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

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Luther Troell (left) and Dr. Rex
Whiteside await the results of another
University Interscholastic League
track and field event.
never high enough to create enthusiasm for it;
declined to spend $52,000 for desired computer
drafting equipment; and asked the instructors to
reduce the amount of Xeroxed material they were
distributing to the students. As an added step to
better the college finances, tuition was raised two
dollars per credit hour in 1985. Even though the
economic circumstances were bleak, Bing still
managed to secure moderate salary raises for the
faculty and staff. 75
For the audience in the Fine Arts Auditorium,
the Lyceum program on the evening of October
22, 1985, was something for them to remember.
As the speakers Rowland Evans and Robert
Novak, Jr., syndicated columnists, were concluding
their presentations on national and international
issues, they were interrupted by the
Lyceum Committee chairman, Charles Spurlin,
who announced that word had been received
that a bomb was planted in the building. The
lecturers were extremely reluctant to end the
program. They were convinced there was no
explosive device and did not wish to give in to a
terrorist. Nevertheless, at the insistence of college
officials, Evans and Novak left the stage, and
the auditorium was quickly vacated in an orderly
fashion. Local law enforcement officers made
a thorough search of the premises but did not
find a bomb. 76
This was the first time the college encountered
a bomb threat. It was not, however, the last. In
the fall of 1995, classes were temporarily dismissed
on a couple of occasions because of
anonymous telephone callers uttering that explosives
were hidden in campus buildings. In none
of the occurrences was such a device uncovered.
The threats did, however, lead to the college
developing a bomb evacuation and search policy.
In the 1985-1986 school year, Victoria
College received some very good news. First,
results of a pre-professional skills test that was
taken by students in the state’s colleges and universities
were released in November 1985. When
he announced the results of the Victoria College
students, Dean Rex Whiteside said, “It shows
that our students were adequately prepared for
the test and the first two years of college.” How
correct he was. Victoria College’s pass rate of
77.3 percent surpassed the state average of 57
percent, placing the local school eighth overall in
Texas and first among the community colleges. A
good showing for the local students, indeed.
Additionally, the Victoria College campus at the
Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital of
Gonzales was lauded for its exemplary program
by the Regional Rehabilitation Exchange, a federally
funded project based at the Southwest
Educational Development Laboratory at Austin.
The RRE examined 52 rehabilitation programs
and selected the Warm Springs campus as one
of the seven best for the disabled in the United
States. The college was applauded for “providing
a high quality of service related to the delivery
of support services to disabled students in a
college environment.” 77
After 30 of dedicated service as a board
member, Leo Welder resigned on November 18,
1985. His announcement coincided with the
installation of Ron B. Walker as a trustee. Welder
remarked, “You have one young man now.
Perhaps you can get another young man or
woman to serve on the board.” His replacement,
co-owner of the Victoria Advocate, Catherine
McHaney, was a distinguished, well-qualified
168 ✦ THE VICTORIA COLLEGE, 1925-2000