Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973

Dates

• Existence: 1908-1973
• Existence: 1908-08-27 - 1973-01-22

Biography

Lyndon Johnson attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College from 1927-1930. He took a year off (1928-1929) to teach at Welhausen School in Cotulla, Texas in order to earn money to continue his education. He graduated with a degree in history and a permanent teaching certificate in 1930. After teaching for a short time, he went to work as a secretary for Congressman Kleburg, beginning his political career. He was later appointed to Texas Director of the National Youth Administration by President Roosevelt. Johnson ran successfully for Congress in 1937 and the Senate in 1948. Following an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960, he was asked to serve as Vice President by John F. Kennedy. Johnson became president after Kennedy’s assassination, serving the rest of JFK’s term and one of his own.

Throughout his political career, Johnson maintained a close relationship with the college in San Marcos, in all its incarnations. He visited the campus frequently, often several times per year, until his death in 1973. Johnson often credited his experiences at college with shaping his policies on education. In 1965, Johnson chose Southwest Texas State College as the location to sign the Higher Education Act into law.

Johnson, regularly referred to as LBJ, continues to have a presence on the Texas State University campus. The student center was named for LBJ, as was an ongoing lecture series. A statue of LBJ as a student was installed on the quad in September 2006. And in celebration of his 100th birthday in 2008, the university published “Connections: Lyndon B. Johnson in San Marcos.”

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