MSC History

From its small beginnings in 1950 to the vibrant presence of today, the MSC has undergone many transformations in order to keep up with the needs of an ever-changing student population. Our goal is to accurately document the impact the MSC has had on generations of Aggies so our history and traditions will be preserved forever.

The Call For a Student Union

The necessity of a student union at Texas A&M was recognized in the late 1930's. Until this time, the Y.M.C.A., Guion Hall and the Aggieland Inn served as the only places for social activity on campus. The university desperately needed a centrally located place for students to gather, and the classes of 1935 and 1936 felt so strongly about this, they collected funds for the development of the student union. In addition to state funding, The Association of Former Students donated War Bonds in the amount of $234,000 which helped fund the construction of the student union. The money collected by the classes of 1935 and 1936 was later used to purchase a silver serving set dedicated in their names.

The need for a centralized facility providing a source of fellowship and social interaction was finally addressed in March of 1946 when the university commissioned the A&M system architect, Carleton W. Adams, to perform a study on the proposed student union. To fulfill his task, Mr. Adams visited seven mid-western universities with outstanding student union buildings and searched for key ideas and ingredients to incorporate into Texas A&M's proposed student union. Today, Texas A&M's student union, housed in the Memorial Student Center, adheres to the goals and intentions set forth in Mr. Adam's original report. The union serves and represents the Texas A&M students, former students, faculty and friends. The union is a memorial to those who gave their lives in service to our country during World War I and II. For this reason, all who enter the building are asked to remove their hats while inside the facility. In his report, Mr. Adams suggested naming the building, "Gold Star Hall," or simply, "The Memorial." The dream later became a reality, and is called the Memorial Student Center.

Phase I: The Student Union Becomes Reality

On 20 September 1947, Texas A&M College President F. C. Bolton turned the first shovel of earth, breaking ground for the Memorial Student Center. The building was formally dedicated on San Jacinto Day, 21 April 1951. The construction of the new MSC lasted approximately three years, ending with an informal opening for the freshman Class of 1954. A bronze tablet, inscribed with the names of those to whom the MSC was dedicated, was placed at the front entrance of the building.

Funding for the $2,000,000 complex and its $300,000 worth of furnishings was received from former students and the Exchange Store. In 1937, the Chancellor of Texas A&M, Jeff L. Horn, distributed a letter to students titled, "A Modern Miracle." This letter encouraged students to donate ten dollars each to help fund the project when they registered. The Board of Directors acknowledged suggestions from the architectural firms were both essential and cost effective; therefore, work on the MSC and the J. Earl Rudder Tower and Theater Complex was approved by the Board later that month.

J. Wayne Stark, an A&M graduate, was hired to head the MSC project as the first director of the Memorial Student Center in 1947. Carleton Adams of the A&M Architecture Department was appointed as architect for the project, and the Robert E. McKee Construction Company of Dallas built the complex. Robert D. Harrell of Los Angeles was the interior decorator for the project.

The final site was selected adjacent to Guion Hall. The new MSC consisted of only two floors and a basement. A sixty-five room air conditioned hotel was incorporated into the design, thereby eliminating the need for the Aggieland Inn. There were 12 conference rooms of varying sizes which could be used for many different events such as dining, parties and receptions. A bowling alley, game room, post office, shops and dining facilities were located on the first floor. The second floor featured ball rooms and meeting areas while the basement housed hobby and craft shops, various bookstores and gift stores. Throughout the MSC were several lounges and offices for MSC administration and student organizations.

The project was well received by the students and faculty of Texas A&M. The public was also able to view the new building through one hour tours on 21-23 September 1950. During the opening days of the Center, special exhibits were displayed highlighting the various activities that would take place during normal operations. Many people enjoyed the bowling and bridge competitions available in the recreation area. A bridge expert was even on hand to lecture to the enthusiasts. The opening ceremonies of the MSC were a success, attracting large crowds from the Bryan/College Station area.

By the mid-1960's, Texas A&M University had outgrown the MSC facilities due to an influx of students and the rapid development of technology. In order to keep up with the original goals of the MSC, the building needed to be renovated. In January 1968, the Texas A&M Board of Directors began considering plans for expanding and redecorating the MSC. The board also decided to start construction of the J. Earl Rudder Tower and Theater Complex.

Preliminary studies for expansion and construction were reviewed in 1968 by the Board of Directors during their February meeting. In preparation for this meeting, the Board solicited the assistance of two architectural firms to investigate and develop plans to be used for consultation purposes. The architectural firms were Dede Matthews and Associates of Bryan and Jarvis, Putty, and Jarvis of Dallas. The Board of Directors acknowledged suggestions from the architectural firms were both essential and cost effective; therefore, work on the MSC and the J. Earl Rudder Tower and Theater Complex was approved by the Board later that month.

Bids for the project were received in the late 1960's, and construction began in 1971. The Texas A&M University Board of Directors approved the following companies:

Theater Arts Center and Conference Tower:

• Architects: Jarvis, Putty, and Jarvis of Dallas
• Auditorium Consultant: J.W. Ditamore, W. Lafayette, Indiana
• Acoustical Consultant: McCandless Consultants Inc., Austin
• Mechanical Consultant: Ratliff Purdy McGuire, Dallas
• Structural Consultant: William L. Cobb Associates Inc., Dallas
• Food Service Consultant: G.G. Rice, Dallas
• Interior Consultant: William Pahlmann Associates Inc., New York
• Construction: Manhattan Construction Company, Houston

Memorial Student Center:

• Architects: Matthews and Associates, Bryan
• Mechanical Consultant: Lockwood Andrews and Newman Inc., Houston
• Structural Consultant: Matthews and Associates, Bryan
• Food Service Consultant: Mulhauser McCleary and Associates, Bellaire
• Interior Consultant: William Pahlmann Associates, Inc., New York
• Construction: Spaw-Glass Inc., Houston

The project was performed in a number of stages and as a new section became available, it was put into use. Most of Rudder Tower was completed by the middle of 1973, and the Theater Complex was in use that same fall. All construction was completed in 1974.

The total footage for the J. Earl Rudder Conference Center was 302,240 square feet, though only 143,878 square feet were assignable. The Memorial Student Center was expanded to 285,355 square feet with 200,463 square feet assignable.

The changes proposed to the MSC did not significantly alter the structure of the building; however, the changes did alter its contents significantly. Among the changes considered in renovating the MSC facilities was a proposed plan to double the dining and cafeteria facilities. The increase in space was needed to reduce overcrowding during the peak dining hours.

The student lounge areas were also becoming increasingly crowded. Solving this problem required changing the MSC promenade into what is known today as the, "Flag Room." The faculty, which desired its own lounge, was provided one during this renovation.

The post office, also affected by the increase in student population, required more boxes and, therefore, was moved to a new location within the MSC. The new location would accommodate a larger number of post office boxes. Almost 2,500 boxes were added to the then present 3,089. The old combination locks were replaced with key locks. In an article in The Battalion on 1 February 1973, Postmaster Stanley Sartain said he felt key boxes would, "Provide greater security."

A bookstore for students was designed for more convenience. Additional meeting rooms were planned to ensure student organizations and other groups would have a place to host meetings. The recreation area was relocated to the basement which was enlarged, and additional bowling lanes, pool tables and other games popular at the time were installed.

The hotel in the MSC, which accommodates guests attending conferences and other events on the Texas A&M campus, was also scheduled for remodeling and redecoration. The 65 room hotel would now offer, among other things, color televisions and a notary available until 10 p.m. To encourage guests of the hotel to browse around the MSC, known as, "The C," in the 1970's, all the accommodations including the barber and beauty shops, travel agency and art galleries were made readily accessible.

The Association of Former Students was able to build a new alumni center during this renovation. The center, located in the southwest corner of the MSC, was dedicated to James "Scotty" Forsyth on 9 February 1974. "Scotty" Forsyth worked as a blacksmith in order to send his four sons and four other boys to Texas A&M. His son, James M. "Cop" Forsyth, Class of '12, showed his gratitude to his father by donating $300,000 for the new alumni center.

Although the J. Earl Rudder complex is not part the Memorial Student Center, renovations in the early 1990's connected the two buildings. Together these two buildings are referred to as the University Center Complex, and they have become the focal point for student activities and organizations.

The J. Earl Rudder Tower and Theater Complex included a theater arts center and a conference tower. The complex, which replaced Guion Hall, is dedicated to former university president James Earl Rudder who was the President of Texas A&M University from 1959 until his death on 23 March 1970. He also served as commander of the 2nd Ranger Battalion during World War II and, later, as Texas Land Commissioner. During Rudder's administration, the university doubled its enrollment, expanded its research program, improved academic and faculty standards and began allowing women to attend the university.

The Theater Complex was designed with a large 2,500 seat auditorium, a 750 seat theater, a 250 seat forum and a large exhibit hall. The Complex was fashioned to support the fine arts on campus, such as movies, operas and theatrical events as well as seminars and conferences.

To meet the growing need of office space for various campus departments, the Board proposed construction of the J. Earl Rudder Conference Center which would house such departments as the Office of Continuing Education, Student Placement and Student Aid. Three floors were set aside for much-needed office space, while five floors were to be used for meeting rooms. Rudder Tower, a 12 floor structure, includes a University Information Center located on the first floor, conference registration facilities and three elevators. There are a total of 25 meeting rooms, the largest of which accommodates up to 342 people.

The project was not without problems. In order to build the Rudder Conference Center, the landscape had to be significantly altered. The major concern was the removal of many trees specifically the relocation of 13 trees, all of which were over 50 years old. Several environmental organizations, as well as members of the faculty, protested the trees' removal, fearing the trees would not survive. Robert H. Rucker, A&M Physical Plant Landscape Architect, voiced the loudest objection and placed most of the objection on the age factor of the trees. Nevertheless, many trees were destroyed. The 13 older trees, about half of which survived, were relocated to areas around Sbisa Dining Hall, the All Faiths Chapel and the Y.M.C.A. Building. Two were placed by the Systems Building.

After the renovations of the MSC were complete, objections arose over the new decorating. William Pahlmann Associates Inc. was the interior decorator for the project. Many Aggies found Mr. Pahlmann's taste in furnishings too extravagant and inappropriate for the purpose of a student center.

The objections caused a large enough problem that they became a joke throughout Texas. For example, The Texas Observer wrote an article 25 March 1975 titled, "It's on you: The biggest Aggie joke of all," which discussed the problems with Pahlmann's decorating scheme. The article also scrutinized the amount of money Texas A&M put into the furnishings.

Nearly all the furniture was purchased in New York where Pahlmann Associates was based. The Texas Observer reported purchases which included:

• six Spanish style chairs ($400 each)
• one English pine refectory table ($1650)
• thirty-seven steerhide benches ($470 each)
• five bronze and glass virtrines ($1,100-$1,800)
• Japanese silkscreens
• Chinese mandarin figurines, and
• Italian marble busts

A questionnaire written by the campus newspaper, The Battalion, was distributed 10-11 December 1975. 92 percent of the respondents did not like the furnishings in the MSC. In a later article, The Battalion noted many felt the atmosphere, "Stiff, formal, unfriendly." They called the building. "A cheerless, drafty mausoleum built as a showplace . . . [with] little thought for the needs of students and faculty." Many also felt the money spent on furnishings was extravagant and were upset they would have to pay it with a tuition increase of two to six dollars per semester hour.

A particularly unpopular aspect was the new MSC Flag Room. It contained mounted heads of several African big game animals, including an ibex, a waterbuck, a bontebok, a cape buffalo, a bongo, a wart hog, a gerenuk, an eland, a bighorn, and a black rhinoceros. The concern was the heads did not reflect an appropriate atmosphere and did not complement the decor.

Eventually, the animal heads were removed from the Flag room. Unfortunately, the problem did not stop there. Pahlmann claimed the heads belonged to the university, and he did not want them back. The president of the university, Jack K. Williams, disagreed. He retorted the university had not paid for the animal heads, and, therefore, they did not belong to the university. Consequently, the animal heads were removed from the Flag Room and placed in a hangar on Texas A&M's riverside campus.

A minor setback to the Center's advancements occurred in 1977. On 8 July, a fire broke out in the basement of the Memorial Student Center. The fire, which started in a supply room, destroyed several documents belonging to The Association of Former Students. The fire was contained to the supply room and was concentrated in a stack of directories containing former students' names. Many items in the storage room were damaged by water, but there was minimal smoke damage to the basement.

In addition to the large scale renovation the MSC underwent in 1973, there were numerous additions and changes of a smaller scale that continued to take place. As the student population grew, remodeling of the basement concessions and stage area became necessary. Expansions within offices also took place, including the current Browsing Library. Originally established in 1950, the library offered students and faculty entertainment and relaxation. Already offering magazines, newspapers and headphones for listening to music, the library remained in tune with the changing times and added a video tape player for its visitors to use. Another addition, Rumours Snack Bar, offered nighttime entertainment for the students in addition to its normal operations as part of A&M's Food Services

The planning for the next phase of the MSC and the University Center began late in 1987. The Texas A&M Board of Regents began looking at ideas to expand the MSC. They felt the space available to offices and organizations was, as Steve Vinson wrote, "Not conducive to work." When the 1973 renovations to the center were completed, the space was large enough to fulfill the needs of the current 18,000 students and many faculty at Texas A&M. However, as the student population grew and reached close to 40,000, the MSC was no longer able to serve its primary function which was, "To provide space and facilities for students [and their] activities." Organizations who felt they needed more space were able to submit their requests and suggestions to the advisory committee overseeing the expansion. The response was overwhelming. Student requests produced a book of proposals which was several inches thick. The offices of many student activities had been moved to the Pavilion in 1983 because of the lack of space in the MSC; by 1987, the problem had only intensified. Neither the MSC nor the Pavilion was capable of handling the population boom that had taken place on  campus.

One of the regents' main requirements of the architects was the fountain area not be destroyed. The architects' only alternative was to make the additions in the area of the bridge connecting the MSC and Rudder Tower. The regents were careful to talk to the users of the MSC to determine what their needs were. Once again it was clear some trees were going to be lost in the construction process. The additional space gained by the renovations was to be used for meeting rooms and an expanded copy center. The plans also included a 500-seat movie theater and concessions area; however, this was later cut from the budget.

Over Christmas Break of 1986, the MSC was shut down for removal of the asbestos ceiling tiles. A federal regulation required the removal be done when any renovations were to take place; the university decided to alleviate the problem before beginning work on the addition. The removal began immediately after students left for the holidays and was completed prior to their return for the spring semester.

In June of 1987, the Clayton Williams Alumni Center was completed and opened. One of the trees was the Rudder Oak, a tree about 165 years old and 33 inches in diameter. On 29 June 1989, Kelley Brown, a reporter for The Battalion, noted the Rudder Oak was on the "save and move" list and was to be moved about 40 feet away. Rucker and others argued the expansion could be accomplished in other ways and moving the trees was not necessary. Several students joined the crusade to save the trees, and a petition was drawn up against their removal. The Battalion quickly became the sounding board for the angry students who felt the university was making these decisions without the consent of the student body. The efforts of the students obviously had no real affect on the committee. Most of the trees were eventually replaced or destroyed. Sadly enough, the noble Rudder Oak did not survive its move. Approximately six months later, the tree died and was removed.

Construction began in February 1989 and was completed in November 1991. The original plans called for a two-story addition placed on the north side of Rudder Auditorium that would house a 500-seat lecture hall. A second, smaller lecture hall was also planned in the addition and space was provided for the Rudder Forum. Unfortunately, according to Dennis Busch, this project came in 3 million dollars over budget, so the theater complex was cancelled.

On the east side of the MSC, a tiered, three-story addition was constructed. This addition, linking the building more fully with Rudder Tower, allowed for interior remodeling, and the bookstore was expanded as planned. A section of the enlarged bookstore currently houses the Micro Computer Center which sells computer equipment to students and faculty at educational discounts. The bookstore space is leased by Barnes & Noble who leases the the area as a part of the Texas A&M Bookstore. Three other areas benefited from the new addition. First, the John Wayne Stark University Center Gallery was added adjacent to the Flag Room to be used as a visual arts gallery. The gallery is under the supervision of the Office of the University Art Collections and Exhibits. Next, the bowling alleys were moved, and the improved food court was put in its old location. Finally, more meeting rooms were added to the second floor. The students' requests for space were met as the Student Programs Office was enlarged to a more appropriate size.

To alleviate the overcrowding problem in the MSC, the university built the John J. Koldus Student Services building. This building houses several student activity offices; in addition, several other services were moved into the building. The "L" shaped building was connected to a new multi-story, 1500-car parking garage which provided much-needed parking space to the south area of campus.

The first floor of the new structure was home to the Offices of Student Activities as well as Student Government and the Student Senate Meeting room. KANM, the campus radio station, is located on the first floor. The Department of Parking, Transit, and Traffic and the Support Services Office for Students with Disabilities were moved into the building soon after its completion. Additionally, the 12th Man Foundation Office and the Off Campus Center were located on the first floor. In order to help ease the crowding at the MSC, new meeting rooms were added in the building.

On the second floor is the new Placement Center. Its purpose is to bring students in touch with job opportunities as they near graduation. The old quarters, originally housed in the Rudder Tower, were cramped and unsuitable for their purpose. The new office contains a research library sponsored by Andersen Consulting providing students with the resources needed for finding a job. The Athletic Department and the Office of Cooperative Education were also moved to the second floor as was the Office of Admissions Counseling.

From its inception in 1950, the Memorial Student Center has been the hub of campus activity and has gone through many changes to meet the demands placed upon it from the growing student population. Though the present facilities seem spacious and grand compared to those of 1950, that vital focal point of Aggie life will undoubtedly continue to grow, serving its university nobly in years to come.

1950-'51: Joe Fuller

1951-'52: Dan Davis

1952-'53: Lamar McNew

1953-'54: John Samuels

1954-'55: Charles Parker

1955-'56: Herbert W. Whitney

1956-'57: Richard M. Wall

1957-'58: Don D. McGinty

1958-'59: Hugh E. Wharton

1959-'60: Ronald E. Buford

1960-'61: Weldon A. Lee

1961-'62: Michael M. Schneider

1962-'63: James E. Ray

1963-'64: Howard M. Head

1964-'65: Terrence A. Oddson

1965-'66: John H. Rodgers

1966-'67: Steven V. Gummer

1967-'68: Scott H. Roberts

1968-'69: Benjamin J. Sims

1969-'70: Joe M. Spears III

1970-'71: Thomas Champe Fitzhugh III

1971-'72: John C. Dacus

1972-'73: C. Sam Walser

1973-'74: Don A. Webb

1974-'75: William W. Davis

1975-'76: N. Jane Logan

1976-'77: John C. Oeffinger

1977-'78: Lynn A. Gibson

1978-'79: Ray James Daniels

1979-'80: Brooks W. Herring

1980-'81: Ernen M. Haby

1981-'82: Douglas W. Dedeker

1982-'83: Todd A. Norwood

1983-'84: Gregory L. Hawkins

1984-'85: Patrick H. Wood

1985-'86: Denis L. Davis

1986-'87: Robert T. Bisor

1987-'88: Linda C. Hartman

1988-'89: Frank M. Muller, III

1989-'90: Jason N. Wilcox

1990-'91: Matthew S. Wood

1991-'92: Jon Christopher Britton

1992-'93: Joe Robert Fowler, II

1993-'94: Heather Hartman

1994-'95: Caram “Troy” Lary

1995-'96: Patrick Conway

1996-'97: Christopher M. Williams

1997-'98: Nellson Burns

1998 -'99: Will Hurd

1999-'00: William Anderson

2000-'01: Nathan Cray

2001-'02: Jennifer Brashares

2002-'03: Barry Hammond

2003-'04: Elizabeth Dacus

2004-'05: Lindsey Wilson

2005-'06: Andy Liddell

2006-'07: Xuan Yong

2007-'08: Jonathon Glueck

2008-'09: Nick Petree

2009-'10: Stephanie Burns

2010-'11: Collin Laden

2011: Jordan Harris

2011-'12: Elizabeth Andrasi

2012-'13: Tyler Stewart

2013-'14: Will Brooke

2014-'15: Ryan Trantham

2015-'16: Zach Rozinsky

2016-'17: Brian O’Hara

2017-'18: Annie Carnegie

2018-'19: Taylor Welch

2019-'20: Oriana Koot

2020-'21: Mark Sterling

2021-'22: Zachary Summers

2022-'23: Neha Deshmukh

2023-'24: Monserrat Westrup