Texas Southmost College
Encyclopedia
Texas Southmost College was established in 1926 under the name of The Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and admitted its first class on September 21 of that year. The school was originally a subsidiary of the local school district in Brownsville. It has always been located in Brownsville, Texas
since its inception; from 1928 to 1948 it was housed with the Brownsville High School and Elementary Schools on Palm Boulevard between Washington Street and Jefferson Street. Despite hard times during the Great Depression
the college continued to maintain nominal levels of enrollment. The name of the college changed in 1931 to Brownsville Junior College then again to Texas Southmost College in 1950. During World War II
enrollment dwindled with the number of graduates halved from 1943-1945. This changed in 1948 when the city of Brownsville acquired the lands owned by the decommissioned army base known as Fort Brown
, which had been closed in 1944. In 1948 when the college had an enrollment of around 1,250 students, their own campus, and a generous budget, talks started within the district about creating a separate district for the college. It was decided that the new district would cover Southern Cameron County. In 1950 on the silver anniversary of the college the Brownsville Independent School District handed over the deed to the college to the newly formed Southmost Union Junior College District.
The Texas Southmost College athletics program flourished in the 1950's: the school had football, basketball, boxing and track teams and many of these teams won accolades for their performance. Unfortunately, in the mid to late 60's the TSC athletic program experienced a great decline and many competitive programs did not survive into the 70's. In the 1960's, despite declining competitive sports programs, the college gained the Rancho Del Cielo research center, located 300 miles south of Brownsville, in Mexico. This few acre research center has abundant plant life and rainforest life conditions. In 1973 Texas Southmost College received its first Bachelor's degree programs and Graduate courses cooperating with Pan American University (now known as University of Texas-Pan American and located in Edinburg, Texas
). This created the entity known as Pan American University at Brownsville which worked independently from Texas Southmost College. In the late 1980s Pan American University created a partnership with the University of Texas System and the entity in Brownsville became known as The University of Texas Pan American at Brownsville. Texas Southmost College and The University of Texas-Pan American at Brownsville combined their educational functions as The University of Texas at Brownsville on September 1, 1991. This created the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College
. Since 1991 UTB/TSC has continued to grow boasting over 10,000 students. On November 2, 2004 Voters in the Texas Southmost College district voted yes to a 68 million dollar bond package so the College could do a number of building projects.
Note: College presidents before 1950 were BISD superintendents
(**) Mr. Gotke's double entry was put to denote the college name change in 1931.
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
since its inception; from 1928 to 1948 it was housed with the Brownsville High School and Elementary Schools on Palm Boulevard between Washington Street and Jefferson Street. Despite hard times during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
the college continued to maintain nominal levels of enrollment. The name of the college changed in 1931 to Brownsville Junior College then again to Texas Southmost College in 1950. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
enrollment dwindled with the number of graduates halved from 1943-1945. This changed in 1948 when the city of Brownsville acquired the lands owned by the decommissioned army base known as Fort Brown
Fort Brown
Fort Brown was a military post of the United States Army in Texas during the later half of 19th century and the early part of the 20th century.-Early years:...
, which had been closed in 1944. In 1948 when the college had an enrollment of around 1,250 students, their own campus, and a generous budget, talks started within the district about creating a separate district for the college. It was decided that the new district would cover Southern Cameron County. In 1950 on the silver anniversary of the college the Brownsville Independent School District handed over the deed to the college to the newly formed Southmost Union Junior College District.
The Texas Southmost College athletics program flourished in the 1950's: the school had football, basketball, boxing and track teams and many of these teams won accolades for their performance. Unfortunately, in the mid to late 60's the TSC athletic program experienced a great decline and many competitive programs did not survive into the 70's. In the 1960's, despite declining competitive sports programs, the college gained the Rancho Del Cielo research center, located 300 miles south of Brownsville, in Mexico. This few acre research center has abundant plant life and rainforest life conditions. In 1973 Texas Southmost College received its first Bachelor's degree programs and Graduate courses cooperating with Pan American University (now known as University of Texas-Pan American and located in Edinburg, Texas
Edinburg, Texas
Edinburg is a city in and the county seat of Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 77,100 at the 2010 census. The University of Texas–Pan American, the only fully accredited four-year university in the Rio Grande Valley, is located in Edinburg.Edinburg is part of the...
). This created the entity known as Pan American University at Brownsville which worked independently from Texas Southmost College. In the late 1980s Pan American University created a partnership with the University of Texas System and the entity in Brownsville became known as The University of Texas Pan American at Brownsville. Texas Southmost College and The University of Texas-Pan American at Brownsville combined their educational functions as The University of Texas at Brownsville on September 1, 1991. This created the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College
University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, frequently abbreviated UTB/TSC is an educational institution located in Brownsville, Texas, on the land once occupied by Fort Brown. It is a member of the University of Texas System...
. Since 1991 UTB/TSC has continued to grow boasting over 10,000 students. On November 2, 2004 Voters in the Texas Southmost College district voted yes to a 68 million dollar bond package so the College could do a number of building projects.
Texas Southmost College Presidents
- Dr. Juliet V. Garcia 1986-Current
- Dr. Robert Phillips 1985-1986 (Acting)
- Dr. Albert Besteiro 1977-1985
- Dr. Arnulfo Oliveira 1971-1977
- Mr. William Walton 1970-1971
- Mr. Quentin Bogart 1968-1970
- Mr. C.J. Garland 1953-1968
- Mr. John Barron 1950-1953(*)
Note: College presidents before 1950 were BISD superintendents
Brownsville Junior College Presidents
- Mr. John Barron 1945-1950
- Mr. Ben Brite 1941-1945
- Mr. E.C. Dodd 1934-1941
- Mr. G.W. Gotke 1931-1934(**)
Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Presidents
- Mr. G.W. Gotke 1928-1931
- Mr. Thomas J. Yoe 1926-1928
Footnotes
(*)John Barron was simultaneously superintendent of the BISD and president of TSC from 1950-1953.(**) Mr. Gotke's double entry was put to denote the college name change in 1931.