Grayson College: A Legacy of Education and Community in Grayson County, Texas

Grayson College, a public community college located in Grayson County, Texas, boasts a rich history and a commitment to providing accessible and high-quality education. From its early beginnings as a private college in Whitewright to its current status as a comprehensive community college with multiple campuses, Grayson College has played a vital role in the educational and economic development of the Texoma region.

Early Years: Grayson College in Whitewright

Grayson College initially operated in Whitewright, a town in southeastern Grayson County, for twenty-five years. The college was housed in a building that originally served as the community's public school, which began operating in 1880. In 1885, H. L. Piner and James F. Anderson acquired the property with the intention of establishing a college-level institution. Two years later, they secured a charter to open Grayson College, a coeducational institution.

The privately-owned school qualified for state funding by offering primary and high school classes in addition to college work. This practice gradually disappeared in the twentieth century as the state educational system increasingly separated the roles of secondary schools and colleges.

Despite four ownership changes between 1887 and 1894, the administrative changes did little to disrupt the college's progress. In 1893, the campus was enlarged, and a three-story housing building was added. Between 1900 and 1904, the college organized a military corps, and in the latter year, enrollment peaked at 740 students.

Tragedy struck when a fire destroyed most of the facilities, including the new building, in 1904. The college was unable to recover from this setback, and as financial support dwindled, Grayson College in Whitewright closed its doors for the final time in 1912. In the 1920s, one of the Grayson College buildings was used as Whitewright High School. For years, former students of the college held annual meetings there, and one building was transformed into a museum.

Read also: BC Quarterback Change

The heart of Grayson College was its three literary societies-Sam Houston and Henry W. Grady for men and Rose Cleveland for women. Each society had a room and a library. Society members competed for the school’s prizes during commencement week. With the new campus in 1895, enrollment increased. Figures published in 1904 show more than 400 students. But after the fire of February 16, 1904, enrollment fell. Despite rebuilding, fall 1904 enrollment dropped to 225, and never again reached the pre-fire numbers.

Rebirth as Grayson County College

In 1963, the Grayson County Development Council organized Grayson County College as a junior college in Denison. In 1964, college bonds were sold, Cruce Stark was selected as the college's first president, and construction of an eight-building campus began. Classes commenced in September 1965, with an initial enrollment of 1,479 students.

By 1969, the college library contained 24,000 volumes. Grayson County College offered courses leading to associate degrees in arts, engineering, science, and business administration. The technical-vocational division provided one- and two-year terminal courses, and the evening division offered an adult education program. In 1972, the faculty numbered 112. Student enrollment in the regular term of 1974 was 3,854, and Truman Wester served as president. Dr. Stark retired in 1972. Dr. Wester of Marietta, Oklahoma was the second president.

Expansion and Growth

In the 1990s, Grayson County College's East and West campuses were situated on 480 acres of land near Lake Texoma. The main campus consisted of seventeen buildings. The West Campus, formerly occupied by Perrin Air Force Base, comprised 400 acres. The land and twenty-three buildings were acquired in 1971. The college also operated several off-campus facilities in neighboring communities.

Grayson College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The college is divided into five instructional divisions: academic studies, careers and technology, developmental studies, health science, and workforce development.

Read also: From College Star to NFL Hopeful

In February 2007, Grayson's board of trustees called for a $44,790,000 bond election to expand and improve the existing campus, which was held in May and the referendum passed. This was Grayson's first bond election since the one called to create the campus in the 1960s.

Programs and Unique Offerings

Grayson College offers a wide array of academic and technical programs to approximately 5,000 students annually. The college provides courses leading to associate degrees in arts, engineering, science, and business administration. One- and two-year terminal courses are given by the technical-vocational division, and the evening division provides an adult education program. The Fine Arts Division added piano tuning and repair courses in the fall of 1974.

One of Grayson's unique offerings is in viticulture and enology (grape growing and wine making), housed on the West Campus. The West Campus also houses the vineyard. GC’s strongest calling cards are small classes for personalized instruction, affordable tuition, caring, professional instructors, and the convenience of day, evening or online classes. The College provides a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities for its students and the community. GC also offers a highly respected nursing program as well as traditional one- and two-year degrees in general academic, business, technical and other health-related fields.

Athletics

The college athletics teams are known as the Vikings. As students move into Jones Hall, it’s another reminder of Grayson College’s rich history, as Ralph T. Jones was a Viking great. “Mr. Jones wasn’t on the board when it started, but he got there a year after, serving nearly 50 years on the board,” McMillen said. “We’ll [continue to] make note of those types of things.”

Center for Workplace Learning

Catering to the businesses and industries of the area is important to GC. This work is carried out through the Center for Workplace Learning (CWL), a gathering place where educators, private industry and government in the Texoma region can come work together to create innovative workplace learning solutions to improve business competitiveness, create job opportunities, and enhance the economic vitality of the region. The CWL is quickly earning the reputation as the premier provider of world-class education and training opportunities for employers and individuals throughout the region. The programs are flexible and adaptive to the needs of employers, ensuring a world-class workforce that creates a sustainable competitive advantage for employers in the region.

Campuses and Locations

The Main Campus and West Extension are located midway between Sherman and Denison on Highway 691 and the South Campus is located in Van Alstyne. The main campus (consisting of the east campus and the west extension) is in a rural setting near North Texas Regional Airport. Grayson College is in the heart of Grayson County and provides a vital link for higher education.

A Look Towards the Future

Grayson College is a program that hopes to expand on their history for years to come. “Growth is on the horizon here… We’re up 10% in enrollment this year,” McMillen said. “Our community is growing. We know we’re in that zone where people all across the country are relocating, and we want to be a part of helping the community continue to thrive by providing the workforce that’s necessary, and providing the transformative power of education to people that choose to enroll in our classes and honor us with their presence.”

60th Anniversary

DENISON, Texas (KXII) - Grayson College hits a huge milestone in 2025, and with the start of class just days away, they’ve announced they’ll be celebrating their school’s storied legacy all year long. “It’s amazing that 60 years ago our community decided to establish a college,” said Grayson College President Jeremy McMillen. “For 60 years we’ve been helping students to their success. Tens of thousands of graduates have a huge impact on our community. It’s an awesome thing to be able to celebrate.”

Many students are familiar with the school’s history. “The college has just been moving along. They’re updating everything,” said Madelyn Coffey. “They have years of experience behind them, so they can just do with anything as the times are going,” said Bonita Akinola. “[Through] 60 years, [there’s] been different generations.” Meanwhile, the newcomers are excited about what this year has in store. “It has everything that I wanted, and it seems like a good college to be,” said Kaleb Monk. “Everyone’s friendly.” “I mean, [it’s] just a historic program. I love the school,” said Caleb Vaclavik. “The area is amazing, and I just knew that I want to play baseball here. It’s just amazing all together.”

tags: #Grayson #County #College #history #and #programs