Texan Trace Ribbon Cutting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, October 20, 2018
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — A pedestrian mall connecting the quadrants of Tarleton State University’s Stephenville campus today officially became Texan Trace as part of dedication ceremonies following the Homecoming parade.
Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio, Tarleton Alumni Association (TAA) President Ken Dorris, and poet and alumnus Dr. John Pelham did the honors, along with other special guests.
Part of Tarleton’s 2020 Master Plan, the trace extends from Washington Street to Shirley Street along former North Lillian Street. It is one of several pedestrian-friendly paths across campus funded in 2016 by The Texas A&M University System as part of a $26 million utility and infrastructure improvements project.
“Texan Trace creates a more attractive campus, provides a safe walking and bicycling pathway, and honors our rich heritage and core values,” Dottavio said. “Like Rudder Way — dedicated as part of last year’s Centennial Celebration — Texan Trace reflects our strong historical ties as founding member of the A&M System and represents our bright future together.
“In addition to beautifying campus, creating more green space and providing walkways, utility and infrastructure improvements address the challenges of aging electrical, gas and water lines. As part of the mall’s construction, utility lines were upgraded and buried 25 feet below ground.”
A poem by Pelham, written for the dedication, hails Tarleton’s legendary leaders and welcomes those who will walk the campus in generations to come. Plaques with the poem will anchor each end of the walkway.
“It is a great honor to be asked to craft an original poem to celebrate Texan Trace,” Pelham said. “The poem not only honors the legends of Tarleton’s past, it encourages every student, every faculty and staff member, every campus visitor to make their own mark by serving others and creating their own personal tradition of excellence.”
Pelham spent two years at Tarleton State College (Class of ’58) followed by two years at Texas A&M College to earn a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and a commission in the U.S. Army.
A former state director of Texas 4-H and TAA president from 2007 to 2009, he went on to earn master’s and doctorate degrees from Texas A&M and Mississippi State University. He has written six books of poetry and is a 2018 Will Rogers Literary Award nominee.
“It is only fitting that a Tarleton alumnus pen the poem to mark Texan Trace,” said Dorris, current TAA president. “The poem and the pedestrian mall honor all Tarleton alumni and their influence on current and future students. Their mark, their trace defines the university, who we are today and the greatness of tomorrow.
“Any path begins as a possibility…leading us from what is familiar to what is unseen and unknown. This is the way of Texan Trace. It is built on history and tradition, but becomes new again with every freshman class.”
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.
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Contact: Cecilia Jacobs, Assistant Vice President of Marketing & Communications
254-968-1620
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