Celebration of Sam Houston State University's 125th anniversary begins this Friday with a series of activities and events prominently featuring the university's most famous alum, Dan Rather.
"The 125th anniversary is so very important to the university," said University President James Gaertner. "It is a very big event. 125 years of education in Texas is a milestone for the university, and we wanted to make sure that we honored that milestone in the right way."
Friday's scheduled activities include a student lecture given by Rather at 11 a.m. in the Beto Criminal Justice Killinger Auditorium to be followed by a meeting with communications student leaders in the Rather Communications Building at 3 p.m. Rather will then be the keynote speaker at the president's dinner and concert to be held at 7 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom. The invitation-only event will feature music from the String Quartet, Jazz Combo, Jazz Ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra & Chorus. The Symphony Orchestra & Chorus will perform selections from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Admission for the event is $125 per couple, $75 per person and tables of eight can be reserved for $500. Guests should dressed in evening business attire. Gaertner expressed his eager anticipation of Rather's return to the university.
"We are very, very fortunate to have Dan Rather giving of his personal time to come to (the university)," he said. "It's been a while since he was here last, so he's definitely going to see quite a few changes around the campus." Rather last visited SHSU in 1994 when the communications building was dedicated to him.
The president's golf tournament will be held on Saturday at Raven Nest golf course with registration for the four-player scramble ($125 per player, limit 144 players) beginning at 7:30 a.m.
On Tuesday, April 20, the President's Speaker Series continues, this time featuring James Haley, author of the acclaimed biography "Sam Houston." Haley's lecture on "Educating Sam: Book Larnin' and Real Life" will begin at 11 a.m. in the Killinger Auditorium and is to be followed by a book signing. Gaertner expressed his excitement regarding Haley's lecture due to his vast knowledge of General Sam Houston.
"A lot of people don't appreciate or understand the man who this university is named after, Sam Houston, who is just a tremendous historical figure, and James Haley is really going to make this a special event," he said.
The final two events include a commemorative signing ceremony on Wednesday, April 21 and the inaugural official university ring ceremony on the following Thursday.
Governor Rick Perry will be visiting the campus for the commemorative signing which marks the date that Governor Oran M. Roberts signed the legislation that established Sam Houston Normal Institute in 1879.
A reception following the signing will be held in the quadrangle behind Austin Hall. The ring ceremony is being held for recipients of the first official university rings at 6 p.m. at Austin Hall. For more information regarding any of these events, contact the Office of the President at 294-3415.
Gaertner also commented on the direction of the university after 125 years of progress.
"Every administration builds on the past, and the past administrators and leaders have left the school in wonderful shape. And now it is our responsibility to do the same for the people that follow us, to build on what other people have," he said.
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