Southwestern University
2000-2001 Catalog

HISTORY AND GOVERNANCE

Southwestern University is a direct descendant of four of the earliest institutions of higher learning in the state. The forerunner of the University, Rutersville College, was chartered by the Republic of Texas in 1840, making it the first college in what was to become the State of Texas. The three other colleges founded by pioneer Methodists and united in one central college in Georgetown in 1873 were Wesleyan College, chartered in 1844; McKenzie College, 1848; and Soule University, 1856. When the five Methodist Conferences of Texas located the central institution in Georgetown it was known as Texas University. In 1875, that name was ceded to the State of Texas and the present name, Southwestern University, adopted. George town is a city of some 18,000 residents located 28 miles north of Austin, the state capital.

Southwestern University is governed by a 50-member Board of Trustees consisting of representatives, both lay and clergy, from the six patronizing Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church in Texas, trustees elected at large, and two recent graduates of the University elected by students. The bishops in charge of the Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church in Texas, the president of the Alumni Association, and the president of the University are ex-officio members. The trustees from the individual Conferences are nominated by the University and elected by the respective Annual Conference. Trustees at large are elected by the Board of Trustees of Southwestern and confirmed by the Annual Conference in which each resides. The term of office of all trustees is four years.

Southwestern has had 13 presidents and three interim presidents since it was established in Georgetown. They were: Francis Asbury Mood, 1873-1884; John Wesley Heidt, 1885-1889; John Howell McLean, 1889-1897; Robert Stewart Hyer, 1898-1911; Charles McTyeire Bishop, 1911-1922; Paul Whitfield Horn, 1922- 1924; James Samuel Barcus, 1924-1928; King Vivion, 1928-1935; John William Bergin, 1935-1942; John Nelson Russell Score, 1942-1949; William Carrington Finch, 1949-1961; Lawrence Durwood Fleming, 1961-1981; Roy B. Shilling, Jr., 1981-2000; and Jake B. Schrum, 2000-present. Faculty members John Howell McLean, John R. Allen and Randolph Ward Tinsley each served as interim presidents in the late 1800s and early 1900s during changes in administrations.

Southwestern University’s campus has been called one of Texas’ most beautiful and best-planned college facilities. Located in a residential area on the eastern edge of the city of Georgetown, the more than 30 buildings situated on 500 acres supply an unusually fine environment for living and learning.

The Administration Building, completed in 1900, was renovated through grants made by The Cullen Foundation of Houston. Following the official reopening and dedication on October 14, 1977, it was renamed The Roy and Lillie Cullen Building in memory of the late Roy and Lillie Cullen, distinguished citizens and exemplary philanthropists of Texas. Both the Cullen Building and Mood-Bridwell Hall, erected in 1908, are included in the National Register of Historic Places. Mood Hall, named for Dr. Francis A. Mood, first Regent of the University, was renovated and restored with grants from the J.S. Bridwell Foundation of Wichita Falls, Texas, and The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, Inc. of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The building was formally reopened and dedicated in October of 1978, with the new name of Mood-Bridwell Hall.

The Cullen Building includes classrooms, Cullen Auditorium and the Admission, Financial Aid, Business Office, Registrar, Fiscal Affairs, Development, University Relations, and President’s Offices. Mood-Bridwell Hall includes classrooms, faculty offices for the Departments of English, History, Economics and Business, Education, Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology, and Mathematics and Computer Science, an electronic classroom, computer laboratories, Academic Services, International Programs, and the University Computer Center.

The Fondren-Jones Science Hall furnishes classroom and laboratory facilities for the University’s curriculum in the sciences, as well as offices for the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The original building was completed in 1954 as a gift from Mrs. W.W. Fondren of Houston, Texas. With gifts from the Houston Endowment Inc., of Houston, Texas, the building was completely renovated during 1980-81. Formerly called the Fondren Science Hall, the building was opened and re-dedicated in the fall of 1981. The new name, The Fondren-Jones Science Hall, recognizes the long friendship between Jesse H. Jones, founder of Houston Endowment Inc., and Southwestern University. The Gordon C. Evans, Sr. Wing of Fondren- Jones was dedicated in 1999, adding 24,000 square-feet to the facility. It features multimedia classrooms, research laboratories, computer laboratory, and faculty offices. It was funded primarily through the generosity of The George I. Alden Trust, M.D. Anderson Foundation, Dr. Douglas M. and Nell Barnes Benold, Genevieve Britt Caldwell and T.M. Caldwell, Jr. , Dr. Turner M. Caldwell III, The Fondren Foundation, Hoblitzelle Foundation, Houston Endowment Inc., The Meadows Foundation, Eriv V. Patterson, Dr. Gulnar Rawji and Gilbert Rappaport, Dr. Robert C. and Dagmar Roeder, and The Willingham Estate. The wing is named for Gordon C. Evans, Sr., a long-time employee of the Jesse H. Jones Interests and the Houston Endowment Inc.,

At the center of campus is the Roy H. Cullen Academic Mall, completed in 1993. The naming gift of the mall was made possible through a grant from The Cullen Foundation of Houston in honor of Roy H. Cullen, longtime University trustee. The chapel plaza was given by Mrs. Evie Jo Wilson in memory of her husband, alumnus Arthur R. Wilson. Infrastructure and expanded computing capabilities were provided by The Cullen Trust for Higher Education. The fountain closest to University Avenue was given by anonymous donors. It is on the site of the Landrum Memorial Fountain given by the late Mr. Neely G. Landrum and Mr. James N. Landrum of Dallas, Texas, in honor of their daughter and sister, Mrs. Marguerite Landrum Williams. The library courtyards were made possible by a grant from the Hoblitzelle Foundation of Dallas. Blanche M. Burcham gave one of the kiosks through a bequest in memory of alumnus Joseph R. Burcham. The Brown Fountain honors the Brown family and The Brown Foundation, Inc. for their 1976-1996 matching grant program, The Brown Challenge.

The A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center, dedicated in the fall of 1988, houses one of the area’s finest college libraries, with almost 300,000 catalogued volumes and 1,400 periodical subscriptions. The library’s special collections include the papers of Senator John Goodwin Tower, the Clark Texana Collection, and the J. Frank Dobie and Bertha McKee Dobie Collections. The library center also houses University Information Technology Services, Audiovisual Services, and the Associated Colleges of the South Technology Center. The structure is a blend of classic and modern architecture. In 1966 a modern smooth limestone and glass building was constructed and connected to the original building which had been dedicated in 1939. The 1966 construction and renovation was made possible by a gift from The Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston, Texas, and gifts from friends of Mr. Herman Brown, a member of the University’s Board of Trustees for many years. The 1988 addition, which doubled the size of the previous library, was named in honor of A. Frank Smith, Jr. of Houston, distinguished trustee of the University for many years and chairman of the board from 1977-1987. At the suggestion of the directors of the Cullen Foundation and the Cullen Trust for Higher Education, the University Trustees elected to name the complex in honor of Mr. Smith for his years of devoted service to Southwestern. These two foundations contributed over half of the cost for the renovation and expansion of this facility.

Facing the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center across the campus is Lois Perkins Chapel, a semi-Gothic structure of native limestone seating 850, where weekly chapel services and other events are held. The chapel was erected in 1950 by a gift from the late Mr. J.J. Perkins of Wichita Falls and is named in honor of Mrs. Perkins, an alumna of the University. The chapel was completely renovated in 1981 through a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Prothro of Wichita Falls, Texas, to honor her mother, Mrs. Perkins. Mr. Prothro served on the Board of Trustees for 30 years and was chairman for 11 of those years.

West of the chapel is the Red and Charline McCombs Campus Center, dedicated in 1998 and made possible by a gift from alumni Red and Charline McCombs of San Antonio, The Vivian L. Smith Foundation of Houston, the J. E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, and Charles and Elizabeth Prothro and the Perkins-Prothro Foundations of Wichita Falls. The 63,000-square foot center includes campus dining facilities, a ballroom, student organization offices, the University Bookstore, Gender Awareness Center, the Post Office, offices for the Vice President and Dean of Students, Student Activities, Diversity Education, Religious Life, and the Associate Vice President for Residence Life, and displays of the McCombs Americana Collection. Mr. McCombs serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees.

East of the chapel is the F.W. Olin Building, dedicated in 1996. Funded by a grant from the F.W. Olin Foundation of New York, the state-of-the-art, 39,000- square foot building includes lecture halls, electronic classroom, language learning center, an experimental psychology laboratory, and faculty offices for the Departments of Classics, Communication, Psychology and Modern Languages and Literatures.

The Sarofim School of Fine Arts is housed in the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center, erected in 1956 and the gift of the late Mrs. Alma Thomas of Austin, Texas, a long-time trustee of the University. The three-story building contains a theater, recital hall, art gallery, offices, studios, practice rooms, and offices for the Departments of Art, Music, and Theatre. Gifts from The Hoblitzelle Foundation in 1973 and 1978 have made possible the air-conditioning of the building, the renovation of the theater, art studios, and recital hall, and the installation of safety equipment and of access facilities for the physically impaired.

In 1993, a thrust stage theater facility was completed on the north side of the Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center. The performance space, made possible by a grant from The Houston Endowment Inc., is named for Jesse H. Jones and Mary Gibbs Jones. A hall of honor recognizing future generations of donors was made possible by the generosity of The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. The foyer and theater lobby were made possible by alumni, Genevieve Britt Caldwell, Louise Britt Carvey, Frank P. Carvey, Jr., and Dr. Turner M. Caldwell, III, and Turner M. Caldwell, Jr. The green room, dedicated to the memory of Dr. Nita Akin, an alumna, was given by alumnus J.W. Akin and family. Theater furnishings were funded by The Abell- Hanger Foundation of Midland and The Fondren Foundation of Houston. The scene shop was made possible through a trust by alumnus William G. Swenson and Shirley A. Swenson.

In 1999, an 18,000 square feet addition to the Fine Arts Center was dedicated for the study of music and the visual arts. Made possible by a gift from Fayez Sarofim of Houston, it includes teaching studios for music, drawing and painting studios, a secure gallery, and faculty offices. The Wood-Avant Fine Arts Foyer is named from alumna Joan Wood Avant and her parents Judge D.B. Wood and alumna Bernice Cooke Wood, through gifts from members of their family, alumnus J.R. "Slim" Avant, Jamie Avant Deyhle, Jim Forrest Avant, and Jeff Wood Avant.

The Corbin J. Robertson Center, more than 95,000 square feet of comprehensive recreational and athletic facilities dedicated in 1996, occupies the northeast corner of campus. The center includes the Departments of Kinesiology and Intercollegiate Athletics and offices for Health Services, Counseling Services, Athletic Training, and Recreational Sports. These facilities were made possible by major gifts from The Cullen Foundation The Cullen Trust for Higher Education, and the James V. and Pat Walzel Family, all of Houston. The center is named in honor and memory of the late Corbin J. Robertson, Houston businessman and philanthropist. James Walzel serves as a trustee of the University.

The Field House houses the Korouva Milkbar Coffeehouse and the University Police Department.

On the north edge of campus is the Rufus Franklin Edwards Studio Arts Building. With studios for painting, sculpting, ceramics, and woodworking, its construction was funded by Mr. Edwards, Class of 1922, who left his estate for the benefit of his alma mater. Dedicated in 1997, the Fountainwood Observatory was made possible by the partners of Fountainwood Estates in Georgetown, Betty R. Hester, Ross W. Hester, and the late Max D. Allen.

The Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Center, the residence hall complex on the east side of campus, is collectively named in honor of Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones, who established the Houston Endowment Inc. The endowment contributed $5 million from 1982 through 1986 for the rehabilitation of campus residence halls and other facilities. Included in the Jones Center are Brown-Cody Hall, Kurth Residence Hall, and Mabee Hall.

Dedicated in 1997 and funded by a gift from The Brown Foundation, Inc., Brown-Cody Hall for women is named in honor of three alumnae, Florence Root Cody, Margarett Root Brown, and Alice Pratt Brown. Kurth Residence Hall for women was completed in 1962 and named in honor of the late Mr. E.L. Kurth, an alumnus, benefactor, and long-time trustee of the University. Mabee Hall, made possible by a gift from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, opened in 1985, houses 176 students in suites and includes the International House.

Moody-Shearn Hall is one of two residence halls making up a complex occupying the northwest corner of the campus. The halls were put into use in 1966. A gift of the Moody Foundation of Galveston, Texas, Moody-Shearn Hall was named in honor of Mr. John Shearn, an early graduate of Rutersville College, one of the parent schools of Southwestern, and in honor of Mr. William Lewis Moody, Jr.

Herman Brown Hall is the second residence hall in the complex, which features exterior corridors and private courtyards. Both halls provide accommodations in four-student suites. Construction was made possible by a matching grant from The Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston, Texas, and the generous gifts of friends of Mr. Herman Brown, who served on the Board of Trustees for 20 years.

A residence hall for men is Martin Ruter Hall, erected in 1955 in honor of Martin Ruter, pioneer Methodist missionary and educator. Funds for the building were provided by the Central Texas, Southwest Texas, and Texas Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church.

The Grogan and Betty Lord Residential Center is an apartment complex for 200 students located on the northwest corner of campus. Dedicated in 1995, the Lord Center was made possible by contributions from members of the Lord family to ward enrichment of residential life at Southwestern. Grogan Lord has served as a member of the Board of Trustees since 1958. The facility includes the Sharon Lord Caskey Community Center featuring campus community meeting rooms and sorority chapter rooms.

Snyder Athletic Field and the Robert K. Moses, Jr., Soccer Field, on the west side of the campus, serve as outdoor playing fields for varsity soccer, club lacrosse, and intramural sports. Robert Moses is a former trustee of the University.

Recreational facilities on the east side of campus include the Rockwell Family Baseball Field, Kurth-Landrum Golf Course, and the lighted Southwestern Tennis Courts. The baseball field is named for the late Henry M. Rockwell and his family. The golf course is named for the late Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Kurth of Lufkin, Texas, both alumni of Southwestern. The golf course sprinkler system and the equipment building were the gifts of the late Mr. Neely G. Landrum, a Southwestern University alumnus and University trustee.

West of the tennis courts is the Julie Puett Howry Center. Made possible by Nelson and Ruth Puett of Austin and named for their daughter, the late Julie Puett Howry, an alumna, the center features meeting space for the campus community and a pro shop for the golf course.

South of the tennis courts is the McCook-Crain Building, erected in 1953 in memory of two alumni, Lieutenant Charles W. McCook and Mr. E.L. Crain. It houses the Office of Career Services.

The Kyle E. White Religious Activities Center, erected in 1956, provides facilities for classes and faculty offices for the Department of Religion and Philosophy. The building was made possible by a gift from the late Mrs. Kyle E. White of Anahuac, Texas, in memory of her husband.

The President’s Home, overlooking the Kurth-Landrum Golf Course, was a gift of the late Mr. and Mrs. P.E. Turner of Houston and was given to the University to honor former President and Mrs. Durwood Fleming.