History

SUMMER 2008
The fourth president of Midland College, Steve Thomas, Ph.D., is no stranger to West Texas or to the college. He was born in McCamey in Upton County, moved to Crane when he was two and moved to Midland when he was an eighth grader. Thomas was a student at Lee High School before going to Texas State University, where he earned a BA in sociology and psychology. Thomas married Vicki, a native Odessan, in April 1979. Thomas went to The University of Texas of the Permian Basin to get his master's degree in counseling. He began his first stint at MC as an adjunct instructor at night, while still working as a licensed marriage counselor. He eventually joined the faculty at MC full-time in 1979. On the advice of Jess Parrish, MC president at the time, and Raymond Yell, an MC administrator, Thomas took a sabbatical in 1984 and then a year's leave of absence to work on his doctorate in education administration at The University of Texas in Austin. He then came back to MC in 1986. Thomas moved to Lexington, Kentucky with his wife and young daughter, Lindsay, to become dean of academic affairs at Lexington Community College. He also served as a dean at Victoria College in Victoria, Texas, for nine years. In 2000, he became the president of Vernon College, a position he held for the eight years prior to coming back to MC.

AUGUST 2008
The F. Marie Hall Academic Building (MHAB) was officially dedicated on August 27, 2008. Visitors to the F. Marie Hall Academic Building are welcomed by the two-story Amistad Atrium, which was named by Hall, who said she values friendship and community. The area was designed as a gathering space for people to use before and after events in the 102-seat lecture hall that is situated just off the atrium.

FALL 2008
In its first renovation since it was built in 1975, more than 2,600 square feet was added to the Murray Fasken Learning Resource Center (LRC). The renovation is part of the larger 2005 bond issue. The LRC has also expanded virtually through its collection of e-books through the Tex Share program and Amigos, which is the southwestern division affiliated with the OCLC (Online Computer Library Center). Two additional display cases for DVDs have been added that include 300 feature films in the LRC collection.

FEBRUARY 2009
For the first time, the Midland College women's and men's basketball teams won their conference championships in the same year.

April 2009
Children recited The Pledge of Allegiance and then sang to the crowd under the portico of the new Helen L. Greathouse Children's Center (HLGCC) during the open house on April 8, 2009. The new center, located on the southeast side of campus near the Physical Education Building, was made possible by Greathouse's earlier endowment to Midland College and by contributions from the 2005 $41.8 million bond issue. The previous Greathouse building was equipped to handle up to 52 children, and the new 108,938 square-foot facility is set to handle up to 128 children on a weekly basis.

FALL 2009
Early College High School @ MC (ECHS@MC) debuted with 125 high school freshman students. The ECHS@MC program is geared toward first-generation college students, economically disadvantaged and minority students. ECHS gives students the opportunity to earn their high school diplomas as well as associate degrees from MC. Donations made to the MC Foundation enable students to receive free college tuition and books.

Fox II Science Building opened for classes.

OCTOBER 2009
A $3 million renovation project on the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center was completed after 16 months of construction. The renovations consisted of installing an elevator, remodeling the locker rooms, remodeling all the restrooms and re-doing the "green room." Funds to remodel the green room were provided by Peggy & Bob Cowan. The Peggy & Bob Cowan Green Room includes a large watercolor painting designed by MC Art Professor Warren Taylor and painted by MC art students.

DECEMBER 2009
Long-time MC golf coach Delnor Poss was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Hall of Fame. Poss was one of seven coaches from across the nation to be inducted.

SPRING 2010
The Dorothy & Clarence Scharbauer, Jr. Student Center, which underwent renovations for 18 months, reopened and now offers 53,700 square feet of new amenities for students, which include a new testing center, newly renovated registration and cashier's offices, counselor's offices, mail room, a new snack bar and an Internet cafe.

MARCH 2010
The Phyllis & Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series celebrates its 10th anniversary with the return of Marvin Hamlisch, who was the first entertainer for the series. He performed on a Steinway D Concert Grand Piano that was donated to MC by F. Marie Hall.

FALL 2010
MC mourned the loss of its first president, Al G. Langford. Langford, who died on September 10, 2010 at the age of 83.

On September 30, Midland College became the fourth community college in the nation to hold the title of an "All-Steinway School of Music." A grant for $500,000 from the Bryce and Isabel Rea Trust allowed MC to purchase nine Steinway pianos. The Rea Trust also provided for the establishment of the Bryce and Isabel McClintic Rea Center for Music Technology and Creativity located in the Allison Fine Arts Building.

Thanks to a generous donation from Virginia Hanley and her late husband Alvin "Doc" Hanley, MC's was able to upgrade its printmaking studio and equip with state-of-the-art technology.

OCTOBER 2011
The Lady Chaps Volleyball Team won the conference title. The win solidified the Lady Chaps second consecutive WJCAC title.

Will Morris, Ph.D., dean of social and behavioral sciences at MC, was named the Henry Chair of History. The endowed chair was established with a $500,000 gift from Paula & Jim Henry. The gift also allows MC to administer the annual West Texas Symposium of History and publish the West Texas Journal of History.

FEBRUARY 2011
After more than four years of planning and building, the new MC softball field opened on February 16.

Spring 2011
In one of the all-time shows of consistency, the MC golf team qualified for the NJCAA Men's Division I Golf Championships for the 24th consecutive year.

MAY 2012
The newly renovated F. Marie Hall SimLife Center was dedicated. The center has state-of-the-art programming and simulation equipment. The center is named in recognition of MC benefactor F. Marie Hall (seen standing in center of picture at right). 

The SimLife Center is equipped with the Laerdal Company's SimMan and SimBaby manikins, Baumard Noell birthing simulator, recording devices and healthcare equipment. The SimLife Center partners with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Midland Memorial Hospital to train a variety of students and healthcare professionals. Seen here are the first SimLife Center Director Lea Keesee (left) and first SimLife Center Manager Cindy Madewell (right). 

FALL 2012
The men's residence hall was rededicated as the David E. Daniel Hall in honor of MC's third president Dr. David Daniel.

The college began its year-long 40th anniversary celebration with a concert by Lyle Lovett and his Large Band as the fall 2012 installment of the Phyllis & Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series.

MAY 2013
During MC's 40th commencement ceremony, students in the first graduating class of ECHS@MC received associate degrees. Then, a week later, those 17- and 18-year-old college graduates received high school diplomas when ECHS@MC observed its first high school graduation ceremony at the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center on the MC campus.

SUMMER 2013
An anonymous gift provides the building of a dedicated building for the MC Firefighter Academy at the Harris Field Fire Training Facility owned by the Midland Fire Department and located on Farm-to-Market Road 307. The 2,400 square-foot facility includes a 25-seat classroom, two engine bays, men's and women's locker rooms, a kitchen and offices.

July 2014
In an effort to be environmentally conscious, MC begins pumping approximately 150,000 to 200,000 gallons of reclaimed (non-potable) water per day for irrigation purposes on its 220+ acres. The water is delivered from the City of Midland's new reclamation plant in Windlands Park.

February 2015
MC's 2nd President Dr. Jess Parrish passes away at his home in Midland on February 6, 2015.

August 2015
MC serves as a state leader in developing new math curriculum for community colleges. MC is one of nine partner community colleges in a project coordinated through The Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas to design a systemic approach to improving student success and completion in developmental math courses. MC's cutting-edge curriculum laid the foundation for statewide implementation of the curriculum at other Texas community colleges. The Mathways Project garnered "Exemplary" awards from the Texas Success Center Math Pathways Project in 2015 and again in 2016.

October 1, 2015
Thanks to an anonymous gift, MC hosts a special outdoor concert entitled "Jazz Under the Stars" featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (pictured at left). 

October 2015
MC partners with Midland Memorial Hospital and the University of North Texas Health Science Center to establish an innovative accelerated education and training partnership entitled Primary Care Pathway. The program is designed to enable West Texas residents to earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree (DO) in just seven years. The first cohort of 14 students began taking classes at Midland College in August 2016.

December 2015
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved MC to offer a new baccalaureate degree -- a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in Health Services Management. The new degree is designed to meet the growing need for managers in large and small healthcare organizations. Students are able to choose form three tracks: Healthcare Administration, Health Informatics and Health Information Management. 

January 2016
Paul L. Morris is appointed to MC Board of Trustees to fill the unexpired term of Neil Florer who passed away in August 2015. Midland County Judge Mike Bradford administered the oath of office to Mr. Morris (pictured at right) during the regular monthly MC Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, January 19, in the Gibson Board Room of the Pevehouse Administration Building on the MC main campus.

July 2016
MC is among 12 community colleges chosen for the Texas Pathways Project, a project focusing on student success. In November 2016, MC was named a "Cadre 1" community college to lead the integrated statewide approach to student success. 

September 2016
MC's branch campus, the Williams Regional Technical Training Center located in Fort Stockton, holds its 20th anniversary celebration. The celebration includes several events on September 16 and 17, 2016 to celebrate the successful educational partnership between MC and Pecos County. Pictured at left are MC Executive Vice President Dr. Richard Jolly (standing) with WRTTC staff.

October 2016
MC's dual enrollment programs at Midland High School, Lee High School and Fort Stockton High School receive high ratings by Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges. A peer committee review held on Wednesday through Friday, September 28-30, 2016, found no inadequacies at all in MC's dual enrollment programs. The Committee Chair Dr. Kurt Ewen of Valencia College stated that it is very rare for dual enrollment programs to receive such a high rating and commended faculty, staff and students.

AUGUST 2017
Thanks to very generous donors throughout the years, more than $1 million from donor-directed scholarships is now awarded each year to Midland College students. One of the larger scholarships is the Marian and Jan K. Jones Endowed Scholarship. Upon the death of Robert Jones in April 2007, distributions from the J. Robert Jones Charitable Trust were directed to the scholarship. Then, on August 15, 2017 Midland College was awarded the final distribution from the Jones Charitable Trust, over $6 million--the largest single gift ever awarded to Midland College.

FALL 2017
The success of Early College High School at Midland College prompted Midland College to form other successful partnerships with the Midland Independent School District. In the fall of 2017, the two entities formed an innovative, dynamic partnership for dual credit career & technology courses. The new partnership called College & Career Academies is designed for training and educational programs that benefit the Midland economy by providing a skilled workforce. Thanks to funding from the Midland Development Corporation and Abell-Hanger Foundation, the program allows high school students the opportunity to pursue career pathways and earn college credit in energy-related careers, health sciences and business, management & information technology. 

Midland College partnered with Midland Memorial Hospital, the University of North Texas and Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine to establish a fast-track to medical school program. Students in this program are able to enter medical school in three years and will help to fill the need for qualified medical doctors in Midland and rural West Texas.

FEBRUARY 2019
Midland College partnered with Concho Resources and Texas A&M University to form the Concho-Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Midland College. Students interested in pursuing engineering careers are able enroll simultaneously at both Midland College and Texas A&M for the first year or two of their higher education journey and take all classes on the Midland College campus before transferring to Texas A&M in College Station. This opportunity allows students and their families to take advantage of Midland College's lower tuition rates and numerous donor-directed scholarships.

Thanks to donations from Concho Resources, the Technology Center on the main campus is being renovated to house a hands-on engineering lab, and a donation from the Henry Foundation helped to renovate space on the 2nd floor of the Fasken Learning Resource Center into the state-of-the-art Jim and Paula Henry Innovations Center.

FALL 2019
Midland College established a pre-kindergarten academy in partnership with the Midland Independent School District and the Midland Development Corporation. This program helps to fulfill two immediate needs for the Midland community -- quality early childhood education and a hands-on lab for students who want to become early childhood teachers.

Employees of Henry Resources and The Henry Foundation donate over $2 million to Midland College to establish the Henry Chair of Engineering.

MARCH 2020
In spring 2020, MC President Dr. Steve Thomas led the college in what has perhaps been its most challenging mission — that of maintaining operations and not interrupting instruction during the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Within two weeks of the nationwide shutdown, Midland College transformed all of its courses to online and virtual formats. The college remained in operation and in fall 2021, enrollment increased to pre-COVID levels.

AUGUST 2020
After almost two years under construction, on Monday, August 24, 2020, Midland College officially opened the new June and Frank Cowden, Jr. Dining Hall. Students, employees and visitors are now able to enjoy campus dining in the 18,600 square-foot addition to the Scharbauer Student Center. 

"Not only does the June and Frank Cowden, Jr. Dining Hall accommodate a larger group of people, but also offers easy access for employees and students," MC President Dr. Steve Thomas said. "The dining hall is centrally located on the campus and an easy walk from classroom buildings and employee offices."

The new dining hall accommodates 480 people and a commercial kitchen to support daily dining and campus catering. Outdoor dining on the Beal Patio allows views to Beal Plaza and the main campus quadrangle.

The Rotary Community Room accommodates approximately 90 people and is available for use by local Rotary clubs and other community organizations. On November 5, 2020, local Rotary clubs along with Dr. Bonnie Pendleton, District Governor for Rotary, officially dedicated the new Rotary Community Room.

"It is a beautiful addition to our campus, and we are proud to have a building that bears the name of one of Midland's pioneering families," Thomas said. "Many thanks to June Cowden, her family and all the other generous donors who helped to make this possible."

FALL 2020 - FALL 2022
The college renovated several instructional spaces, which included converting several traditional classrooms in various buildings into “active learning” spaces that implement current technology and enhance teaching and learning. The Fasken Learning Resource Center (library) was transformed into a student-centered hub for research, study and lecture events.

In addition, the college performed major repairs and renovations. These included adding additional parking space for the Scharbauer Student Center, paving and resurfacing roads and existing parking lots, replacing all building roofs on the main campus, upgrading environmental control equipment and replacing air handlers, upgrading the information technology network to increase network speed and provide better WiFi presence, repairing and upgrading irrigation systems, repairing and renovating plumbing systems, remodeling the College’s greenhouse to support bulk purchasing of plant material, implementing a system for continuous replenishment of landscape top dressing and executing a robust preventative maintenance plan for mechanical and electrical systems.

Summer 2023

Dr. Steve Thomas ends a successful 15-year tenure as the fourth Midland College President. A retirement celebration was held for him on August 3, 2023 in the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center.

AUGUST 1991
Dr. David E. Daniel was hired as Midland College's third president. Daniel was executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission of Community Colleges when he accepted the Midland position. He had previously served for 12 years as the president of Wilkes Community College in North Carolina. He also served a term as chairman of the American Association of Community Colleges and was in that position when selected as MC's third president.

1992
MC established the Chaparral Circle Endowment Fund as an alternative revenue stream with a five-year goal of $5.75 million.

FEBRUARY 1993
Abell-Hanger Foundation, at the suggestion of Midland College President Dr. David Daniel, announced that beginning with the fall semester, scholarship recipients would be required to do community service hours as part of the requirements to receive the Abell-Hanger scholarship.

JANUARY 1994
Cogdell South Facility opens. The building and land were donated by long-time Midland business owner Bill Pace Cogdell. In 2004, it was renamed the Cogdell Learning Center.

Spring 1994
Several large contributions were made to the Chaparral Circle Endowment Fund (CCEF), and campus buildings were rededicated to honor the donors.

The Student Center was rededicated as the Clarence W. and Dorothy Scharbauer, Jr. Student Center.

The Children's Center was rededicatied as the Helen L. Greathouse Children's Center.

The Health Sciences Center was rededicated as the Davidson Family Health Sciences Building.

The Administration Building was renamed and dedicated as the Pevehouse Administration Building in honor of Beverly and Joe Pevehouse.

MAY 1996
With a $350,000 donation, the Chaparral Circle Endowment Fund reached and exceeded the $5.75 million goal one and one-half years ahead of schedule. Fund stood at $6.1 million.

1996
More than $770,000 was raised to fund a technical training center in Fort Stockton, Pecos County, Texas.

MARCH 6, 1997
The Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series was inaugurated when biographer, historian, lecturer, and teacher David McCullough spoke at Chaparral Center.

APRIL 1997
Abell-Hanger Foundation and Midland College announce a new, innovative program called Students in Philanthropy. Twenty-five students will be chosen annually to participate in both the fund-raising and grant-making process of philanthropy.

AUGUST 1997
A joint program between Midland College and Texas Tech University, the physician's assistant program, was presented to the community.

Midlanders Dorothy and Todd Aaron donated $1 million in a challenge grant to fund the building of a new medical science building to house the new physician's assistant program.

FALL 1997
Midland College: The First 25 Years, a book authorized by President David E. Daniel and edited by H. A. Tuck, former MC public relations and sports information director, and by Karen S. Lanier, MC graduate and student publications lab instructor, was published.

OCTOBER 1997
As part of the 25th Anniversary Celebration, Midland College honored five men with induction into the new Athletic Hall of Fame. Inducted were Delnor Poss, Daron "Mookie" Blaylock, Andrew Coltart, Jerry Stone and Anthony "Spud" Webb.

May 1, 1998
MC hires its first chief of police in an effort to give the campus better security with the help of two commissioned police officers.

MAY 1998
The 25th annual commencement saw 338 graduates including 44 certificate students walk the stage. This was the first year that certificate students were included in the graduation ceremony.

SEPTEMBER 1998
Ground was broken for the Midland College/Texas Tech University Dorothy and Todd Aaron Medical Sciences Building.

FEBRUARY 1999
MC's women's softball team plays its first game, beating Ranger College 19-1.

SUMMER 1999
New physician's assistant program launches with first students.

Midland College and Midland Independent School District announce plans for an Advanced Technology Center on West Cuthbert that will serve both college and high school students.

SEPTEMBER 1999
O'Shaughnessy Hall opens to house female students on campus. Seen here is construction of the new residence hall.

OCTOBER 1999
College announces the Phyllis & Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series, endowed by Phyllis and Bob Cowan. The series will bring national and international performing arts to the community at no charge. The announcement came just days before Mrs. Cowan passed away.

1999
Fifty-three acres north of the campus were purchased, yielding a campus of 224 acres.

SPRING 2000
For the first time, enrollment exceeds 5,000 students at 5,049.

MC announces that men's baseball will be added. Steve Ramharter is hired as the first coach. Play will begin in the spring of 2001.

FALL 2000
Men's residence hall opens and is full with 96 students.

The Advanced Technology Center opens with 145 high school, 500 college and 150 continuing education students.

Composer and pianist Marvin Hamlisch is the first guest of the Phyllis & Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series.

Child Care program opens at Manor Park primarily to care for children of Manor Park employees. It will serve as a lab for MC child development students.

NOVEMBER 2000
MC receives $1 million donation from Molly Parsley for the naming and construction of a new academic building, Fox Science.

SPRING 2001
Ground breaks for the new Jack E. Brown Dining Hall near the residence halls on the north side of campus.

NOVEMBER 2002
The technical training center in Fort Stockton was enlarged and renamed the Williams Regional Technical Training Center (WRTTC) in honor of Clayton and Chicora Graham Williams.

DECEMBER 2002
The college receives a donation of $1 million from Dollye Neal Ballenger to build and maintain a chapel on campus.

FALL 2003
MC teams with Texas Tech University, Sul Ross State University, University of Texas of the Permian Basin and Lubbock Christian University to allow MC students the opportunity to earn bachelor degrees through distance learning classes.

Campus opens first co-ed residence hall, and it is named Nadine and Tom Craddick Hall.

APRIL 2004
Hall's Way, a bridge across the Scharbauer Draw connecting the campus to the Midland Community Theatre's property, is built and dedicated. The bridge was donated by F. Marie Hall.

College wins approval of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer the Bachelor of Applied Technology degree beginning in Fall 2005. Midland College is approved as one of only three community colleges in Texas to offer a baccalaureate degree. The other two colleges are Brazosport College and South Texas Community College.

SPRING 2005
Cosmetology program begins in renovated area of Technology Center.

MAY 2005
Midlanders overwhelmingly pass the $41.8 million bond for campus improvements. The first and only other bond was passed in February 1976 approving the construction of the Allison Fine Arts Building and the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center.

JUNE 2005
Campus dedicates the new Fox Science Building. Hundreds of students who study science at MC each semester will use state-of-the-art facilities. The new building replaces the college's 30-year-old science laboratories. The primary donor for the building is Molly Parsley, and the building is named for her parents Leona G. and John E. Fox.

FALL 2005
Midland College begins to offer an Associate of Arts degree in teaching.

The Petroleum Professional Development Center in downtown Midland was acquired and renovated.

FEBRUARY 2006
More than 6,000 students enrolled at Midland College, and that number reflects only a fraction of the number of people MC serves in the community. Enrollment numbers for just credit students show the following:

More than 2,000 students are seeking associate degrees

More than 2,000 students are planning to transfer to four-year schools

More than 1,500 students are enrolled in certificate programs in career & technology fields

Sixty-four students have applied to the MC's Bachelor of Applied Technology program

Over 3,500 students enrolled in online courses during the year 2005

Dual enrollment (high school students taking high school and college credit courses at the same time) is 1,041

When Midlander Todd Aaron died in February, he had already planned for his legacy of giving to Midland College to continue, leaving the majority of his estate to the Midland College Foundation. The gift, $3,082,117, went into the Chaparral Circle Endowment Fund (CCEF). It was the largest single gift to the Foundation and made the Aarons the second largest contributor to the Foundation, preceded only by the Abell-Hanger Foundation established by George and Gladys Abell.

MAY 2006
For the third time in 29 years, the Midland College golf team finished their season as the National Junior College Athletic Association champions. The team pulled together after a long and trying season that saw Coach Delnor Poss coach from his hospital bed. Poss, well-known throughout the city of Midland, as well as the country, due to his coaching success, was recognized for the third time as the National Coach of the Year.

OCTOBER 24, 2006
MC breaks ground on the new 79,072-square-foot Academic Building. It will become the largest instructional building on campus. The projected cost of the building is $14,523,000.

SPRING 2007
The 2007 Midland College Chaparral basketball team, coached by Grant McCasland, completed its post-season run going 4-0 in the NJCAA National Basketball Championship. This is the second MC men's basketball national title. It is also the college's 19th national championship in any sport.

APRIL 2007
The Midland College Students in Philanthropy (SIP) hosted their 10th Annual Grant Awards Reception. Since its beginnings in the fall of 1997, a total of 263 Midland College students have participated in the program. In the spring of 2007, SIP received and reviewed 27 grant applications and funded 17 organizations with a total of $20,624.54 in grant awards. Since its inception, the SIP members have reviewed a total of 298 grant applications, resulting in 165 grants funded, for a total of $187,003.74 in monies raised and awarded to area nonprofit agencies.

MAY 2007
MC's 34th annual commencement ceremony is especially significant as the college graduated the first bachelor of applied technology students. In all, more than 500 graduates will cross the stage in the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center. Pictured here are graduates of MC's first Bachelor of Applied Technology class.

FALL 2007
The Pedestrian Mall, the Cogdell Learning Center renovation and expansion and the Maintenance Facility were completed. All of these projects were funded by the $41.8 million campus improvement bond.

JANUARY 2008
David E. Daniel, Midland College president, announced his retirement Daniel, MC's third president, has held the position since 1991 and said that he believes MC is in good shape and is ready for its next leader.

MAY 2008
Midland College hosted its 35th annual commencement ceremony. More than 600 graduates crossed the stage in the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center. Retiring President David E. Daniel conducted his last graduation ceremony.

The Midland College golf team won its second National Junior College Athletic Association championship in three years, and they came from behind to do it! Playing in Huntsville, AL, the team was two shots behind when they started the final round. Englishman David Thomas shot a 1-over-par 73 score, earning him the medalist title. He is the first player from MC to earn that title.

JULY 2008
David Daniel retires after 17 years of service--the longest serving president of MC.

 

SUMMER 1981
Dr. Jess Parrish hired as second president of Midland College. When Parrish joined the college in 1981, it was well on its way to becoming an outstanding institution. Parrish, a native West Texan from Ballinger, had been involved with several national junior college organizations through the years. He was the founding president of Shelby State College in Memphis, Tennessee.

OCTOBER 1981
Associate degree in nursing (ADN) program clears hurdle, receives Texas Education Agency approval.

1982
Trustees finalized plans for a 40-acre athletic dormitory. The building was constructed by Midlanders Bill Williams and John H. Hendri.

SPRING 1982
MC's women's golf team won the National Junior College Athletic Association's championship trophy.

FALL 1982
First ADN student accepted. Classes for the college's associate degree nursing program began in August.

DECEMBER 1983
Financing for construction of health sciences building approved.

APRIL 1984
Board approves creation of new division—Health Sciences Studies Division.

MAY 1984
First 13 graduates of ADN program (seen here with director Dr. Celia Harris) were honored.

SUMMER 1984
The college initiated Kids' College with more than 230 children, ages 9-12.

MARCH 1985
MC began taking applications for its new radiologic technology program.

APRIL 1985
The 22,000-square-foot, $1.7 million Health Sciences Center facility was completed and contained 19 offices, a 100-seat lecture hall, seven classrooms and four laboratories. The complex also housed a child care center and the licensed vocational nursing, associate nursing, respiratory therapy, radiologic technology and child care development programs.

1985
Approximately 183 students participated and graduated during MC's twelfth commencement exercises.

FALL 1986
The Abell-Hanger Foundation of Midland began offering tuition-free scholarships to all graduates of Midland and Greenwood schools.

FALL 1987
MC begins new alcohol and drug abuse counseling program.

AUGUST 1989
Abell-Hanger Foundation donates $300,000 to be used for the education of nurses.

AUGUST 1991
President Jess Parrish retires after 10 years of service to Midland College.

SEPTEMBER 1969
Dr. Al Langford hired as dean of the Midland campus of the Permian Junior College System.

A building on Andrews Highway was rented as college offices.

Midland College offers its first classes held at Robert E. Lee High School in the evenings where 688 students attended mostly evening classes. With each passing semester, attendance grew.

OCTOBER 1972
Texas Legislature allows Midland to withdraw from Permian Junior College District.

DECEMBER 1972
Midland voters approve the withdrawal and agree to be taxed to support the new district.

Midland Independent School District names “board of regents” for Midland College.

Murray Fasken
Robert M. Leibrock
Reagan H. Legg
William H. McCright, Jr.
Gloria Hinojosa
Fred S. Wright, Jr.
Jack Huff
Kenneth A. Peeler

MAY 1973
College leases former Globe Universal Science Inc. headquarters at 4805 Andrews Highway.

OCTOBER 1973
College awards Area Builders the bid for foundations of first four campus buildings.

Administration
Science-Faculty
Occupational Technology
Maintenance

Groundbreaking held at 114-acre site near Garfield and Wadley streets.

MAY 1974
Midland College Foundation Board established.

OCTOBER 1974
Midland College opens first learning resource center (library) in basement of Andrews Highway campus.

JANUARY 1975
First classes offered in newly finished buildings on the permanent MC campus.

SPRING 1975
First MC creative writing contest held, instigated by English instructor Rebecca Tillapaugh Watson. The contest continues today and was renamed the Rebecca T. Watson Creative Writing Contest, in honor of her service to MC.

OCTOBER 1975
The Hodge Carillon Tower was erected in memory of Sanford John Hodge, Jr. The gift was given to MC by Mr. and Mrs. J. Howard Hodge and Mrs. Nancy Rodman Hodge.

Official dedication of new campus attended by then Gov. Dolph Briscoe and other dignitaries.

DECEMBER 1975
MC Physical Education building opens.

MC Chaparrals’ basketball team hosts first home game on campus.

SEPTEMBER 1978
Chaparral Center opens. Seen here is the men's basketball team standing in front of Chaparral Center.

After years of waiting, a crowd of thousands gathered at the inaugural event, Captain and Tennille live in concert. Never before in Midland had there been an adequate facility to accommodate such a production. Located in the southeast section of campus, it has approximately 73,000 square feet of floor space. It holds 6,200 for concerts and shows; for sporting events, it seats about 5,000.

JUNE 1979
Helon Y. Allison establishes the Allison Endowed Chair of Journalism when she donated $750,000 to the college. The fine arts building was named the Allison Fine Arts building.

1980
Midland College added courses in architecture, air conditioning and refrigeration, and respiratory care.

AUGUST 1981
Founding President Al G. Langford retired after 12 years of service.