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

The group offered a program in which members
Rufus Diggs, Wilfred Burns, Shelly Green, DeTar
Drinkard, Virlece Ellison, and Vicky Lott performed
songs and read poetry and prose written
by blacks. 77
For the first time in its history, the college in
early 1973 sought a federal grant to assist in the
construction of the new library building.
Traditionally, college officials were opposed to
federal assistance on the grounds that the funds
came strapped with burdensome regulations.
But ultimately the lure of lower local taxes
brought a change of heart. 78
In February 1973, the Gonzales Warm
Springs Foundation sent a letter of inquiry to
seven South Texas junior colleges to ascertain
their interest in providing academic instruction
at their facility for the severely handicapped.
Victoria College’s response was immediate and
the only one that demonstrated an enthusiastic
willingness to establish a program. The offering
of course work by the college, however, was
subject to the approval of the Coordinating
Board. On March 26, the state supervisory
agency gave its consent, and soon afterwards an
agreement was negotiated between the college
and the Warm Springs Foundation. The intent
of the project was to “provide students with
saleable skills for self-employment or employment
in the business community” and offer
“transferable credits for continued study at
other colleges and universities.” Jerry Zavesky, a
graduate of Southwest Texas State University
and a resident of San Marcos, was employed by
the college as the instructor and chairman of
the program. Classes began on September 14,
1973, with 19 students. 79
Dr. George Taulbee, who taught courses at
Warm Springs after Zavesky moved to the
main campus in Victoria, attempted “to make
the experience of going to school here as
comparable as possible to what the student
would experience if he or she were attending
a four-year university.” He tried “to maintain
the quality of grading as well as work study
that a university would have to prepare the
students for their future studies.” Taulbee
was impressed with the students, considering
them to be “extremely courageous and
motivated individuals.” 80
✯
Jerry Zavesky was the instructor and
chairman of the college program at
Warm Springs.
Turmoil and Consistency ✦ 135