Historical Data
September 5, 2022, marked the 50th Anniversary of the start of classes at Vernon College. Over the past 52 years, the College has grown and changed to meet the needs of our students, faculty and staff.
On January 20, 1970, a majority of the citizens of Wilbarger County voted to create the Wilbarger County Junior College District. Following that decision, Vernon Regional Junior College was established. During the first 10 years, the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. David L. Norton as the first president on April 9, 1970, and campus construction began in May 1971. The first buildings built included an Academic Science Center, Administration-Fine Arts Center, Applied Arts Center, Library, and Student Center. On September 5, 1972, 608 students began classes on the Vernon campus. Dr. Jim M. Williams became the College’s second president on August 1, 1974. In the fall semester of that year, combined on- and off-campus enrollment exceeded 800 students. During the 1975-76 academic year, the College expanded its services to include a learning center on Sheppard Air Force Base. Additionally, enrollment in credit courses, both on- and off-campus, increased to 1,199. The scope of the Vocational Nursing Program was enlarged during the 1976-77 academic year with the assumption of the Bethania School of Vocational Nursing in Wichita Falls. In August 1976, the Physical Education Center was dedicated in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas A. King longtime benefactors of Vernon College.
Growth and changes continued through the 1980s. A Student Residence Center, accommodating 128 students, opened in August 1980. Program offerings in the Wichita Falls area expanded through the absorption of an existing proprietary school that was renamed the Vernon College Technical Center and the integration of the nursing program from the Wichita Falls Independent School District. Vernon College welcomed Dr. Joe Mills as its third president on March 22, 1982. That fall, the College fielded its first intercollegiate rodeo team. During 1983-84, the Department of Cosmetology and the Career Development Center (previously known as the North Texas Skills Center) were established in Wichita Falls. On the Vernon campus, the Chaparral Center was completed, and the Pease River farm purchased through a state land trade. The following academic year, 1984-85, Vernon College reached a record credit enrollment of 1,863 and a record continuing education enrollment of 7,056. The College opened a Vocational Nursing Program in Seymour, and the Board of Trustees established a college foundation. On the Vernon campus, the Trustees approved an agreement to allow construction of the Red River Valley Museum. In February 1987, the College played its first intercollegiate baseball game at Vernon. In May of that year, the new Natatorium opened in the King Physical Education Center. A newly constructed Athletic Dormitory opened to house 28 athletes in August 1988. In October, Trustees voted to add women’s volleyball as a varsity sport, effective with the fall 1989 semester. In May 1989 Vernon College moved all Wichita Falls programs to one centralized location—Century City Center.
Three campus buildings were renamed throughout 1989-90. The library was renamed in memory of Leroy and Una Lee Wright, founders of Wright Brand Foods. Lloyd and Madelyn Osborne were recognized when the Administration Building was renamed in their honor. The Arts and Sciences Center was renamed in honor of Electra Waggoner Biggs. On September 5, 1990, the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Wade Kirk as the fourth president of Vernon College. In February 1996, the first intercollegiate women’s fast pitch softball team was fielded. That spring, the College completed the installation of the infrastructure necessary for computer networking and Internet access. Providing training for area industries, the Skills Training Center opened in Wichita Falls in January 1997. Fall 1998 saw the College expand the use of technology throughout its operations; offering a full range of distance learning courses via interactive video, Internet, and video tape. Internet access for students became available in libraries and resource rooms at every major instructional location. A mid-range computer system and an integrated software package were installed at Vernon College to serve administrative computing functions. In 1999, two campus buildings were renamed. The Student Center in honor of members of the Colley Family. The Applied Arts Center was renamed in honor of Joe Chat Sumner, III, Chairman of the Vernon College Foundation Board of Directors and in memory of his mother, Mary Anderson Sumner.
Entering the 21st Century, the softball facility on the Vernon campus was named Wade Kirk Softball Field on June 5, 2000, in honor of retiring President, Dr. Wade Kirk. That same day, Dr. Steve Thomas was named by the Board of Trustees as the College’s fifth president. On May 23, 2001, Vernon Regional Junior College was renamed Vernon College. The College purchased the Century City Center complex as a permanent Wichita Falls location on July 13, 2004, to provide space for the College’s expanding academic and career and technical education programs in the Wichita Falls area. Vernon College achieved a record credit enrollment of 2,803 during the fall 2005 semester. Work also began on the renovation of the Osborne Administration Building in Vernon, consolidating administrative offices under one roof. In late 2005, the newly renovated King Physical Education Center reopened. In September 2006, the new wing of the Osborne Administration Building opened. Throughout the year, Vernon College continued to add new programs and classes to meet the needs of students and area business and industry. During 2007-2008 Vernon College celebrated 35 years of teaching, learning, and leading. Five new classrooms, several offices and a new student lounge opened in recently renovated space at Century City Center. The Sumner and Biggs buildings on the Vernon campus also underwent renovations that same year. In addition, donors established five new endowed scholarships and the Vernon College Foundation reached the $1 million investment milestone in April 2007. Work also began on establishing the Vernon College Alumni Association. The 2008-2009 academic year was one of changes. Dr. Thomas resigned as president and after an extensive search, the Board of Trustees and the college community welcomed Dr. Dusty R. Johnston as the sixth Vernon College president. In 2014, the Vernon College Rodeo Program saw 16 new horse stalls, bringing the total to 52 covered stalls and the addition of a third practice arena.
The past few years have been marked by development and implementation of extensive planning processes, thorough assessment programs, conservative budgeting, data driven decision making, and tremendous emphasis on ensuring student success as defined by retention, completion, and transfer. In addition, the facilities have been enhanced with renovations to the Bob and Anna Wright Baseball Complex and the $7.4 million expansion and renovation of the Century City Center. In 2015, in recognition of his support over more than 25 years, the Vernon College Rodeo Complex was named in honor of Joe Chat Sumner, III. Additionally, the Vernon College Rodeo Arena was named in honor of former Rodeo Coach, John Mahoney.
Also in 2015, the U. S. Department of Education awarded Vernon College a five-year $2,234,334 Strengthening Institutions Grant. This award enabled the College to create a Student Success Department to help our students accomplish their educational goals at Vernon College.
In July 2019, Vernon College was reaffirmed for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Three (3) new credit programs began in the 2020-2021 Academic Year – Barber, Medical Assisting and Dental Assisting. In 2022-2023 new Continuing Education Programs were established: Court Reporting, Massage Therapy, and Truck Driving
Since the College opened its doors over 50 years ago, many individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations have made an investment in our students through the creation of endowed and annual scholarships. As of this year, more than 140 scholarship funds are available to help students pursue their educational dreams. In the years ahead, the College will continue to fulfill its commitment to its students, faculty, staff and the communities it serves.