 Grayson
County College was established in 1958 to provide the training and
skills necessary for expanding industries and businesses throughout
Grayson County, Texas. W. E. Winter organized and headed the
steering committee which promoted the organization of the two-year
community college. With the approval of the Texas Education Agency, an
election was called and voters approved the college district. Members of the original board of trustees were W. E. Winter, Stanley Ward, Charles Spears, O. T. Atkinson, W. E. Wilcox, Tom Sears, Robert E. B. Fielder. The board selected Dr. Cruce Stark, former president of Kilgore College as Grayson County College's first president in 1964. One hundred and thirty-four acres of land had been purchased for the college site. The college doors opened in the fall of 1965 with an enrollment of 750 students. Over 1,400 students signed up for credit and non-credit courses in day and evening classes. The main campus consisted of eight buildings. At the closing of Perrin Air Force Base in 1971, Grayson County College acquired Perrin's 325 acres and approximately twenty buildings which became the college's West Campus. The buildings included dormitories, gymnasium, swimming pool, nine-hole golf course and the Silver Wings Building which was used for classrooms and for a meeting place for civic and community functions. Dr. Stark retired in 1972. Dr. Truman Wester of Marietta, Oklahoma was the second president. He had come to Grayson County College in 1967 as vice-president and college dean. His previous experience was at Central State College in Edmond, Oklahoma, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma Baptist University. A new Technical-Occupations Building was constructed in 1973. In 1974, Grayson County College began development of the Munson Memorial Vineyard on the West Campus. The vineyard was named in honor of the late Thomas Volney Munson, noted viticulturist credited with saving the French grape industry with his grafting process. In 1975, the Fine Arts Division added piano tuning and repair courses. This addition brought state and national recognition drawing students from throughout the United States and foreign countries. A Senior Avocational-Vocational Education (SAVE) program for area retirees began in the fall of 1974. Under the direction of Dr. A. E. Shearer, former president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, it offered free non-credit work and activities for retired persons. In May 1976, the Grayson County College was given high praise from the U.S. Department of Defense for utilizing the former Air Force Base as an educational facility. Courses range from academic subjects which will transfer to a four-year college or university to a number of technical-occupational programs. The college has varsity teams in men's and women's basketball and tennis and in men's golf. Grayson College Main Campus 6101 Grayson Drive (Hwy691) Denison, Texas Grayson College South Campus 1455 West Van Alstyne Parkway Van Alstyne, Texas Grayson College West Extension Grayson County Airport Hwy 691 Denison, Texas by Jessica Russell  Grayson County College History SCHOOLS Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |