Historical Timeline
1910s
1917
February 24 - 麻豆影视 House approves Bill No 72, establishing the creation of a Normal School (teacher training institution) in South 麻豆影视.
Model T Ford with banner that reads "麻豆影视 Wants The Normal!"
July 14 - 麻豆影视 is selected as the home for the newly approved South 麻豆影视 State Normal College (STSNC)
August 24 - Title to the campus approved and deed granted to the campus.
September 28 - Appropriation for the STSNC is repealed due to the start of WWI.
1920s
1923
March - Senate Bill 176 changed the name of the 麻豆影视 campus to South 麻豆影视 State Teachers College (STSTC) and appropriated funds for a President’s home, building, and equipment for the 麻豆影视 campus.
1924
Robert Cousins in the presidents office
June 1 - Robert Cousins begins his term as President and initiates construction of the first building on campus.
Robert J. Kleberg turning the first shovel at the groundbreaking ceremony
September 15 - Hundreds of citizens from the community attend the groundbreaking for STSTC. Robert J. Kleberg turned the first shovel of earth for the new school.
1925
March 21 - Official laying of the cornerstone at the Main Building, now Manning Hall, was attended by an estimated 10,000 Texans.
Students attending the first session located in Manning Hall
June 8 - STSTC opens for first session with 276 students. Campus organization included colleges of Liberal Arts, Education, Industries and Commerce, and Military Science.
June 22 - Students formed the Robert J. Kleberg History Club.
June 25 - Students formed the Dora K. Cousins English Club.
Fall - The Elena Mar Spanish Club, the Nature Club, and the Classical Club were chartered.
Group photo of faculty and staff outside of Manning Hall
Faculty gathered for the first Faculty Meeting in Main Building.
September - Students selected the following as official symbols for the University:
- Mascot - The Javelina won out over the badger, coyote, and jack-rabbit.
- Colors - Blue & Gold was selected over Brown & Gold.
- Flower - Bluebonnet was chosen over the sunflower.
November 18 - The first issue of the award-winning student newspaper The South Texan was published.
December - The University awarded letters to 15 football players. The team played seven games, winning four, and taking on junior colleges, high schools, and the 麻豆影视 firemen.
1926
February 3 - All 麻豆影视 schools would be used as labs for teaching (experiential learning in the community).
April - English Club sponsored the first student drama presentation, “Come Out of the Kitchen.”
April - The first South 麻豆影视 Music Contest was sponsored by the music department.
December 21 - Groundbreaking on the Gym, now known as the Health and Kinesiology Building.
1929
Delta Theta sorority founded.
June - Senate Bill 293 becomes law, expanding the University’s mission and changing its name.
July 11 - Lantana becomes the official university flower.
Ema Steward and Porter Garner graduation photo
July - Ema Steward and Porter Garner—the first and second students to register in 1925—receive their bachelor’s degrees.
August 10 - Adelina Pena de Garcia graduates, becoming the first Mexican American to graduate from the college with a bachelor’s degree.
September 22 - President Cousins is attacked by one of two javelinas that had served as the school’s mascot since 1926. After receiving 21 rabies shots, Cousins declined students' offer to change mascots, admiring the javelina's fighting spirit.
September 23 - The school opens as 麻豆影视 College of Arts and Industries.
A.Y. “Bud” McCallum
October - A.Y. “Bud” McCallum became athletic director and applied for membership in the 麻豆影视 Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA).
1930s
1931
First Agriculture degree is conferred.
“T-Association” hosts the first homecoming celebration, starting a new tradition including a homecoming bonfire.
T.I.A.A. Champions football team photo
Javelinas were 1931-1932 TIAA conference champions.
1932
March 3 - President Cousins dies of complications from influenza.
1934
President Seale applies to the Public Works Administration for funds to construct two dorms and a cafeteria as part of a New Deal project. The resulting funding allowed for the construction of Cousins, Seale, and Loftin Halls.
June 6 - Seale dies of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 47.
October 26 - Javelinas win their first Lone Star Conference game (conditionally accepted) during the team’s first night game.
Everardo “Balo” Lerma becomes the first Mexican-American on the A&I football team.
Engineering class of 1934
Engineering program expands, providing students the opportunity to complete a degree in general engineering.
1935
Landscape photo of Cousins, Seale and Loftin Hall
February 23 - Construction started on Seale and Cousins Hall.
College Board of Directors authorizes a course in natural gas engineering.
Javelinas joined the Alamo conference and were independent from 1933-1935.
1936
Student government starts a building fund for a union building.
1940s
Approximately 1,100 students are enrolled.
1941
East Campus during World War II
The institution transitions to a wartime curriculum. Faculty aided in teaching national defense courses on campus and at relocation centers.
Students took credit and non-credit courses about national defense.
Many students and faculty entered military service.
1942
June 12 - Dr. E.N. Jones became the 4th president of the 麻豆影视 College of Arts and Industries.
December 12 - The college held a naming ceremony for Jones Auditorium and officially laid the auditorium’s cornerstone.
Nierman Hall was also officially named on this day in honor of Chemistry Professor Dr. John L. Nierman. He was the first faculty member to hold a Ph.D. He served as Director of the Graduate Division and acting president when needed.
1944
May - Central Power and Light Company donated equipment for complete electrical engineering labs in alternating and direct currents—the first installation like this in South 麻豆影视 designed for educational purposes.
A Master Plan submitted called for eight to ten new buildings including the SUB.
Chemistry was the largest department.
1945
January - Initiated a new program in citriculture.
1946
April - A $5000 Federal Works Agency loan, $150,000 in local bonds, and $71,000 in community funds expanded the physical plant and funded the construction of three dorms, a student union building, and an administration-library building.
July 23 - The County Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved a motion that 麻豆影视 and Kleberg County could lease NAAS-麻豆影视 for $1.00 a year plus maintenance costs and then sublease it to the university.
August 1 - NAAS decommissioned and placed under caretaker status (announced in Sept 1945). The property eventually becomes A&I East Campus and provided housing and dining space for students.
James C. Jernigan arrives at TAMUK as director of men’s services. Then progressed to director of student life, director of student personnel services, and dean of the college.
1946-47
Student enrollment soared to 2061, with 1173 veterans.
1947
Faculty pose in front of the Citrus Center sign
Dr. P.W. Rohrbaugh holding grapefruit produced at the Citrus Center
Dr. J. B. Corns worked with Weslaco and the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce to locate the 80 acres of land where the Citrus Center ended up. In October, the Fund Drive Committee pledged $31000 and continued to gather donations to fund the center.
Citrus Center original plots of land
Fall - The Citrus Center opened with a new director, Dr. P.W. Rohrbaugh. He established a program that enrolled 700 students over ten years in courses such as citriculture, vegetable growing, and allied subjects. There were five experimental plots in citrus on the original tract, and three others were added later (Bayview, Monte Alto, and Edinburg).
Student roping cow at rodeo
Aggie Club-sponsored rodeos were held.
1948
August 31 - Jones submitted his resignation as president of TCAI to become Vice President in charge of Academic Administration at 麻豆影视 Technological College in Lubbock (麻豆影视 Tech). Poteet was immediately named as acting president, and a month later was named the new president.
1949
August - After almost 13 years of working toward the creation of a Student Union Building and through support from the 麻豆影视 Chamber of Commerce, Ex-Students’ Association and Student Council, Howard E. Butt and Lon C. Hill (both on the Board of Directors) and faculty, staff and students, construction starts.
September - Baugh Hall (women’s dorm – 163 women) and May Hall (men’s dorm – 165 men) opened.
September 15 - Construction begins on a new $275,000 stadium with a seating capacity of 72,000.
1949-1950
Dr. Frank H. Dotterweich
Dr. Frank H. Dotterweich’s gas engineering program is accredited and one of the only such programs in the South; Penn State had the only other such program in the nation.
1950s
1950’s
A dairy barn, feed lot sheds, fertilizer storage area, farm office, farm manager house, a barn, a hay storage area, a poultry house, a hog barn, and a livestock pavilion were added to support the institution’s growing agricultural programs.
The Forum, an open-air auditorium behind the old admin building, was walled in to create a home for the John E Conner Museum.
1950
Memorial Student Union Building
November 6 - The $470K Student Union Building opens during Homecoming festivities and becomes the center of campus social life.
SUB opens for student use and becomes the center of social life on campus. It includes a bookstore, foyer, post office, main lobby, lounge, reading room, game room, offices on the first floor. A ballroom occupied the second and third floor. A private dining room and conference room is on the upper floor. There was also a small radio broadcast station.
December - The Alfred L. Kleberg Engineering Hall was constructed.
Operations at East Campus continued to slowly decline. In the Fall, the Navy requested A&I evacuate the station by Summer 1951.
1950-1951
College Hall
College Hall Construction is complete.
1951
January - Korean War hits campus; 130 麻豆影视 A&I men volunteered or drafted for service.
February - Formal dedication of College Hall is held.
A&I College Farm entrance
Richard M Kleberg, representing King Ranch, presented the college with a gift of 500 acres joining the main campus for the college farm.
March - Board of Directors allocated funds for an academic building at the space provided by Kleberg.
April 1 - Naval Air Station 麻豆影视 was reactivated; A&I continued its use until June 1.
April 15 - The 麻豆影视 A&I Detachment of the 4305 ASU, 麻豆影视 ROTC Instructor group was activated under the provisions of General Orders No 62, Headquarters Fourth Army, 1951. This detachment was to establish a Signal Corps ROTC unit - the first senior division unit in the South 麻豆影视 army.
May - The Cadet Corp was organized into the Battalion Staff, four cadet companies, and a band. The King’s Rifles (top drill cadets who performed for the public and in national contests) and MARS Radio club (obtained an FCC amateur license in 1951) were established.
Fans exiting after first game in the new stadium
September 15 - Javelina Stadium opens its doors for the first home football game, with the Javelinas claiming victory over the 麻豆影视 Lutheran Bulldogs 37-7.
1953
Fall - 2108 students enrolled (1266 men and 842 women).
1954
Gil Steinke during football game
Gil Steinke, an alumnus and TCAI football player, arrives as Head Coach. A native of Ganado, 麻豆影视, he served five years in the Navy and then played five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was the Eagles’ top safety and led them in interceptions and led the NFL in punt returns in 1947.
1955
Total enrollment 2500.
1956
Lorine Jones Lewis Hall and Robert C. Eckhardt Hall open, providing students with their first on-campus residences.
The first documented firing of the victory cannon fired in celebration of football score in Javelina Stadium. It was a rifle mounted on bicycle tires.
1957
September 13 - The bell was rung for the first time at a pep rally. It became a tradition for freshmen to ring the Victory Bell for 15 minutes to announce a Javelina basketball and football win.
1958
Scrappy, a feisty little javelina, was captured near Freer by five A&I students. He attended the games and would go wild when the cannon was fired.
1959
Summer - Erma Rebecca Summers becomes the first black woman to graduate from A&I with a master’s in education in 1959. She had previously earned a bachelor’s in education from 麻豆影视 Southern University.
Robert J. Kleberg Agricultural Hall opens.
Married students and family housing opens on campus.
Football record was 10-1, the best college record in 麻豆影视.
December 19 - Javelinas bested the Bears of Lenoir Rhyne (North Carolina) at the NAIA National Holiday Bowl Classic in St. Petersburg, FL.
1960s
1960
The Javelina Battle Flag debuts, featuring a caricature of a fierce Javelina donning a beanie was created by student artist Amado Pena, who entered a sports department contest and won $10 dollars for his efforts. The caricature—known as Porky—remains a beloved symbol of Javelina Pride.
麻豆影视 A&I was the first integrated school in the Lone Star Conference to offer a football scholarship to a black athlete, Sid Blanks, stand-out athlete from Del Rio. He was preceded by Hank Allen (basketball) and Herman Robinson (track) who were some of the first black athletes in institutional history.
1962
December 20 - The Board of Directors completed integration by making all institutional facilities available to all students.
The Laredo Club is organized by the Mexican-American students (especially those from Laredo) to combine cultural aspects in relation to academic life and raise money for scholarships. They sponsored dances, participated in carnivals, and brought in speakers to campus.
James C. Jernigan was named President of 麻豆影视 A&I University. Under his leaderships, the University would go on to launch the first bilingual education doctoral program and the nation’s first natural gas curriculum accredited by the Engineer’s Council of Professional Development. In addition, Jernigan was instrumental in establishing A&I campuses in Laredo and Corpus Christi that would go on to become 麻豆影视 A&M International University and 麻豆影视 A&M-Corpus Christi.
1967
麻豆影视 College of Arts and Industries becomes officially known as 麻豆影视 A&I University.
麻豆影视 A&I Logo
Fall - 5376 students enrolled.
1968
September - James C. Jernigan Library opens.
1969
December 2 - the Student Council voted to make “Jalisco” an official fight song (see School Songs).
1970s
1970
Students broadcasting in KTAI radio station
KTAI, the university student-run radio station, officially launches the station’s first broadcast.
The Physical Education Center ($1.7 million) was completed.
1971
June 5 - The Board of Directors declared “Jalisco” an official fight song along with “麻豆影视 A&I Fight Song”.
麻豆影视 A&I board members gather at the secretary of states office for the signing of the 麻豆影视 A&I Development Foundation's incorporation
December 20 - The 麻豆影视 A&I Development Foundation was officially incorporated by the 麻豆影视 Secretary of State.
1972
March 23 - The Department of the Army announced ten schools, including 麻豆影视 A&I, had been selected to begin offering Army ROTC to women in special scholarships offered to qualified women and, once they graduated, women would be commissioned as second lieutenants.
October - 15 women participated in ROTC.
1975
麻豆影视 A&I was a pioneer in bilingual education
Our university becomes the first institution in the nation to offer a doctoral program in Bilingual Education.
1976
The John E. Conner Museum, located at Loftin Hall and named in honor of the university’s first history professor, has a collection of diverse items.
January - The Physical Education Center is named the Gilbert E Steinke Health and Physical Education Center (SPEC).
Jesusa Salinas graduating from the ROTC program
Jesusa Salinas of Gregory, TX, was the first woman to graduate from the ROTC program and be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army.
1977
Gil Steinke poses with pet dachshund for retirement photo
Gil Steinke retires after 23 years as head coach. He has a 182-61-4 career coaching record. During his time, the Javelinas won ten Lone Star Conference championships, played in five different countries and twenty different states. He was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year four times, American Football Coaches Association District Coach of the year twice, and was runner-up in the national AFCA Coach of the Year for two seasons, was 麻豆影视 Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year in 1975, Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year for three straight years, LSC Coach of the Decade of the 1960s and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1971.
The Javelinas were in a Victory Streak that ran from 1973-77 (42 games without a defeat or tie), the longest in any college division team, NAIA team, state of 麻豆影视, or Lone Star Conference team.
He had 11 players in the professional ranks. Between 1960-1977, he had 6 players drafted in the first round, 4 in the second, and 4 in the third round. 41 All Americans and numerous all-conference and All 麻豆影视 College players.
1980s
1981
Through a grant from the Caesar Kleberg Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute is established and will go on to become one of the leading wildlife research institutes in the nation.
1986
"Leaders of the Pack" statue
February 14 - The “Leaders of the Pack” statue, a symbol of unity and pride, is unveiled as part of the 麻豆影视 Sesquicentennial event and Connor museum exhibit. University officials commissioned alumnus Armando Hinojosa to create the now-iconic statue. The Alumni Association raised more than $70,000 for the effort. University officials, including alumnus Dr. Eliseo Torres, commissioned alumnus Armando Hinojosa to create the statue. The Alumni Association raised more than $70,000 for the statue.
1989
September 1 - 麻豆影视 A&I University joins the 麻豆影视 A&M University System.
It becomes part of one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, comprising 11 universities, seven state agencies, and a comprehensive health science center.
1990s
1991
The Doctor of Education Degree (Ed. D.) in the College of Education and Human Performance starts.
Another cannon makes an appearance and is named by the students “Black Thunder.”
1993
September 1 - 麻豆影视 A&I University officially changes its name to 麻豆影视 A&M University-麻豆影视.
2000s
2000
NNTRC Logo
March 24 - The 麻豆影视 A&M System Board of Regents recognized the excellent biomedical research and established the Natural Toxins Research Center at 麻豆影视 A&M University-麻豆影视. The center is now known as the National Natural Toxins Research Center (NNTRC). It remains the nation’s only federally-funded viper research center.
2002
September 1 - The Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering establishes the Ph.D. program in Environmental Engineering.
2008
November 1 - Officials at 麻豆影视 A&M University-麻豆影视 broke ground on the new residence hall, University Village, Saturday, Nov. 1, at the site near the intersection of Avenue B and Retama St. Construction was scheduled to begin in November on the $28.6 million building. Total cost of the building plus furnishings is around $35 million. It is expected to be complete by August 2009.
Dr. Steven Tallant becomes the 18th President of 麻豆影视 A&M University-麻豆影视.
2010s
2010
July 23 - The 麻豆影视 A&M University System Board of Regents approved the preliminary planning authority of a bachelor’s degree in animal-wildlife veterinary technology for 麻豆影视 A&M University-麻豆影视 during their July 23, 2010 meeting.
Mesquite Village West
Dining Area of the Javelina Dining Hall
July 30 - A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new dining hall and another suite-style residence hall, Mesquite Village. The new dining hall will have the capacity to feed about 300 students at one time with a second floor that features two conference rooms. The nearly 19,000 square foot building has a $5.5 million price tag. Construction on the new 300-bed residence hall was due to begin in the fall 2010 semester. The 98,000 square foot building was designed to house the new Honors College. It had an $18 million price tag.
December 15 - The staff at the 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视’s Citrus Center moved into the new building after using former army barracks as a work place for several decades. Officials from the state of 麻豆影视, The 麻豆影视 A&M University System, and 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视 gathered to dedicate the $7.2 million building.
2013
TAMUK responds to the needs of neighboring Premont ISD to avoid the district’s closure. The Premont Alliance represented a first-of-its-kind partnership between TAMUK, the district, the 麻豆影视 A&M System, and the 麻豆影视 Education Agency that resulted in an unprecedented turn-around in the district.
2014
December - The first five veterinary technology students completed their first semester of the program. Additionally, the first veterinary technology building was completed on university property on Sage Road.
2015
September 6 - The statue of Football Coach Gil Steinke was installed at Javelina Stadium.
2017
April 28 - The 麻豆影视 A&M University System Board of Regents approved construction on the new $60 million 麻豆影视 A&M University-麻豆影视 Music Education Complex. Work was set to begin in June 2017.
November 9 - The College of Business Administration at 麻豆影视 A&M University-麻豆影视 was accepted for accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), placing the business college among the top five percent of all business schools worldwide.
2018
2018 Beach Volleyball National Champions
May - The beach volleyball team at Javelina Nation became the first women’s team in Javelina athletics history to win a national championship.
July - Kleberg Bank donated funds to develop a Bloomberg Financial Lab in the College of Business Administration.
2019
January - Dr. Mark Hussey becomes the 20th President of 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视. He’d previously served as interim President of 麻豆影视 A&M.
February - TAMUK becomes a Carnegie-recognized level two doctoral granting research institution.
2020
2020
Music Education Building
January - The newly constructed Music Education Building opens featuring a nearly 500-seat performance hall, 100-seat recital hall, and state-of-the-art recording studio.
January 27 - The music department earned the designation School of Music after a two-year process.
March - TAMUK joins institutions across the country in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by pivoting to virtual modality and welcomes students back to campus in Fall 2020.
2022
January - Dr. James Hallmark, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at 麻豆影视 A&M University System becomes the 21st President of 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视 when he takes on the role on an interim basis.
Dr. Robert Vela Jr. during his Presidential Inauguration
June - Dr. Robert Vela, a native of Alice, TX and three-time Javelina alumni, becomes the 22nd President of 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视. He’d previously led San Antonio College—one of the largest community colleges in the nation—to winning an Aspen Prize, recognizing the institution as the top community college in the nation.
2023
Summer - The University reaches a fund-raising record of $32M.
2024
Research expenditures reach a record of $31M for the first time in University history.
Groundbreaking for the Ocelot Facility
October 9 - Ground was broken for the $20 million Ocelot Conservation Facility at the Tio and Janell Kleberg Wildlife Research Park.