LSCO Through the Years - Lamar State College Orange 50th Anniversary
1960s
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1967-1969
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The Orange County Chamber of Commerce approaches Lamar State College of Technology
about creating an extension center in Orange. In 1969 a lower-division center opens
and 362 students enroll.
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1969-1989
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Dr. Joe Ben Welch serves as the President of the Orange Extension Branch of the Lamar
School of Technology and Lamar University-Orange.
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1970s
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July 30, 1970
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Orange Leader Tuition costs at Tilly Tech (No out-of- state fees for Louisiana)
one course $36
two courses $72
three courses $108
four courses $144
five courses $180
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February 21, 1971
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LU Branch on the grow Donated to school
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May 5, 1971
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A fire destroys Lamar University-Orange’s Tilley Tech building and final exams are held at the National Guard Armory. In July, a community-wide student-led fundraising project nets more than $250,000 for Lamar University-Orange to purchase the Sabine Supply Company building, where classes are to be held. Drafting was added as one of the first two technical programs in the LSCO curriculum. The second program was radiology. In 1972 both programs were offered as complete two-year courses of study, with students receiving associate of applied science degrees |
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July 28, 1971
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A contract for the former Sabine Supply Company building at the corner of 4th and
Front St. was signed. The contract was signed by officials of a nonprofit corporation,
Lamar University in Orange County Capital Foundation, set up by the Chamber to solicit
funds for a Lamar Extension Building in Orange.
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August 1, 1971
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Editorial by J. Cullen Browning on the major achievement of the Lamar extension in
Orange
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October 18, 1971
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Sabine River News full page about Lamar U. Extension
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1972
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Lamar University-Orange begins to offer degrees
LU-O offers Real Estate courses
LU-O will have a completely different fee schedule now that it is a legislative approved
branch of Lamar.
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1973
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Four day work week set for Lamar Branch. Dropping Friday classes will save fuel.
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November 15, 1973
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A clear title to the building which houses the Lamar Branch in Orange was signed over
to the Lamar University officials
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1975
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The Legislature renames the State Senior College Board of Regents as the Texas State
University System Board of Regents.
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1976
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The Brown family donates the estate of E. W. Brown, a prominent local businessman
and philanthropist to the Lamar University Board of Regents. The Cardinal Moods was
organized in the fall by Jerry Parris and performed at numerous public functions throughout
Orange and the surrounding areas. (Picture and Names of original group in TSUS book)
The Cardinal Moods served as Goodwill Ambassadors for the campus for more than 25
years.
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1980s
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1983
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The Legislature authorizes the creation of the Lamar University System comprised of
Lamar University, Lamar University-Port Arthur, Lamar University-Orange, the College
of Technical Arts (Now the Lamar Institute of Technology) and the John Gray Institute.
This legislation was promoted by Sen. Carl A. Parker. This legislation allowed Dr.
Joe Ben Welch to be named as the first president of the campus. Previously, he held
the titles of director, dean, and provost. The LSCO Foundation was incorporated. The
Foundation provides student scholarships, raises funds, and assists the college in
locating land for growth. Many members of the Foundation were active in the fundraising
to purchase the Orange Supply Building, the first building the school owned. The three
primary goals of the Foundation are to provide scholarships to local students, raise
funds for the college, and to assist the college in finding and acquiring land and
buildings to for the growth of LSCO.
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1984
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The state approved the LSCO application for a Licensed Vocational Nursing Program
that was separate and apart for the LU nursing programs.
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1985
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Under Senator Parker’s leadership LSCO became eligible to receive money from the state’s
newly created constitutional reserve, the Higher Education Assistance Fund.
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| 1989 |
Dr. Joe Ben Welch, campus President resigns after 19 years serving the campus and
community.
LSCO won approval to offer an innovative program for training registered nurses. The
Upward Mobility Nursing Program admitted only licensed LCNs and in 12 months prepared
them to sit for the RN state certification. The program was an instant success. The
LSCO campus received independent accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools
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July 1989 - June 1990
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Dr. Andrew Johnson, a vice chancellor in the Lamar University System Office served
at interim president at LU-O.
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1990s
| July 1990 | Dr. Steve Maradian became president of LU-O |
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| 1991 | The Legislature authorizes LU-O and LU-PA to issue associated degrees in their own names. In May, Gov. Ann Richards signs a bill making LU-O an independent degree granting institution within the Lamar University System. |
| 1994 | Dr. Steve Maradian moved to a position in the Systems office and Dr. Michael Shahan was appointed interim President in August. Dr. Shahan moved from his position as Vice President of Academic Affairs at LU-PA. |
| 1995 | Dr. Michael Shahan becomes the named president at LU-O The Legislature abolishes the Lamar University System and places its four institutions into the Texas State University System |
| 1997 | A master plan for the campus is approved by the TSUS Board. Part one of the campus renewal of LU-O is completed with the consolidation of a four block pedestrian zone, a new central energy plant, and expanded classroom facilities. With the support of Rep. Ron E. Lewis funding is secured to build a three story library/administration building, build a central plant for electrical and cooling service, and install landscaping and parking as the first phase of a total campus renovation. The Stark Foundation provided funding for the renovation of the second floor of the old Levingston Building, turning it into the Allied Health Center |
| 1999 | The Legislature renames the former Lamar University campuses in Orange and Port Arthur as Lamar State College-Orange and Lamar State College-Port Arthur |
2000s
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2001
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Gov. Rick Perry helps the Board of Regents dedicate the Ron E. Lewis Library, the
main building at the Lamar State College – Orange campus and the first completely
new building on campus. All of the other buildings were renovated from various commercials
buildings.
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2003
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Phase two of the campus renewal plan included completely remodeling and modernizing
the original campus building (AC), updating the Student Center, and converting the
former library building into a classroom facility (Wilson Center)
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2005
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Hurricane Rita hits damaging the roof of the Ron E. Lewis Library. The campus sustained
other damages.
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2006
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Phase three involved the renovation of the Green Avenue Office Building (acquired
in the 1990s).
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2008
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Hurricane Ike strikes. Lamar State College Orange suffers substantial damage with
surge water damaging all but one building on campus. The buildings received from six
inches of water (Ron E. Lewis Library) to almost four feet of water in the Green Avenue
Building. The only building that did not flood was the original building, the Academic
Center. This building housed the Computer Center and all the servers. The campus was
closed for almost four weeks due to the damages. The campus sustained more than nine
million dollars’ worth of damage. The campus petitioned the Board of Regents and was
able to complete a restructured fall semester in January 2009. Since this was the
second major hurricane to hit our area the school begins to develop contingency plans
for all computer services and ways to continue onsite classes online, in the event
of another weather event.
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2010s
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2013
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The Nursing and Classroom Building is constructed to house the state-of-the-art LVN
and Upward Mobility Nursing programs.
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2016
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The campus’ newest building, the Cypress Center, is built. The facility has classrooms
and offices as well as a large convention center meeting space.
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2018
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Dr. Michael Shahan retires after 24 years as president of LSCO. Cypress Event Center
renamed Michael and Bridget Shahan Event Center.
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2018
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After a nationwide search, Dr. Thomas A. Johnson is selected by the Board of Regents
to serve as the president of Lamar State College Orange.
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