Entering it's golden years: SPC turns 50

by Courtney Bullard, co-news editor

                                                                

What was once a cornfield now harvests skilled minds of South Plains College students who come here to turn their dreams into realities. 

SPC was a community effort, first thought of by O.W Marcom who at the time was the superintendent of Levelland public schools. Marcom found a need for an alternative to Texas Tech University after becoming aware of the crowded classes and the lack of technical courses.  He then brought his idea to T.O. Petty, the Hockley County Superintendent.  With the help of other community leaders, they filed an application with the State Board of Education to create a community college.  The petition was initially denied, so the committee tried again and was successful five years later when the board approved it in February of 1957.

They quickly began working on the college. Dr. Thomas Spencer and his family were brought in from Brenham, Texas, where he was serving as the president of Blinn Community College. Soon after his move, he began promoting the college. 

The official ground-breaking ceremony was held on Dec. 23, 1957. The college bought the labor of land (a Spanish land grant term, meaning close to 177 acres) for $116,267.38, from the family of C.W Post, the ranching entrepreneur. There were originally five buildings, including the Administration Building, a Gymnasium-Student Union Building, and an Auditorium.

On Sept. 15, 1958, the college opened its doors, welcoming a total of 576 enrolling students. It was the largest enrollment of a new junior college to date.

“We felt like we were pioneering a new thing,” said Sycily Lattimore, who was one of the first instructors in the Business Department.

During Spencer’s time as president, the college grew rapidly. The entire faculty came together and did more than their share.

“The math teacher did more than teach math,” said Earl Gerstenberger, who was among the first faculty members hired by Spencer.  “English teacher did more than teach English. Everyone had multiple jobs.”

Gerstenberger, who later would become vice president before retiring, also served as the groundskeeper, turning SPC into somewhat of an oasis compared to the dusty West Texas land. 

There was once a school bus system to pick up students in neighboring communities, which ended when more students began to live on campus in the new Frazier, Stroud, and North Sue Spencer dormitories.  The North and South Sue Spencer dormitories were named to honor President Tom Spencer’s daughter, who died tragically weeks before the college opened.

Spencer went on to serve as president of the Texas Public Community/Junior College Association for 35 years before his death in 1985.

Dr. Marvin Baker became the youngest community college president in the state in 1961 at the age of 36. Under his leadership, the college grew to include 6,000 students and new programs were added, including the world’s first course in bluegrass music. The course was the idea of the college’s first registrar Nathan Tubb, who was bestowed with an honorary degree last May.

Tubb tried to start a small guitar class for students who were interested in country music. The class attracted 75 students, and the Country and Bluegrass program was born. It continues to attract students from all around the world.

Sports programs such as track and basketball grew, but other programs such as tennis, women’s volleyball, women’s gymnastics and baseball were dropped after financial cutbacks.

Under Baker’s presidency, technology programs were added. The Technical Division opened with 12 classes in 1967. This is when the Technical Arts Building, which cost $1.75 million, was constructed.

Baker expanded the college beyond Levelland with a small extension center in downtown Lubbock. He also was instrumental in the partnership with Reese Air Force Base. After it shut down in 1997, SPC gained the land, and many classes are held there today.  The downtown campus closed in 2001, but the college still retains Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center, a partnership with the Lubbock Independent School District.

In 1994, Baker turned the reins over to Dr. Gary D. McDaniel, who became the college’s president after having served as vice president.  He added on to the college as well during his tenure, which included construction of the Texan Dome extension, the renovation of the Reese campus, and the renovation of the old women’s gym into the Technology Center.

Now under the direction of  current president Dr. Kelvin Sharp, renovations have been made on the Fine Arts Building and the Plainview campus was created. And the campus continues to grow with the new Muleshoe campus.

“I’ve seen buildings change and different types of students, it’s been an exciting time,” said Dane Dewbre current associate dean for college relations, former SPC student, and employee for the past 11 years.

Although the campus continues to change and grow, one thing will always stay the same, the dedication to its students.

“I’m certainly proud of SPC and her students,” said Mrs. Lattimore.

Grestenberger shares her pride.

“I’m just so proud and I feel extremely honored to have worked at this institution at the beginning. It was 33 years at my dream job, and I always looked forward to going to work.”