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

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Victoria College began teaching
classes at Warm Springs in
September 1973.
received numerous calls from prospective students
inquiring as to when the classes would
begin and what courses would be offered. 72
Dr. Reginald Traylor, who served as chairman
of the University of Houston’s Math
Department, was named as director of the
University of Houston Victoria Center. The
director, from his office in the Victoria College
Administration Building, proceeded to prepare
for the offering of course work in January
1973. Initially, the center, which rented classroom
and office space from the college, intended
to schedule four courses the first semester
and a full complement in the fall of 1973.
Enrollment and demand for classes, however,
were greater than projected. Consequently,
twelve courses were offered to accommodate
105 students, most of whom were taking
education courses. 73
In the meantime, the college proposed a
building program to satisfy the projected needs
for both institutions. Accordingly, the board
called for a $2,750,000 bond election to be
held on October 14. The funds were to be used
to construct a library building, an office and
classroom complex for the center, an additional
gymnasium, an allied health structure, and
more covered walkways. A portion of the
money was to be used to convert the existing
library into a college administration building.
Since the bond issue would not be sufficient to
pay for the entire proposal, $100,000 was to be
used from the college operational budget.
Matthews and Associates of Bryan were
employed as the architects. Don Krueger
Construction Company of Victoria won the bid
to become the general contractor. 74
Soon after the bond issue was accepted by
the county voters, the original gymnasium blueprint
was altered so a three-story library building
could be constructed that would meet
the projected book space requirements for the
University of Houston Victoria Center. The most
important changes in the gym were the elimination
of bleachers and the reduction in size of the
basketball courts. Initially, Moore anticipated
leaving the third floor of the library vacant, but
even before the structure was completed, it was
apparent to the president the entire building
was going to be occupied to satisfy the unexpected
demand for space. 75
Meanwhile, in the fall of 1972, Victoria
College speech and drama students competed
in the Southwest Texas State University Speech
Festival and placed fifth in a field of 35 colleges
and universities from Texas, Arkansas, and
Louisiana. Local participants receiving superior
ratings at the festival were Georganne Joseph,
original poetry; Cynthia Woehl, dramatic
literature; and a nine member cast of the Reader’s
Theatre for their presentation of “Prophets
Write on Subway Walls.” 76 Included in the
entourage from the college was the Black Readers
Theatre which was founded the previous year.
134 ✦ THE VICTORIA COLLEGE, 1925-2000