Historical Timeline

1808

John Tarleton was Born

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, who was naturally small for his age, was advised by recruiters to grow up before he applied again. When his aunt heard of the boy’s attempt to join the armed forces, she offered him money for flailing wheat stored in the barn.

With the $15 Tarleton earned from this job, he left Vermont and worked his way to North Carolina where he cut wood. Then he worked cradling wheat for $1.50 a day. It was while in North Carolina that John learned of the death of his brother.

Making his way to Knoxville, Tennessee, Tarleton taught school for $30 a month and later applied to Perez Dickerson for a job in the Cowan-Dickerson mercantile.

He stayed there for some 40 years living frugally in the back of the shop and investing his salary in government certificates issued to soldiers of the War of 1812 as bounties for locating land.

1865

John Tarleton walks to Texas

Among his acquisitions, was 10,000 acres of land in Texas which he bought for 12 and a half cents an acre.
It would be more than 30 years before Tarleton saw this land located in Erath and Palo Pinto counties.
When he finally arrived at the territory, Indians were camped on the spot, so Tarleton went to Waco where he established a mercantile store.
During his stay in Waco, Tarleton met and married Mary Louisa Johnson, a member of the aristocratic Dunnica family of Missouri. They divorced shortly after their first anniversary but remained friends.

1880

John Tarleton walks from Waco to Santo

Tarleton returned to his lands in Erath and Palo Pinto counties in 1880, walking from Waco with
a suitcase and his money concealed in square-toed shoes and patches on his clothes.

He arrived in Santo looking more like a tramp than a merchant. The Indians had left his land, but they had been replaced by squatters. Tarleton paid the people for improvements they had made and had the area surveyed.
Unable to sell the plots, he fenced off the ten thousand acres and began ranching. Cattle with the “TRTN” brand on the left side were shipped four hundred at a time.
Small in stature, Tarleton was considered miserly and eccentric by many, but he was strictly honest. He paid his way in full and was fair to hired hands and associates. When his clothing became worn, he repaired them himself.

Tarleton walked almost everywhere he went and would often buy 10 cents worth of cheese and some crackers and lean against a building to eat. Although he owned a horse, he decided it was too expensive and did not keep it.
Resentful of the hardships during his youth and his missed opportunities for an education, Tarleton sent many of his neighbor children to school.

1895

John Tarleton dies

John Tarleton had little formal education and found little happiness in life, but a bequest in his will created two institutions of higher learning and made it possible for thousands of young people to receive an education. In his will, Tarleton said he had about $85,000 which he would like to donate to a school. He first considered leaving the money for a school in Palo Pinto and then Weatherford, but his attorney proposed Stephenville.

1899

John Tarleton College is established

John Tarleton College opened its doors on September 3, 1899 with W. H. Bruce as president.

1899-1900

William Herschell Bruce is Tarleton’s President

1900-1906

Edgar Elliott Bramlett is Tarleton’s President

1902

The First Red Brick Building on Campus

The original Science building was built. The first red brick building on campus

1906

John Tarleton College becomes a junior college academy program

John Tarleton College becomes a junior college academy program here

1906-1908

Frank M. Martin is Tarleton’s President

1908-1909

J.D. Sandefer is Tarleton’s President

1909-1911

Elzy Dee Jennings is Tarleton’s President

1910

The First Women’s Dorm

The first womens dorm, Wilkerson Hall, was erected.

1911-1912

George J. Nunn is Tarleton’s President

1912

Founding of the Tarleton Ex-Students Association

1912

Roswell W. Rogers is Tarleton’s President

1913

James Duncan Hughlett is Tarleton’s President

1913-1919

James Franklin Cox is Tarleton’s President

1916

The Grassburr yearbook is first published

1916

The first social clubs came onto campus

1917

John Tarleton College becomes part of The Texas A&M University System

John Tarleton College becomes part of The Texas A&M University System. Name is changed to John Tarleton Agricultural College

1917

Purple Book was published

The first Purple Book was published.

1919-1945

James Thomas Davis is Tarleton’s President

1919

The J-TAC newspaper is first published

1919

Howell Education Building was built

The E.J. Howell Education Building was built.

1921

Ten Tarleton Peppers (TTP) was established

1921

May Fete Celebration began

1921

ROTC formally appeared on campus

1922

The “cannon” is brought to Tarleton

The cannon is brought to Tarleton from Fort Sam Houston to be used in ROTC training.

1923

Ten Tarleton Sisters (TTS) was established

1923

Smokestack was built

The Smokestack was built

1924

“Plowboys” mascot was adopted

“Plowboys” mascot was adopted. Coach W.J. Wisdom held a contest for a new mascot, but ended up coming up with the name himself

1924

The Dean’s House was built

The Dean’s House was built and in now known as the Trogden House.

1925-1926

Tarleton football went undefeated

Tarleton’s football team went undefeated with the coaching of Coach Wisdom.

1927

The Original Dining Hall was built

1928

The original Hunewell Bandstand is constructed

1929

The Marston conservatory was built

1931

Pearl Mahan Rock was donated

1934-1938

National record 86 game winning streak

Once a national record 86 game winning streak achieved by Coach W.J. Wisdom’s men’s basketball teams between 1934 and 1938

1936

Davis Hall is built

1936

Moody Residence Hall is built

Moody Residence Hall is built for female students.

1938

Gough Residence is built

Gough Residence Hall was built for female students.

1939

L.V. Risinger throws a 2×4 at an NTAC airplane

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.

1945-1966

E.J. Howell is Tarleton’s President

1947

Rodeo was established on campus

1947

Memorial Stadium was completed in 1977

Memorial Stadium was completed in 1977.

1949

John Tarleton Agricultural College becomes known as Tarleton State College

John Tarleton Agricultural College becomes known as Tarleton State College to reflect the liberal arts offerings

1949

The Wainwright Rifles made their first appearence at Tarleton

1951

Autry Building was built

1951

Memorial Stadium held its first Football Game

1953

Bender Hall was built

Bender Hall was built.

1957

Dick Smith Library was built

Dick Smith Library was built.

1959

Tarleton becomes a four-year, degree-granting institution

Tarleton becomes a four-year, degree-granting institution.

1961

“Texans” and “TexAnns” mascots were adopted

“Texans” and “TexAnns” mascots were adopted, and the horse and rider became the new athletic mascot of the university.

1961

The Wainwright Rifles performed at the Inauguration parade

The Wainwright Rifles performed at the Inauguration parade for President John F. Kennedy.

1963

The original Hunewell Bandstand is taken down

The original Hunewell Bandstand is taken down to make room for the Tarleton Center.

1963

Hunewell Residence Hall was built

Hunewell Residence Hall was built.

1963

Class of 1963 first to Graduate with Bachelor’s Degree

The 29 members of the class of 1963 were the first class to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

1966-1982

William Oren Trogdon is Tarleton’s President

1967

The Texan Rider Mural was placed in front of the Tarleton Center

1967

Crockett Hall was purchased

Crockett Hall was purchased.

1970

Coordinating board approves masters level courses

Coordinating board approves masters level courses.

1973

Tarleton State College becomes Tarleton State University

Tarleton State College becomes Tarleton State University.

1973

O.A. Grant Humanities building was built

O.A. Grant Humanities building was built.

1977

Horse Production offered its first courses in the fall

Horse Production offered its first courses in the fall.

1978

Medical Laboratory Sciences is first program offered at Fort Worth campus

1980

Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center was built

1980

Athletics Hall of Fame was established

The Athletics Hall of Fame honors past students for their great accomplishments.

1982-1990

Barry Baird Thompson is Tarleton’s President

Barry Baird Thompson is Tarleton’s President.

1983

The first sorority and national greek organization, Alpha Gamma Delta, chartered at Tarleton State University

The first sorority and national greek organization, Alpha Gamma Delta, chartered at Tarleton State University.

1984

Plowboys spirit organization was established

Plowboys spirit organization was established.

1984

The first national fraternity, Kappa Alpha, colonized at Tarleton State University

The first national fraternity, Kappa Alpha, colonized at Tarleton State University.

1984

The oldest fraternity still on campus, Lambda Chi Alpha, was colonized

The oldest fraternity still on campus, Lambda Chi Alpha, was colonized.

1986

Time Capsule was buried

Time Capsule was buried.

1988-2001

Tarleton Hires Lonn Reisman

Tarleton hires new basketball coach Lonn Reisman.

1988

The first class of RN’s received their A.A. degrees

The first class of RN’s received their A.A. degrees and almost all passed the state board exams for nursing.

1988

Tarleton revives Baseball program

Tarleton revives Baseball program.

1990

Tarleton Football would go undefeated for a second time in the school’s history

Tarleton Football would go undefeated for a second time in the school’s history.

1991-2008

Dennis Patrick McCabe is Tarleton’s President

Dennis Patrick McCabe is Tarleton’s President.

1992

Coach Jan Lowrey begins the 30-8 record season for Women Basketball

Coach Jan Lowrey begins the 30-8 record season for Women Basketball.

1996

Langdon Center Donated to Tarleton

The Chrysalis Foundation donated the center to Tarleton State University in June 1996, when it was renamed the Dora Lee Langdon Cultural & Educational Center.

2000

Planetarium is established

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-seat theatre is truly a fitting environment in which to explore the wonders of the universe.

2000

TMATE teacher certification program comes to Fort Worth

2001

The Military Memorial is built

The Military Memorial in Heritage Oaks Park is built and dedicated by the Tarleton Alumni Association.

2002

Partnership with McLennan Community College is formed

Tarleton establishes an outreach program with McLennan Community College in Waco.

2002

Gordon Center Opens

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.

2002

Coordinating board approves doctorate level courses

Coordinating board approves doctorate level courses.

2005

The current Hunewell Bandstand is built and dedicated

The current Hunewell Bandstand is built and dedicated at Homecoming 2005.

2007

Hickman Building Opens

Tarleton State University extended the reach of state-supported, affordable education by expanding undergraduate and graduate programs to Fort Worth.

2008-2019

F. Dominic Dottavio is Tarleton’s President

2009

Tarleton establishes Global Campus

Tarleton starts to offer completely online degree programs for students.

2011

Tarleton partners with Navarro College

Tarleton establishes an outreach program with Navarro College – Midlothian.

2012

Rodeo Hall of Fame was established

The Rodeo Hall of Fame honors past students for their great accomplishments.

2013

Tarleton Partners with Balfour Beatty to build new residence halls

Tarleton becomes first university in A&M System to partner with private company to build new residence halls.

2014

Kiara Wright named Daktronics National Player of the Year

Kiara Wright named Daktronics National Player of the Year.

2014

Science Building Renamed to Lamar Johanson Science Building

Tarleton unveiled a new name for its Science Building to honor longtime professor and philanthropist Dr. Lamar Johanson.

2014

Tarrant County College teaches first classes in Hickman Building

2015

Davene Carter named Dark Horse Dunker

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.;xNLx;;xNLx;Due to the abundance of support for both athletes, the contest committee has decided to accept both competitors into the 2015 State Farm Slam Dunk contest.

Davene Carter placed third among eight NCAA Division I basketball players in the Denny’s Slam Dunk Contest televised on ESPN, April 2.

2015

Tarleton Basketball makes NCAA Division II Final Four

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.

2015

Golf sets LSC Record

Tarleton Women’s Golf team sets LSC record with 8 tournament championships.

2015

John Tarleton’s Statue is unveiled

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 donors applauded the unveiling of a 10-foot bronze sculpture of its legendary founder—looking 20 years younger than his only known photograph—and his pet duck.

Created by Kenneth Wyatt, a 1946 Tarleton graduate and world-renowned artist called the Norman Rockwell of Western Art, the statue stands in the center of the newly renovated Alumni Island as a symbol of history, tradition and far-reaching vision.;xNLx;;xNLx;The Alpha Building Corporation, which contracted to renovate the Alumni Island, donated funds for the statue in honor of its long-time employee Richard H. Booher, who retired earlier this year after more than 20 years of service.

When friends heard that Wyatt had been commissioned to sculpt the bronze of Tarleton, they insisted he include the founder’s legendary companion, Oscar P. The duck serves as one of three anchors that keep the monument steady against Texas winds.

The 10-foot bronze began as a 24-inch model, which was turned into the larger-than-life piece by The Crucible Foundry in Norman, Okla. The foundry poured the 1,078 pounds of bronze in 250- to 300-pound segments and welded them together to create the final monument.

2016