125 Years of History at Tarleton State
There is no documentation of his birth, but it is believed John Tarleton was born in November 1808. Orphaned at an early age, John went to live with an aunt in Vermont, and his brother was sent to another relative in Virginia. Tarleton tried to join the army, but John,…
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John Tarleton College opened its doors on September 4, 1899 with W. H. Bruce as president.
President William Herschell Bruce is inaugurated in 1899 and serves as President until 1900.
President Bramlett is inaugurated in 1900 and serves as President until 1906.
The original Science building was built. The first red brick building on campus
John Tarleton College becomes a junior college academy program.
President Frank M. Martin is inaugurated in 1906 and serves as President until 1908.
President J.D. Sandefer is inaugurated in 1908 and served as President until 1909.
President Elzy Dee Jennings is inaugurated in 1909 and served as President until 1911.
The first women’s dorm, Wilkerson Hall, was erected.
President George J. Nunn is inaugurated in 1911 and served as President until 1912.
President Roswell W. Rogers is inaugurated in 1912 and served as President until 1913.
President James Duncan Hughlett is inaugurated in 1913 and served as President until 1913.
President James Franklin Cox is inaugurated in 1913 and served as President until 1919.
John Tarleton College becomes part of The Texas A&M University System. Name is change to John Tarleton Agricultural College.
The original student handbook, otherwise known as the “Purple Book,” was released. This book contained the rules and regulations that students were expected to follow.
President James Thomas Davis is inaugurated in 1919 and served as President until 1947.
Formerly known as the “Tarletonite”, the official campus newspaper currently known title “The JTAC.”
The cannon is brought to Tarleton from Fort Sam Houston to be used in ROTC training.
“Plowboys” mascot is adopted. Coach W.J. Wisdom held a contest for a new mascot, but ended up coming up with the name himself.
Tarleton’s football team went undefeated with the coaching of Coach Wisdom.
Once a national record 86 game winning streak achieved by Coach W.J. Wisdom’s men’s basketball teams between 1934 and 1938.
L.V. Risinger throws a 2×4 at an NTAC student airplane that attempts to bomb the Homecoming bonfire. The plane crash-lands, but the students are okay.
President E.J. Howell is inaugurated in 1947 and served as President until 1967.
John Tarleton Agricultural College becomes known as Tarleton State College to reflect the liberal arts offerings.
The Wainwright Rifles made their first appearance at Tarleton.
“Texans” and “TexAnns” mascots were adopted, and the horse and rider became the new athletic mascot of the university.
The Wainwright Rifles performed at the Inauguration Parade for President John F. Kennedy.
The original Hunewell Bandstand is taken down to make room for the Tarleton Center.
The 29 members of the class of 1963 were the first class to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
President William Oren Trogdon is inaugurated in 1967 and serves as President until 1983.
President Barry B. Thompson is inaugurated in 1983 and serves as President until 1992.
Alpha Gamma Delta becomes the first sorority and national Greek organization chartered at Tarleton State University.
The first national fraternity, Kappa Alpha, colonized at Tarleton State University.
The oldest fraternity still on campus, Lambda Chi Alpha, is colonized
The first class of RN’s received their A.A. degrees and almost all passed the state board exams for nursing.
President Dennis Patrick McCabe is inaugurated in 1992 and serves as President until 2009.
The Chrysalis Foundation donated the center to Tarleton State University in June 1996, when it was renamed the Dora Lee Langdon Cultural Center.
Tarleton Science Planetarium features a Digistar II digital starfield projector, 18 photographic slide projectors, two video projectors and surround sound under a 40′ (12.192m) dome. Our 56-set theatre is truly a fitting environment in which to explore the wonders of the universe.
The Military Memorial in Heritage Oak Park is built and dedicated by the Tarleton Alumni Association.
Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc. built the Center, with support from Mrs. W.K. Gordon, Jr., Erath County, and the Texas Department of Transportation. It opened to the public in November 2002 and attracts thousands of visitors each year to exhibits and special programs.
Tarleton State University extended the reach of state-supported, affordable education by expanding undergraduate and graduate programs to Fort Worth.
President Dominic Dottavio is inaugurated in 2009 and serves as President until 2019.
The Rodeo Hall of Fame honors past students for their great accomplishments.
Tarleton becomes first university in A&M system to partner with private company to build new residence halls.
Tarleton unveiled a new name for its Science Building to honor longtime professor and philanthropist Dr. Lamar Johanson.
In the final round alone, the total votes between Carter and West Texas A&M’s Antjuan Ball tallied over 34,000 with the difference between first and second place coming in at .001 percent. Due to the abundance of support for both athletes, the contest committee has decided to accept both competitors…
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The Texans completed their 2014-2015 season with a school record 31 wins and advanced to this year’s NCAA Final Four after winning the Lone Star Conference championship and NCAA South Central Region Tournament championship.
Tarleton Women’s Golf Team sets LSC record with 8 tournament championships.
John Tarleton and his legendary companion, Oscar P., came home Monday night, July 27th, 2015, to the university that bears his name, looking younger than ever and larger than life. Fireworks danced across the sky of Tarleton State University’s Stephenville campus as faculty, staff, students and key community leaders and…
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The Texans started WAC regular-season competition during the 2020-21 school year and became eligible for NCAA Division I postseason play beginning with the 2024-25 season.
During his tenure, Tarleton State made 41 NCAA playoff appearances and won 14 NCAA tournament regional championships, 20 conference tournament championships, 14 regular season conference championships and 19 division championships.
Cadet Zemoni Hopkins, Tarleton State’s third-ever female cadet corps commander, succeeded Cadet Kaleigh Peacock.
Mark Brown crossed the stage at summer commencement to receive his doctorate in criminal justice, marking the first Ph.D. ever conferred by the university.
State-of-the-art facility shared with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Tarleton State baseball becomes the first reclassifying program to win a conference tournament at the NCAA Division I level.
After successfully completing the four-year reclassification period, Tarleton State University is officially welcome as a full-fledged NCAA Division I institution.