A History of Angelo State University: From San Angelo College to a Thriving University
Angelo State University (ASU) has a rich history rooted in the determination of the San Angelo community to create their own institution of higher learning. From its humble beginnings as San Angelo College (SAC) to its current status as a thriving university within the Texas Tech University System, ASU has overcome numerous challenges and achieved significant milestones. Studying history provides research, analysis, information management, and communication skills applicable to various careers, including law, museums, foreign relations, and the military.
The Genesis of San Angelo College
In 1923, after San Angelo's unsuccessful attempt to be chosen as the location for Texas Technological College, the city's residents resolved to establish their own college, even if it meant funding it themselves. San Angelo College officially opened its doors, welcoming 112 students. City students faced a tuition fee of $75, while out-of-town students were charged $115. The institution held its first commencement exercise in May 1929, with six students graduating.
Navigating the Great Depression and World War II
The Stock Market crash of 1929 occurred shortly after the college's establishment, plunging the United States into the Great Depression throughout the 1930s. Despite the economic hardships, SAC persevered through the Depression and the World War II era, always with an eye toward the future.
The college outgrew its downtown campus and sought to relocate to its present location. However, tax revenues were insufficient to finance the transition to a new campus. The San Angelo community once again demonstrated its support by raising $300,000 to facilitate the move.
Growth and Integration in the 1950s
By the 1950s, SAC was flourishing on its new campus on West Avenue N, thanks to the GI Bill® and an increasing emphasis on education.
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SAC emerged as a pioneer in racial relations during the 1950s. It admitted its first black students a year before the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. In 1955, Mary Frances Simpson, the year's outstanding graduate, became the first black student to graduate from SAC. The college also broke the color barrier in Texas intercollegiate football in 1953 when Ben Kelly, who was later named class favorite, started for the Rams.
Transition to Angelo State University in the 1960s
The 1960s brought significant change as San Angelo College transitioned into a four-year, state-supported university. This transformation fulfilled the long-held aspirations of local residents dating back to the 1920s. In 1963, Governor John Connally signed legislation that officially made SAC a state institution and a part of the Texas State University System.
Expansion and Development in the 1970s and 1980s
The ASU campus experienced significant growth during the 1970s with the influx of Baby Boomers. Intercollegiate athletics for women were introduced in 1975.
Robert G. Carr, a long-time supporter of ASU, established a foundation upon his death in 1978. The foundation was funded by his mineral and royalty interests from oil-producing properties in 16 West Texas counties. His wife, Nona Carr, added her interest in those properties to the foundation upon her death nine years later. The Robert G. and Nona K. Carr Foundation, established to provide scholarships for "needy and worthy" students, has had a profound impact on Angelo State. The first scholarships were awarded in 1981.
Continued Progress in the Late 20th and Early 21st Centuries
U.S. News and World Report recognized Angelo State as one of the nation’s up-and-coming universities. The period between 1996 and 2006 saw ASU's second-largest building boom, resulting in one of the most modern campuses in the state.
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In 2007, local residents again demonstrated their support for the institution by petitioning legislators to move Angelo State University from the Texas State University System to the Texas Tech University System. With legislative approval and the governor’s signature, the move became effective on September 1, 2007.
Recent Developments and Achievements
The implosion of University Hall in 2009 marked a significant event in ASU history, paving the way for further campus growth and expansion.
In 2010, the Rambelles track and field team secured ASU’s fourth national title by winning the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championship. Another milestone was reached in 2011 when fall semester enrollment exceeded 7,000 students for the first time.
ASU continued to gain national recognition, being named to the Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges” guide for the fourth consecutive year in 2012. Dr. Brian J. May was appointed as president of Angelo State University that same year.
In 2014, Angelo State University celebrated its 90th anniversary and launched its first capital campaign, raising over $35 million. Growth remained a central theme in 2015, with a new record fall enrollment of 8,156 students. This increase was driven by a new off-site dual credit program, continued growth in graduate students taking online courses, and the launch of the new civil engineering program.
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The Hunter Strain Engineering Labs facility was completed in 2017, and construction of the building for the Archer College of Health and Human Services neared completion in 2018.
In 2019, enrollment surpassed 10,500 for the first time. Ground was broken for the Stephens Chapel and Mayer Museum, adding to the ongoing construction on campus.
Change was a major theme for 2020 as ASU thrived despite closing the campus and finishing the spring semester through virtual classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins Jr. became president of Angelo State following the resignation of Dr. Brian J. May.
ASU’s first official Core Values were adopted in 2021, along with new Mission and Vision statements. A new Bachelor of Commercial Aviation degree was added, as well as ASU’s second doctoral degree, a Psy.D. in counseling psychology. ASU was selected to pilot a community cybersecurity program with UTSA, and the campus was back to full capacity and operations for the start of the fall semester.
ASU was selected to pilot another cybersecurity program in 2022 and soon became the site of the state’s first Regional Security Operations Center. Ground was broken for the Housley Tower and significant renovations began for what is now the Elta Joyce Murphey Auditorium in the Mayer Administration Building. Other new additions included a new Doctor of Social Work degree, the first Latinx Stole Ceremony at commencement, and the Mariachi Los Pastores ensemble.
The new ASU Rodeo Team dominated the headlines in early 2023, along with the addition of the ASU Rodeo Complex at the San Angelo Fairgrounds. The Rams baseball team won its first national championship, the fifth in Angelo State history, and ground was broken for a new Rambelles Soccer Clubhouse. ASU also achieved SACS-COC re-accreditation, added a new Center for Digital Learning and Instruction to better leverage online course offerings, and added a fourth doctoral degree, an Ed.D. in transformative leadership.
Continued growth and expansion was the underlying theme for 2024, but so was loss as ASU completed demolition of the vacant Concho Hall high rise dorm. The campus landscape was also changed forever with the dedication of the Housley Tower and the addition of the Rambelles Soccer Clubhouse at the newly-named LeGrand Soccer Complex, and new Cattle Show Barns were added to the ASU Ranch. Ground was broken for a new Angelo State Golf Complex and short-game course, as well as dual expansions to the ASU Mayer Museum, while improvements continued at the ASU Rodeo Complex at the fairgrounds.
Preserving History and Offering Diverse Programs
ASU is committed to preserving history through its West Texas Collection, which features extensive historical archives. The university also has ongoing projects focused on World War II and the Vietnam War.
The George Wesley Ricks Memorial WWII Oral History Archive preserves the experiences of World War II and Korean War veterans who lived in West Texas. The Greatest Generation Oral History Archive records the stories and archives the documents of civilians who lived through the Great Depression and World War II. The William and Don Griffis Vietnam War Oral History Archive of West Texas focuses on the impact of the Vietnam War on people in West Texas.
ASU offers a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History, a B.A. in History with Secondary Teacher Certification, and a B.A. in History with Secondary Social Studies Teacher Certification. The history degree prepares students for careers as historians, archivists, museum workers, history teachers, lawyers, and for graduate school.
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