homer B. Adams
May o
1971 Place III Bob Bell
Mayor David A. Anderson resi ed 6 71 Place rV James Gardner Mayan Gary Halter
Y � � ,� ) J Place I Alvin H. Prause
Fred Brison(Interim mayor 6/71-81 Place V Lorene Bravenec Place lI Robert.Runnels
71) Place VI James H. Dozier Place III Larry Ringer
James B. Hervey(replaced Anderson 8/ 1976 Place 1V Patricia Boughton
71) Mayor Lorene Bravenec Place V Tony Janes
Place I Fred Brison Place I Gary Halter Place VI James H. Dozier
Place lI James H. Dozier(resigned 11/71) Place 11 Lane Stephenson
Homer B. Adams(replaced Dozier Place III Larry Ringer 1982
12/71) Place IV James Gardner Mayor Gary Halter
Place III Don Bale Place V Anne Hazen Place I Alvin H. Prause
Place IV Cecil B. Ryan(resigned 5/71) Place VI James H. Dozier Place II Robert Runnels
James D. Lindsay(replaced Ryan 1977 Place III Larry Ringer
6/71) Ward(murict)System Re-instated Place IV Patricia Boughton
Place V Rudolph Radeleff Mayor Lgrence Bravenec Place V Tony Jones
Place VI Clifford H. Ransdell(resigned 5/District I Gary Halter Place VI Lynn Nemec
71) Place II Lane Stephenson 1983
Clarence A. Bonnen(replaced District III Ringer�� g Mayor Gary Halter
Ransdell 671
j ) Place IV James Gardner Place I Alvin H. Prause
1972 District V Anne Hazen Place II Robert Runnels
Mayor James B. Hervey Place VI James H. Dozier Place III Vicky Reinke
Place I Fred Brison 1978 Place IV Patricia Boughton
Place II Homer B. Adams Mayor Lorene Bravenec Place V Gary Anderson
Place III Don Dale District I Gary Halter Place VI Lynn Nemec-McIlhaney
Place IV James D. Lindsay District II Homer B. Adams
Place V Rudolph Radelefl 1984
p District III Lamy Ringer
Place VI C.A. Bonnen District IV Patricia Boughton Mayor Gary Halter
1973 District V Anne Hazen Place I Alvin 14. Prause
Mayor James B. Hervey District VI James H. Dozier Place II Robert Runnels
Place I Fred Brison 1979 Place III Vicky Reinke
Place 11 Homer B. Adams Place System Re-instated Place IV Patricia Boughton
Place III Don Dale Mayor Lorence Bravenec Place V Gary Anderson
Place IV James D. Lindsay Place I Gary Halter Place VI Lynn Nemec•MeIlhaney
Place V Rudolph Radeleff(died 1/74) District II Homer B. Adams
Place VI C.A. Bonnen 1985
1974 Place III Larry Ringer Mayor Gary Halter
District IV Patricia Boughton Place I Fred Brown
Mayor orris M. Holt Place V Tan ones
y J Place II Dr. Robert C. Runnels
Place I Fred Brison
District VI James H. Dozier Place III Theresa(Terri)Tongco
Place II Horner B. Adams 1980 Place IV Patricia(Pat)Boughton
Place III Don Dale Mayor Gary Halter Place V James B. Bond
Place IV James Gardner Place I Roy Kelly Place VI Lynn Mcllhaney
� r�
1986
Mayor Larry J. Ringer
Place I Fred Brown
Place II Sara Goode Jones
Place III Theresa (Terri)Tongco
Place IV Patricia (Pat) Boughton
Place V James B. Bond
Place VI nick Haddox
1987
Mayor Larry J. Ringer
Place I Fred Brown
Place II Sara.Goode Jones
Place III Lynn McIlhaney
Place IV Patricia Boughton
Place V Jim Gardner
Place VI Rick tladdox
(Appointed Officials)
William K. Cole, City Manager
Cathy Luke, City Attorney
Dian Jones, City Secretary
Philip Banks, City Judge
David Fetzer, Financial Advisor
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