The Victoria College, 1925-2000: A Tradition of Excellence

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Donnell Cole (right), math instructor.
thought of the critics’ opinions. As most of the
faculty and administration expected, the
Southern Association of Colleges reaccredited
the college with a few recommendations.
Off and on, from the time Victoria College
was established, there were community discussions
over the two-year institution becoming a
four-year college. Moore and other college
authorities, whenever they were brought into
the conversations, steadfastly maintained that
the sole aim of Victoria College was to become a
first-class junior college and “serve the needs of
the community.” The president predicted in the
mid-1960s that the college might add junior
and senior years sometime in the 1980s when
the population grew enough to warrant a senior
institution. Considering such a possibility, the
1967 college master plan was prepared in such
a way that it was “adaptable enough to take care
of even greater growth that would result if a senior
college program were required.” 64
Although the board and Moore were not
attracted to the idea of the college becoming a
four-year institution, they supported civic leaders
in the Coastal Bend region who were seriously
inclined to pursue the creation of a senior
college in Victoria, the hub of the area.
Standing in the way of the proponents was the
Coordinating Board’s opposition to the formation
of a new senior college. The state agency
maintained that Texas currently had enough
four-year institutions, but if one were to be
approved, it would be located in San Antonio, a
major city without a state-supported college. 65
Optimistic that the state legislature would be
receptive to their solicitation for a senior college,
the Victoria Chamber of Commerce influenced
the district’s state representative, Richard
H. “Dick” Cory, to introduce legislation in 1969
establishing Victoria State University. Morris
Shattuck, president of the local chamber and a
board member, felt positive about the bill and
stated that he had not encountered any opposition.
Winston Zirjacks, president of the board
and a bank executive, remarked that a university
would significantly boost the Victoria economy.
After the Victoria College trustees endorsed
the proposal, Moore asked the faculty to discuss
the matter with the public and stress that the
establishment of the university was ten or fifteen
years in the future because of the opposition
from the Coordinating Board. 66
Determined to change the position of the
higher education supervisory body and to
secure a favorable vote in the legislature, the
Victoria Chamber of Commerce composed a
report outlining the need for Victoria State
University and gathered testimonials from city
and school officials, business executives, farm
organizations, and spokesmen from professional
130 ✦ THE VICTORIA COLLEGE, 1925-2000