Tejas Club
 | |
| Type | Secret society |
|---|---|
| Established | 1925 |
| Location | |
The Tejas Club is one of the oldest student organizations at the University of Texas at Austin. It was founded in 1925, and only has male members. The official purpose of the club is "to allow our members to live a more complete life by sharing their personalities, abilities and efforts to promote good fellowship and a high standard of conduct among ourselves and our fellow students, to encourage loyalty and usefulness to our school, and to further good scholarship."[1] The membership process of the organization is secretive and not open to the public.
Establishment
The Tejas Club was formed in 1925 by Tom Renfro and Howell Cobb with the vision of establishing "a club on this campus composed of men whom we believe to be honorable."[2] In its early years, Tejas was associated with Theta Nu Epsilon (ΘΝΕ), a nationwide sophomore class society which also included such organizations as Skull and Bones at Yale University, and The Machine at the University of Alabama.[3]
On Campus
Tejas members have always been a highly involved and diverse group of men at the University of Texas. Members of the Tejas Club have served as student body presidents and vice presidents, head cheerleaders, Texas Cowboys, Silver Spurs, Texas Blazers, leadership within the Longhorn Band, chairmen of the University Union board of directors, and many other important roles on campus.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
The Tejas Club celebrated its 90th anniversary on September 5 and 6 of 2015.[11][12]
Since the early 1930s, the Tejas Club has hosted a weekly speaker series called Tejas Coffee. As is tradition, Tejas Coffees serve as an opportunity for students to interact with influential members of their community in an inviting setting, every Thursday evening. Recent speakers have included UT professor and actor Matthew McConaughey, Texas Longhorns athletics coaches Mack Brown, Rick Barnes, Shaka Smart[13][14], Tom Herman[15], and Augie Garrido; Founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Tim League[16]; Former World No. 1 tennis player, Andy Roddick[17]; UT professors Robert Metcalfe, H.W. Brands, and Larry Speck; current UT president Gregory L. Fenves [18]and former UT presidents William C. Powers and Larry Faulkner; former University of Texas System chancellor Mark Yudof; former Secretary of the Air Force Hans Mark; former National Security Agency director Bobby Ray Inman; Celebrity Chef, Tyson Cole [19]; Whole Foods CEO, John Mackey[20]; Cyclist Lance Armstrong[21], and Texas politicians Beto O'Rourke[22], Wendy Davis, James Talarico, Christi Craddick, Kel Seliger, and Carole Keeton Strayhorn among others.[23]
Alumni
Many notable alumni of the University of Texas are Tejas Braves. The Tejas Foundation was created in 1953 to establish communication between former and current members of the club. To this day, the alumni of Tejas continue to be involved with helping the club provide housing, encourage scholarship, and organize various events.[24]
Alumni of the Tejas Club include:
- Harley Clark,[25] former judge, attorney, and UT student body president; creator of the "Hook 'em Horns" hand sign.[7]
- Frank C. Cooksey, former Mayor of Austin, Texas.
- Alex Cranberg, University of Texas System regent; founder and chairman of Aspect Holdings, LLC.[26][27][28]
- Robert H. Dedman, Sr.,[29] former billionaire, founder and chairman of ClubCorp, and owner of the Pinehurst Resort.[30]
- Michael L. Gillette,[31] author, historian, and non-profit executive.[32]
- W. Page Keeton,[33] former attorney and dean of the University of Texas School of Law.[34][35]
- Royce C. Lamberth,[36] current Senior Judge and former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.[37][38]
- Austin Ligon,[39] co-founder and former president and CEO of CarMax.[40][41]
- Steve Poizner,[42] businessman, entrepreneur, and Republican politician.[43][44]
- Rex Tillerson,[45] former United States Secretary of State, former chairman, president, and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation.[46][47]
- Malcolm Wallace,[48] former UT student body president, economist for the United States Department of Agriculture,[49] and press secretary to then-United States Senator Lyndon B. Johnson.[50]
See also
References
- ^ "Office of the Dean of Students - Student Activities - Registered Student Organization Database". University of Texas.[dead link]
- ^ "Tejas Club - History".
- ^ Theta Nu Epsilon
- ^ "Rady, Strickland elected Student Government president, vice president in tight contest".
- ^ "UT organizations rally to rename Student Activity Center".
- ^ "A farewell from Student Government".
- ^ a b "History and Traditions". Texas Exes.
- ^ "Student Government Profile: Horacio Villarreal and Ugeo Williams".
- ^ "University Unions Board of Directors".
- ^ https://www.dailytexanonline.com/2019/03/08/camron-goodman-amie-jean-named-student-body-president-vice-president-by-overwhelming
- ^ "Tejas Foundation".
- ^ "Why is there a Tejas Club?". The UT History Corner.
- ^ http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2019/10/18/freshmen-adjust-to-new-life-as-student-athletes
- ^ https://twitter.com/TejasClub/status/1182697066105102336?s=20
- ^ http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2017/02/24/hundreds-cram-into-tejas-houses-front-yard-to-see-tom-herman
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/events/397452707873955/
- ^ http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2019/03/10/students-come-together-to-hear-from-tennis-player-andy-roddick-at-tejas-coffee
- ^ https://twitter.com/gregfenves/status/1118881145616257024
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/B3PrWNKlDqU/
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/events/160219108249888/
- ^ https://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/10/02/tejas-club-hosts-lance-armstrong-in-weekly-speaker-series
- ^ https://www.dailytexanonline.com/2017/09/25/beto-orourke-tells-students-about-his-life-plans-for-immigration-reform
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-11-23. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Texas Longhorns Athletics - Traditions: Hook 'em, Horns hand signal".
- ^ Christopher Helman (13 September 2012). "Newest Iraqi Gusher Could Make Texas Oilman A Billionaire". Forbes.
- ^ "Regent Alex M. Cranberg - University of Texas System".
- ^ "The Alcalde".
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/21/obituaries/21DEDM.html
- ^ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1016181/index.htm
- ^ Michael L Gillette
- ^ http://www.statesman.com/news/lifestyles/oral-history-rekindles-lady-bird-johnsons-voice/nTHTx/
- ^ W. Page Keeton
- ^ "Office of the General Faculty Home Page".
- ^ "Tarlton Law Library - First Year Societies- online exhibit".
- ^ Royce C. Lamberth
- ^ "Chief Judge Royce C Lamberth". Archived from the original on 2010-07-07.
- ^ "Judge Royce C. Lamberth/Tejas Scholarship".
- ^ Austin Ligon
- ^ "UT College of Liberal Arts:". 12 April 2016.
- ^ "To the Moon ‹ Life & Letters Magazine".
- ^ Steve Poizner
- ^ "Steve Poizner".
- ^ "Steve Poizner On Encore Career Institute". World News.
- ^ Rex Tillerson
- ^ Christopher Helman. "Rex Tillerson". Forbes.
- ^ "The Alcalde".
- ^ "TU EX-Student Leader Jailed In Slaying; Malcolm E. Wallace Charged in Death of Golf Professional". Valley Morning Star. Harlingen, Texas. October 24, 1951. p. 1.
- ^ Jones, Garth (August 14, 1985). "Federal Official's Death Certificate Ordered Changed". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. AP. p. 8A. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
- ^ Dalton, Kyle. "Butler Pitch and Putt in Austin: Murder in the clubhouse, fun on the golf course". www.golftexas.com. Retrieved June 16, 2014.