Houston, Ralph, 1985 October 22, November 12

File — Box: 2, Folder: 11

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

In his first interview (October 1985), Dr. Ralph Houston talks about growing up in Denton County, attending college at the University of North Texas, and teaching in Big Spring, Texas. He discusses studying for his PhD at The University of Texas at Austin and being recruited by Deacon Wright to teach at Southwest Texas State Teachers College in the 1930s. He describes campus, the English department and its staff, and his experiences as a professor, head of the English department, and Dean of Liberal and Fine Arts during his time at the university (1937–1970). He also relates stories about Dr. McCrocklin and the university's participation in the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and other academic organizations.

In his second interview (November 1985), Houston talks about his role in creating the university's institutional self-studies during his time as Dean of Liberal and Fine Arts. He reflects on his experiences with students, such as Senator Walter Richter, and other important local figures including Russ and Anne Vliet, Gates Thomas, and Dudley Dobie. He emphasizes President Flowers and Leland Derrick's significance in shaping the university. Interview by Iris Schumann

Dates

1985 October 22, November 12

Creator

From the Collection: Southwest Texas State University. Department of History (Organization)
From the Collection: Brown, Ronald C., 1945- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Biographical note

Dr. Ralph Hubert Houston was born in 1910 and grew up in Lewisville, Texas. He graduated from North Texas State University with his BA in 1930. He earned his MA in 1934 and his PhD in 1946, both from The University of Texas at Austin. Houston taught English at Big Spring Senior High School from 1930 until 1936. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 until 1946, and he retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve with the rank of major in 1955.

Houston joined the Southwest Texas State Teachers College faculty in 1937 as an assistant professor in the English department. He later served as chairman of the university's English department from 1958 until 1965, before his promotion to Dean of Liberal and Fine Arts (1965-1970). Houston was the first president of the university's Faculty Senate. In 1967, he was elected president of the Texas Conference of College Teachers of English, and he served as president of the Texas Folklore Society. In 1978, Houston was honored as the university's first professor emeritus for his forty years of service during which he passed through all university faculty ranks.