Centennial Kick off at Texas A&M University Kingville
Texas A&M University Kingsville
KINGSVILLE, TEXAS (News Release) — Step back almost 100 years. The main building of the South Texas State Teachers College is about to be the site of one of the most well-known photographs in the history of Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) and the region. On March 21, 1925, nearly 10,000 South Texans turned out for the official laying of the cornerstone for the building that is now known as J.R. Manning Hall.
To honor that famous photo and as a kickoff of the Centennial Year at Texas A&M-Kingsville, the public is invited to Manning Hall, 910 W. Santa Gertrudis, to help recreate that photograph. The event will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 27. This new photograph will help honor the past and celebrate the future of TAMUK.
According to the book Texas A&M University-Kingsville by Cecelia Aros Hunter and Leslie Gene Hunter, both retired employees of the university, the Board of Directors of Normal Schools approved the construction contract in August 1924 and awarded that contact to J.N. Jones Construction Company of San Antonio.
Several hundred Kingsville citizens were present for the groundbreaking ceremony Monday, Sept. 15, 1924, when Robert J. Kleberg, assisted by Robert J. Eckhardt of the Board of Regents of State Teachers Colleges, turned the first shovelful of earth, according to the book. There was concern the building would not be completed in time for the opening of the summer session on June 8, 1925.
In addition to thousands of people, then Texas Governor Miriam A. Ferguson attended the dedication of the cornerstone. According to the book, the dedication ceremony was originally scheduled for the last week in December, but it was postponed due to bad weather.
According to the Hunters in their book, barbecue was served to about 7,000 people within an hour and Magnolia Coffee Company of Houston sent employees who served 300 gallons of Wamba coffee.
The keynote speaker, Kingsville Attorney Claude Pollard, spoke for an hour about the history of religion.
Despite the worries over completing the construction on time, the board accepted the building May 26, 1925, and classes started as planned at 8 a.m. Tuesday, June 8, 1925.
