In Memoriam: M.B. Etheredge

Retired Lt. Col. M.B. Etheredge (1915-2014) has died. The Huntsville Item (May 15) has a remembrance:

In Memoriam: Ronald Mafrige

Alumnus and campus promoter Ronald Mafrige died Sunday, August 14 in Houston. He was 73.

In Memoriam: Dolph Briscoe, Jr.

Former Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr. (1923-2010) died Sunday, June 27 at him home in Uvalde; he was 87. Briscoe served as the fortieth governor (1973-1979) - the first to serve a four-year term - after earlier being elected to the Texas Legislature in 1948 and serving as a state representative from 1949 to 1957.

You might happen upon Briscoe’s name on a few buildings as he was governor during SHSU President Elliott Bowers’ construction boom. In this 1978 Alcalde photo, Governor Briscoe and his wife, Janey, unveiled the plaque for the dedication of the Criminal Justice Center.

Link: Former Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe dies at 87.

In Memoriam: Ralph Spencer

Ralph D. Spencer, the designer and author of the SHSU Master Plans, which have been implemented for present and future growth at the University, died April 29.

Spencer attended Tarleton State University and Texas Tech University, where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1951; he later practiced his career in Lubbock, Austin, and Huntsville, Texas. Over his 56 years of practice, he designed and completed many educational and institutional projects across the State of Texas, including, for Sam Houston State University, the Lee Drain Building, Evans English Building, Music II, and the Farrington Science Building renovations.

In Memoriam: Arleigh Templeton

Arleigh Templeton, the eighth president of Sam Houston State University, died Saturday in San Antonio at the age of 90. Templeton was a 1936 graduate of Sam Houston State Teachers College and later earned masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Houston.

During Templeton's presidency, Sam Houston State Teachers College became, in 1965, Sam Houston State College and was renamed again, in 1969, as Sam Houston State University.

In Memoriam: Elliott T. Bowers

Elliott Bowers, the ninth president of Sam Houston State University, died May 30, 2003 in Huntsville.

Bowers served as president from 1970 until his retirement in 1989. Major facilities completed under his administration included the Teacher Education Center, Johnson Coliseum, University Theatre Center, Beto Criminal Justice Center, Rather Communication Building, Drain Academic Building and mall, the Health and Physical Education Building, Bearkat Stadium and field house, and the Music Building.

Bearkat Stadium was renamed Bowers Stadium in his honor and the street that runs just south of it was named Bowers Boulevard. He was also honored with the title president emeritus when he retired.

In Memoriam: Kelly Edgar McAdams

Kelly Edgar McAdams, a former Huntsville resident who was known to be a great supporter of historical structures, family history and education, died in Austin on Wednesday at the age of 96. McAdams, along with his wife, Ina May Ogletree McAdams, owned and operated a successful real estate and timber investment business in Austin, East Texas and North Carolina for 50 years. Ina preceded her husband in death in 1992. The McAdams Tennis Center was named in honor of the couple's many contributions to the campus.