History of TACRAO

The History of the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers

Acknowledgement: This brief summary liberally borrows from the work done in 1995 by Mike Allen, Mike Smith and others in creating the publication, “The Texas Association of Collegiate Registrar and Admissions Officers: A Historical Perspective.” And from the work of the 1986 Historical Committee, chaired by Dana Ransom.
 
The Texas Associate of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers was founded in 1916 and is a voluntary and nonprofit professional educational association of cooperating collegiate level institutions. Its general purpose is to contribute to the advancement of higher education in its fullest and broadest implications. The specific purposes are to advance professionally the work and positions in the offices of admissions, records and registration and other closely related functions within institutions of higher learning.
 
TACRAO has always been an active organization that has addressed the concerns of its members and steadily grown in the extent of its activities during the years. It is hoped that the material contained in this brief summary of our history will give today’s members a sense of belonging to an organization that has made significant contributions to its members and their institutions, to the students of those institutions, and generally to higher education in Texas.
 
December 28, 1916, the Texas Branch of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars is formally organized.
1st 1921, Houston
2nd – 6th 1922 – 1926, Locations unknown
7th Spring 1928, Southern Methodist University, Dallas
President – R. L. Brewer,
Southern Methodist University
9th Spring 1929, Baker Hotel, Dallas
President – Pearl Neas,
Southwestern University

First Annual Institute is held November 11-12,  1929, in the Education Building at the University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas Registrar E. J. Mathews presided. Topics included Pre-Registration and Freshman Orientation, Transcripts, and Permanent Records. At the conclusion of the institute it was decided to discontinue meeting in the spring with the Texas Association of Colleges and to meet instead in the fall each year.
 
10th  November 14-15, 1930, Agricultural & Mechanical College, College Station President – E. J.  Howell, John Tarleton Agricultural College (After registration all were conducted to the home of Mr. & Mrs. Friley where refreshments were served, stories and jokes were told, and this happy occasion gave the correct setting for the meeting.
11th    October 30-31, 1931, Baylor University, Waco President, D. A. Shirley, West Texas State Teachers College
12th November 11-12, 1932, Texas Hotel, Fort Worth
President – E. R. Tucker, Texas Christian University (deceased June 30, 1932)
Edna Phillips, Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College
(Forty-one institutions represented)
13th November 3-4, 1933, Jefferson Hotel, Dallas
President – E. J. Mathews,
University of Texas
14th October 26-27, 1934, St. Anthony Hotel, San Antonio
President – Charlie Wilkins, John Tarleton Agricultural College
15th October 18-19, 1935, Texas Hotel, Forth Worth
President, W. P. Clement, Texas Technological College
16th November 6-7, 1936, Baker Hotel, Dallas
President – R.L. Brewer, Southern Methodist University
17th October 29-30, 1937, Rice Hotel, Houston
President – Marshal Rix, Sam Houston State Teachers College

On October 30, 1937, the name of the organization was changed to The Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars.
 
18th  October 28-29, 1938, Union Building, University of Texas, Austin
President – Iris Graham, McMurry College
(Forty four institutions represented)
19th  October 20-21, 1939, Adolphus Hotel, Dallas
President – Francis Emerson, Texas State College for Women
(A motion carried to suspend the collection of $1.00 per person dues for the year.)
20th October 25-26, 1940, Roosevelt Hotel, Waco
President – Frank M. Allen, Baylor University
21st October 24-25, 1941, Plaza Hotel, San Antonio
President – Max Fichtenbaum, University of Texas at Austin
(Attendance reached 73 attendees from 43 colleges)

The 1942 convention was cancelled due to World War II.
 
22nd November 23-24, 1943, Texas Hotel, Ft. Worth
President – S.W. Hutton, Texas Christian University
23rd
November 14-15, 1944, Adolphus Hotel, Dallas
President – Fred H. Junkin, Schreiner Institute
(Attendance fell to 37 attendees from 33 colleges)

The 1943 convention was not held.
 
24th    April 1-2, 1946, Adolphus Hotel, Dallas
President – J.T. Haney, College of Mines
(Theme is “Growth, Progress and Leadership”)
25th March 2-4, 1947, The Gunter Hotel, San Antonio
President – H.L. Heaton, A&M College
26th October 30-31, November 1, 1947, Hotel Texas, Ft. Worth
President – Claude Elliott, Southwest Texas State Teachers College
27th October 28-29, 1948, T-F., Gunter Hotel, San Antonio
President – Thomas J. Treadaway, Saint Mary’s University
28th October 27-29, 1949, Baker Hotel, Dallas
President – Alex Dickie, North Texas State College
(Attendance was 73 with 10 or 12 new members)
29th October 19-21, 1950, Shamrock Hotel, Houston
President – Terrell Spencer, University of Houston
30th October 18-20, 1951, Texas Hotel, Ft. Worth
President – Leonard G. Nystrom, Southern Methodist University
31st November 6-8, 1952, Memorial Student Center, College Station
President – H. Y. McCown, University of Texas at Austin
(Conference format went from speech type to workshop type)
32nd December 10-12, 1953, Hotel Adolphus, Dallas
President – Truett Grant, Baylor University
(VP Ray Laird presided since Truett Grant was re-called into the Armed Forces)
33rd December 2-4, 1954, Nueces Hotel, Corpus Christi
President – John E. Tompkins, Tarleton State College
34th December 5-7, 1955, Wooten Hotel, Abilene
President – Frank H. Morgan, West Texas State College
35th Decmber 4-5, 1956, Adolphus Hotel, Dallas
President – Jerome Vannoy, McMurry College
(The meeting was held jointly with the Southern Associations of College and University  Registrars)
36th November 19-21, 1957, Gunter Hotel, San Antonio
President – Grady Anderson, Del Mar College
(A workshop on punch card machines sponsored by AACRAO and IBM was held)
37th November 18-20, 1958, Hotel Texas, Ft. Worth
President – Perrin Smith,
The University of Texas
38th November 17-19, 1959, Rice Hotel, Houston
President – Nadyne Bowen,
University of Texas – Dental Branch at Houston

On November 19, 1959, the name of the organization was changed to The Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
 
39th   November 15-17, 1960, Hilton, El Paso
President – Alton Lee
Baylor University
(Theme: The Registrar and the Explosive Sixties)
40th November 14-16, 1961, Jack Tar Hotel, Galveston
President – Ramon Vitulli, University of Houston
41st November 13-15, 1962, St. Anthony Hotel, San Antonio
President – R.G. Perryman, Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
(A worship service was held for the commemoration of Pearl Neas who was one of the three founders of the organization.)
42nd November 5-7, 1963, Baker Hotel, Dallas
President – Calvin Cumbie,
President – Texas Christian University
(Conference registration was $2.00)
43rd November 10-12, 1964, Commodore Perry Hotel, Austin
President – J.M. Whitaker,
El Paso Public Schools
(142 attended from 89 schools)
44th November 9-11, 1965, Continental Houston, Houston
President – J. Douglas Conner, Southern Methodist University
45th November 9-11, 1966, W-F, Fairway Motor Hotel, McAllen
President – W. Byron Shipp, The University of Texas
46th November 7-9, 1967, Green Oaks Inn, Ft. Worth
President – Helen Hutchins
South Texas Junior College
47th November 5-7, 1968, El Tropicana, San Antonio
President – S.W. McKewen,
Stephen F. Austin State College
48th November 9-12, 1969, S-W, Hotel Aiffer, Mexico City, Mexico
President – Floyd Boze, Texas Tech University
(This is the only time TACRAO has met in another country. This required special approval by Governor Preston Smith, who  allowed the members to leave the United States and be reimbursed for expenses.)
49th November 9-11, 1970, Villa Capri Hotel, Austin
President – John Westberry
Texas Southern University
(A resolution was made to support in writing the nomination of Calvin Cumbie, Registrar at TCU, to the office of President-Elect of AACRAO. Calvin was elected.)
50th November 8-10, 1971,  Flagship Hotel, Galveston
President – Wilbur Dennis, Eastfield College
51st November 13-15, 1972, Holiday Inn, Downtown El Paso
President – Rex Jackson,
University of Texas at Austin
(Hotel rooms were $13.00 for a single and $18.00 for a double.)
52nd November 12/14, 1973, Hilton Inn, Dallas
President – Don Cates
West Texas State University
(This was the first year TACRAO invited vendors to exhibit during the convention.)
53rd November 11-13, 1974, Sheraton Lincoln, Houston
President – Charles Bay,
Tarrant County Junior College District
(The 191 registrants were forced to evacuate the hotel during the opening reception when a fire broke out on the roof of the hotel.)
54th November 10-12, 1975, El Tropicana Hotel, San Antonio
President – Donald Carter,
Texas Wesleyan College
(305 registered which, at the time, was thought to be a record.)
55th November 7-10, 1976, S-W, Lakeway Inn & Marina, Austin
President – Clyde Iglinsky
Stephen F Austin State University
56th November 13-16, 1977, S-W, Hilton Hotel, Corpus Christi
President – Robert Mulcahy
Houston Community College
57th November 5-8, 1978, Sheraton Fairway, McAllen
President – Norris Kelton
Lamar University (Theme: The Challenge of Change)
58th November 11-14, 1979, Kahler Green Oaks Inn, Ft. Worth
President – Betty Bullock,
Midwestern State University
(Theme: Management: Key to the Future)
59th November, 1980, St. Anthony Hotel, San Antonio
President – Roy Lazenby,
North Harris County College
60th November 8-11, 1981, S-W, Convention Center, El Paso
President – Billy Lay,
Texas A&M
(Theme: Creativity)
61st November 7-10, 1982, S-W, Marriot, Greenspoint, Houston
President – Fred Russell, East Texas State University
(Theme: Partners for Progress)
62nd November 6-9, 1983, Hyatt Regency, Austin
President – Don Palermo,
North Texas State University
63rd November 4-7, 1984, Market Center Marriott, Dallas
President – Cathie Jackson, Tarrant County Junior College
(Theme: The Future is Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow)
64th November 3-6, 1985, S-W, Hilton Resort, South Padre Island
President – Augustine Garza
University of Texas at Austin
(Theme: Forecasting Changes in the 80’s. Registrars 44.1% and 29.5% Admissions Officers; 51.4% Male and 47.3% Female; and 18.8% in the $14-$18,000 salary range and 16.6% in the over $38,000 salary range.)   
65th November 2-5, 1986, Hilton, College Station
President – Teresa Phillips,
North Harris County College
(Theme: Learning from our Past, Looking to the future.)             
66th November 8-11, 1987, St. Anthony Hotel, San Antonio
President – John Hall, Southern Methodist University
(Theme: Higher Education the Future of Texas. The first pre-conference workshop for TACRAO was offered: How to Develop a Service Management Program for your Institution.)
67th November 6-9, 1988, Marriott Corpus Christi
President – John Brown,
University of Texas at San Antonio
(Theme: Charting a Course for Tomorrow.)
68th November 5-8, 1989. Airport Hilton, El Paso
President: Dale Hargrove, San Jacinto College Central
(Theme: Challenging New Horizons)
69th November 4-7, 1990, Lubbock Plaza, Lubbock
President – Joneel Harris, University of North Texas
(Theme: Winds of Change: New Directions for the 90’s. TACRAO was granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue  Service as described in section 501(c)(3) of the revenue code.)
70th November 3-6, 1991, San Luis, Galveston
President – John Edwards, East Texas State University
(Theme: Building Bridges for Texas Students)
71st November 7-11, 1992, Holiday Inn Centre, Odessa
President – Francette Carnahan, Tomball College
(Theme: Linking Resources for Professional Strength)
72nd October 31- November 3, 1993, Sheraton Gunter Hotel, San Antonio
President – Lois Monroe, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Theme: Doing More with Less)
73rd November 6-9, 1994, Radisson Resort, South Padre Island
President – Dana Ransom, Kilgore College
(Theme: Ride the Waves of Change)
74th November 5-8, 1995,The Marriott Bayfront, Corpus Christi
President – Marcilla Collinsworth, University of North Texas
(Theme: Charting New Horizons)
75th November, 9-13, 1996, Renaissance Hotel Austin
President – Mike Allen, The University of Texas at Austin
(Theme: Past, Present, and Future of TACRAO)
76th November 1-5, 1997, Radisson Plaza Hotel, Ft. Worth
President – Richard Elliott, Trinity University
(Theme: Tomorrow’s Dreams Today)
77th October 31- November 4, 1998, Hilton College Station and Conference Center,
College Station
President – Suzanne Carter, Tarrant County Junior College, Northeast Campus
(Theme: Preparing for the Future)
78th November 6-10, 1999, Holiday Inn Park Plaza, Lubbock
President – William Morris,
The University of Texas – Pan American
(Theme: Remember the Past, Ensure the Future)
79th November, 2000, Moody Gardens, Galveston
President – Mike Smith, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (Theme: Migrating to a New Millennium)
80th October 26-31, 2001. Adams Mark Hotel,
Dallas
President – Dorothy Kiser, Hardin-Simmons University (Theme: TACRAO 2001, An Eighty Year Odyssey)
81st November 2-6, 2002, Omni Bayfront Hotel, Corpus Christi
President – Wanda Simpson, San Jacinto College – North
(Theme: Steering the Course Toward Leadership and Involvement)
82nd October 25-29, 2003, Multi-Purpose Event Center/Holiday Inn, Wichita Falls
President – Troy Johnson,
West Texas A&M University
(Theme: Leading the Lone Star)
83rd November 6-10, 2004, Omni Hotel, San Antonio
President – David Petrash, Grayson County College
(Theme: Rollin’ on the River)
84th October 29-November 2, 2005, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Houston
President – Manual Lujan Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
(Theme: CSI Houston – TACRAO Investigates)
85th November 4-8, 2006,
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Austin
President –Alfred Rodriguez, Jr., Trinity University
(Theme: Special Session)
86th November 10-14, 2007
Hotel Intercontinental, Addison
President – Janie Neighbors, North Central Texas College
(Theme: Building Collegiate Success)
87th November 1-5, 2008
Omni Bayfront Hotel, Corpus Christi       
President – Rebecca Lothringer
University of North Texas
(Theme: Changes in Latitude)
88th November 7-11, 2009
Lubbock Civic Center, Lubbock
President – Margaret Dechant, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
(Theme: TACRAO Promise: Educating Our Future)
89th November 14-17, 2010
Moody Gardens Resort, Galveston Island
President – Dave Stones, Southwestern University – Georgetown
(Theme: Surfing for Success)
90th November 5-9, 2011
Riverwalk San Antonio
President – Trey Hattaway, Kilgore College
(Theme: Let’s Fiesta! Celebrating 90 Years of Building Bridges)
91St November 4-7, 2012
Sheraton Hotel Downtown Dallas
President – Berri O’Neal, Universities Center at Dallas
(Theme: Sustaining Our Scholars)
92nd November 10-13, 2013
El Paso Convention Center
President – Oscar Reyna, Texas A&M International University
(Theme: Leading Texans to Success)
93rd October 27-30, 2014
Waco Convention Center
President – Becki Griffith, Lee College
(Theme: Taking Charge of Change)
94th November 8-11, 2015
Hyatt Regency – Houston
President – Charles Kettlewell, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
(Theme: Reaching New Heights through Innovation, Imagination, and Collaboration)
95th November 13-16, 2016
Horseshoe Bay Resort, Horseshoe Bay, Texas
President – Darla Inglish, Midwestern State University
(Theme: 100 Years of Making a Difference in the Lives of Our Students)
96th November 5-8, 2017
South Padre Island
President – Irene Robinson, Alvin Community College
(Theme: Charting the Course for Student Success)
97th November 4-7, 2018
Fort Worth
President – Joe Papari, Southern Methodist University
(Theme: Blazing New Trails in Higher Education)
98th November 3-6, 2019
Galveston Convention Center
President - Sofia Almeda Montes, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
(Theme:  Embracing Our Past, Shaping Our Future)
99th November 9-11, 2020
Originally scheduled for San Antonio, the conference was moved to a virtual format due to COVID-19 pandemic
President - Bobby Lothringer, Texas Woman's University/Southern Methodist University
(Theme: Using Hindsight for Future Vision)
100th

November 7-10, 2021
Lubbock Civic Center
President - Jamie Hansard, Texas Tech University
(Theme: Setting the Sun, Promising Another Century of Success)

101st

November 6-9, 2022
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
President - Paige Bussell, Texas A&M University-Commerce                                                                                                              
(Theme: Riding Into the Next Century of TACRAO)

102nd

October 29- November 1, 2023
Embassey Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center
President - Melinda Carroll, North Central Texas College                                                                                                        
(Theme: Innovation for Student Success)