Weatherford College

Weatherford College (WC; officially Weatherford College of the Parker County Junior College District) is a community college located in Weatherford, Texas, with branch campuses in nearby Decatur and Mineral Wells. With an unbroken operating history as a two-year college going back to 1921 (and having operated continuously in some fashion since 1876), WC claims the title of the oldest community college in Texas.

As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of WC includes all of Jack, Palo Pinto, Parker, and Wise Counties. [Texas Education Code, Section 130.209, "Weatherford College District Service Area".]

History

WC's roots date back to the Phoenix Masonic Lodge, which laid the cornerstone for the school on July 5, 1869 at the corner of South Main and Lee Streets in Weatherford. After years of construction starts and delays, the first graduating class of six students received their diplomas on June 15, 1876.

The Masons sold the college in June 1889 to the Weatherford district of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, who changed the name to Weatherford College. From then to the early 1900s, WC went through numerous changes of ownership, names, and oversight as it tried to establish itself in the community.

In 1921, WC was reorganized as a junior college, offering college courses leading to the Associate of Arts degree as well as several high school courses leading to a high school diploma.

Enrollment dropped during World War II forcing the college to accept a merger proposal submitted by Southwestern University of Georgetown, Texas, who changed the name once again to Weatherford College of Southwestern University.

However, on April 30, 1949, Southwestern University dissolved the merger and asked local leaders (either the city of Weatherford or Parker County) to accept ownership. The Parker County Commissioners Court called a special election to establish the Parker County Junior College District, which was approved by a vote margin of almost three to one. The college (now named Weatherford College of the Parker County Junior College District) opened for its first session in September 1949.

Facing continued growth, and landlocked in its existing location, WC purchased 90 acres in southeastern Weatherford and built a new facility which opened in the fall of 1968.

After celebrating 130 years of service to the community, WC expanded its commitment to providing quality education within its service area by opening the Education Center at Decatur. Responding to the needs of the Wise County community, WC, in partnership with the Decatur Economic Development Corporation, began offering classes at the new facility in January 2000. Later, the Education Center at Mineral Wells opened on the old Fort Wolters facility.

Notable alumni

*Stedman Graham - American educator, author, businessman, speaker and served in the United States Army and known as the partner of media mongul Oprah Winfrey.

References

External links

[http://www.wc.edu/ Weatherford College]