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ANOTHER
COLLEGE AMONG THE PINES by
Archie P. McDonald | |
We
who give "All Hail to SFA" think of our University
by one of its earlier nicknames, "The College Among The Pines."
That also
described another excellent institution headquartered in Carthage,
Texas, named Panola College after its host county. Pine trees grow in abundance
in Panola County, so they are as entitled to the moniker as are those of us who
work and study in Nacogdoches County.
The G.I. Bill, America's "thank you"
to servicemen and women returning from WW
II, especially its education subsidy, proved the best investment in the future
of the country our government ever made.
The G.I. Bill enabled veterans
to obtain a college or vocational education, raised the learning level of a generation
of Americans, and left in place hundreds of colleges-junior and community colleges
especially-for future generations as well. And one of the best examples is Panola
College.
Carthage School Superintendent Q.M. Martin worked to establish
the Panola County Junior College. In 1947 the college obtained a thirty-five acre
tract located west of Carthage's downtown shopping area, and the school registered
its first students in January 1948. Classes were taught and residential students
lived in Army surplus buildings obtained at nominal cost from Camp Majors in Greenville
and Camp
Fannin in Tyler; in fact, moving them cost administrators more than the buildings
themselves. The first of more than a dozen permanent buildings began to appear
after voters approved a $400,000 bond issue for construction.
B.W. Mustgroves
served as the institutions first president, and Dr. Gregory Powell served as president
in 2005. Panola enrolls approximately 1,700 students. Such outstanding teachers
as Bill O'Neal, who developed the school's Traveling Texas History course, have
spent entire careers at Panola College. The school is also noted for its vocational
programs for forestry technicians and in nursing.
Panola College won the
Texas Junior College Conference football championship in 1950 but discontinued
the sport because of its expense to concentrate on basketball and baseball. Its
women's basketball teams won National Junior College Athletic Association championships
in 1977 and 1978.
Panola College was founded to provide educational opportunities
to WW II vets; it still does so for their great great-grandchildren. |
© Archie P. McDonald
All
Things Historical
June 19, 2006 column
A syndicated column in over 40 East Texas newspapers
(This column is provided as a public service by the East Texas Historical
Association. Archie P. McDonald is director of the Association and author of more
than 20 books on Texas. ) | | |
