Weatherford College
Encyclopedia
Weatherford College (WC; officially Weatherford College of the Parker County Junior College District) is a community college
located in Weatherford
, Parker County
, Texas
, with branch campuses in nearby Decatur
and Mineral Wells
. With an unbroken operating history as a two-year college going back to 1921 (and having operated continuously in some fashion since 1869), WC claims the title of the oldest community college in Texas.
As defined by the Texas Legislature
, the official service area of WC includes all of Jack
, Palo Pinto
, Parker
, and Wise
Counties.
, which laid the cornerstone for the school on July 5, 1869 at the corner of South Main and Lee Streets in Weatherford. After years of construction starts and delays, the first graduating class of six students received their diplomas on June 15, 1876.
The Masons sold the college in June 1889 to the Weatherford district of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
, who changed the name to Weatherford College. From then to the early 1900s, WC went through numerous changes of ownership, names, and oversight as it tried to establish itself in the community.
In 1921, WC was reorganized as a junior college, offering college courses leading to the Associate of Arts degree as well as several high school courses leading to a high school diploma.
Enrollment dropped during World War II forcing the college to accept a merger proposal submitted by Southwestern University
of Georgetown, Texas, who changed the name once again to Weatherford College of Southwestern University.
However, on April 30, 1949, Southwestern University dissolved the merger and asked local leaders (either the city of Weatherford or Parker County
) to accept ownership. The Parker County Commissioners Court called a special election to establish the Parker County Junior College District, which was approved by a vote margin of almost three to one. The college (now named Weatherford College of the Parker County Junior College District) opened for its first session in September 1949.
Facing continued growth, and landlocked in its existing location, WC purchased 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) in southeastern Weatherford and built a new facility which opened in the fall of 1968.
After celebrating 130 years of service to the community, WC expanded its commitment to providing quality education within its service area by opening the Education Center at Decatur. Responding to the needs of the Wise County community, WC, in partnership with the Decatur Economic Development Corporation, began offering classes at the new facility in January 2000. Later, the Education Center at Mineral Wells opened on the old Fort Wolters
facility.
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
located in Weatherford
Weatherford, Texas
Weatherford is a city in Parker County, Texas, United States, and a western suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 19,000 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Parker County and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Geography:...
, Parker County
Parker County, Texas
As of the census of 2003, there were 98,495 people, 31,131 households, and 24,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 34,084 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, with branch campuses in nearby Decatur
Decatur, Texas
Decatur is a city located in Wise County, Texas, United States. This city was named after Stephen Decatur, Jr. The population was 5,201 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 6,432. It is the county seat of Wise County...
and Mineral Wells
Mineral Wells, Texas
Mineral Wells is a city in Palo Pinto and Parker counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 16,946 at the 2000 census. The city is named for mineral springs in the area, which were highly popular in the early 1900s...
. With an unbroken operating history as a two-year college going back to 1921 (and having operated continuously in some fashion since 1869), WC claims the title of the oldest community college in Texas.
As defined by the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
, the official service area of WC includes all of Jack
Jack County, Texas
*Bryson*Jacksboro*Jermyn *Joplin *Perrin *Gibtown-See also:*National Register of Historic Places listings in Jack County, Texas-External links:*...
, Palo Pinto
Palo Pinto County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,026 people, 10,594 households, and 7,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 14,102 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, Parker
Parker County, Texas
As of the census of 2003, there were 98,495 people, 31,131 households, and 24,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 34,084 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, and Wise
Wise County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,793 people, 17,178 households, and 13,467 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 19,242 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
Counties.
History
WC's roots are in Phoenix Masonic LodgeMasonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
, which laid the cornerstone for the school on July 5, 1869 at the corner of South Main and Lee Streets in Weatherford. After years of construction starts and delays, the first graduating class of six students received their diplomas on June 15, 1876.
The Masons sold the college in June 1889 to the Weatherford district of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Methodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
, who changed the name to Weatherford College. From then to the early 1900s, WC went through numerous changes of ownership, names, and oversight as it tried to establish itself in the community.
In 1921, WC was reorganized as a junior college, offering college courses leading to the Associate of Arts degree as well as several high school courses leading to a high school diploma.
Enrollment dropped during World War II forcing the college to accept a merger proposal submitted by Southwestern University
Southwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
of Georgetown, Texas, who changed the name once again to Weatherford College of Southwestern University.
However, on April 30, 1949, Southwestern University dissolved the merger and asked local leaders (either the city of Weatherford or Parker County
Parker County, Texas
As of the census of 2003, there were 98,495 people, 31,131 households, and 24,313 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 34,084 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
) to accept ownership. The Parker County Commissioners Court called a special election to establish the Parker County Junior College District, which was approved by a vote margin of almost three to one. The college (now named Weatherford College of the Parker County Junior College District) opened for its first session in September 1949.
Facing continued growth, and landlocked in its existing location, WC purchased 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) in southeastern Weatherford and built a new facility which opened in the fall of 1968.
After celebrating 130 years of service to the community, WC expanded its commitment to providing quality education within its service area by opening the Education Center at Decatur. Responding to the needs of the Wise County community, WC, in partnership with the Decatur Economic Development Corporation, began offering classes at the new facility in January 2000. Later, the Education Center at Mineral Wells opened on the old Fort Wolters
Fort Wolters
Fort Wolters was a United States military installation four miles northeast of Mineral Wells, Texas. Originally named Camp Wolters, it was an Army camp from 1925 to 1946. During World War II, it was for a time the largest infantry replacement training center in the United States. After the war, the...
facility.
Notable alumni
- Jim WrightJim WrightJames Claude Wright, Jr. , usually known as Jim Wright, is a former Democratic U.S. Congressman from Texas who served 34 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and was the Speaker of the House from 1987 to 1989.-Early life:...
-- Former Speaker of the United States House of RepresentativesSpeaker of the United States House of RepresentativesThe Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
- Stedman GrahamStedman GrahamStedman Graham is an American educator, author, businessman and speaker, who has also served in the United States Army, although he is primarily known as the partner of media mogul Oprah Winfrey...
- American educator, author, businessman, speaker and served in the United States Army and known as the partner of media mogul Oprah WinfreyOprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
.
- Aubrey HuffAubrey HuffAubrey Lewis Huff III is a Major League Baseball first baseman with the San Francisco Giants. He debuted in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and later played for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers. He is the starting first baseman for the San Francisco Giants who won the...
- Professional baseball player