CC dedicates historical marker

Clarendon College secured its place in history as the Texas Panhandle’s first college Saturday, November 19, with the dedication of a state historical marker.

A crowd of current and former students and college employees were present for the dedication and to celebrate the history of the college.

CC Board of Regents Chairman Jerry Woodard gave the welcome followed by the presentation of the colors by local Boy and Cub Scouts, and members of the Student Government Association led in the pledges to the Texas and American flags.

Local historian and CC alumnus Roger Estlack gave a brief history of Clarendon College, which he said began as a dream of the Christian Colonists of old Saints’ Roost, who set aside land for a college at the town’s founding in 1878. But it would be 20 years before those dreams became reality.

In November 1897, local and area citizens petitioned the local district of the Methodist conference for a college, and on April 2, 1898, the Northwest Conference approved the creation of Clarendon College & University Training School after 21 businessmen pledged $4,835 and four acres of land were donated to the cause. The school opened its doors on September 5 of that year.

“And there began the story that continues today,” Estlack said. “We were off and running… literally. Harwood Beville won a foot race for the honor of being the first student at the school.”

Clarendon College graduated its first class in 1904 and won the Panhandle’s first organized football game, 16-10 against Goodnight College, in 1903

Dr. George S. Slover oversaw an expansive period as president and led Clarendon to become a senior college on September 14, 1926. The college conferred 28 bachelor degrees in 1927.

That fall, CC’s affiliation with the Methodist Church ended and it came under the direction of the Clarendon school district with the local school superintendent serving double duty as college president for the next several years.

Under President Kenneth D. Vaughan, the college separated from the public school and a county-wide college district was formed in 1965. An endowment from sisters Etta and Ida Harned allowed the college to move from its historic location where Clarendon High School is now and build the modern campus on the west edge of the city in 1968.

Clarendon College opened its first satellite center in Pampa in 1978 and later opened centers in Childress and Amarillo. Clarendon college remains a cultural center of donley county and the region and continues to provide students in its service area an opportunity for higher education.

Estlack said the history of Clarendon College is embodied by the men and women who have gone to school at CC, worked at CC, and supported the institution for 118 years.

CC President Dr. Robert Riza unveiled the marker, and Donley County Historical Commission Chair Jean Stavenhagen then read the marker inscription.

CC Chief of Staff Ashlee Estlack recognized Jean Stavenhagen, Roger Estlack, and Darlene Spier for their roles in compiling the history of the college, CC Regent, alumnus, and former instructor Jack Moreman delivered an invocation, and the crowd then reconvened in the Vera Dial Dickey Library for refreshments.