Sara Schaefer, Lubbock, TX, 2016

My Love and Passion is to help people in our community. My name is Sara and I graduated from Texas Tech in 2016.

I love to volunteer and help people have access to resources. I have been a part of multiple organizations serving our community. One of my favorite is Texas Ramp Project. I help coordinate with another person, free wheel chair ramps for people in our community. We build the ramps and it is 100% volunteer-based. We have the ability to help and change peoples lives in one day with mobility issues who cannot afford one.

My passion is to serve and to practice empathy with people in our community regardless of their situation. I try to use my energy for positive changes because no matter what is going on in the world, there are really good people in this world and everyone deserves compassion.

S. Bryan • Allen, TX • Class of 1978

I selected Tech because it was 350 miles from Dallas and the Architecture program of course and if my time wasn't consumed enough, I was in the Goin' Band and in a fraternity (KA)!! Whether it was marching to and from each football game from the Music Building or marching on the beach in Jacksonville, FL. prior to the 1973 Gator Bowl, our director, Dean Killion, and the band was a memory every day. Prior to the 1973 Gator Bowl, we would march through residential neighborhoods on our way to the practice field playing "March Grandioso" AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING; the neighborhood reception was encouraging and overwhelming!! My freshman year (1st semester) I did not have a car so I would ask girls to go to the Sub and watch free movies they provided for everyone on Friday nights. Sunday mornings the 1st Baptist Church had their student service at 9:30 so the days I would go to church I called the free Taxi service they provided. The "KAs" were just the "friendship icing" on top of an action packed experience that was second to none. Although the Tech Architecture program is GREAT, it was a marathon from day one from the project all-nighters, presentations / model building, professors and friends. Although it was one of the hardest challenges at that time in my life, I'm glad to have that Architecture degree from Texas Tech because when I graduated, architectural firms acknowledged the greatness of our program and I felt our program was light years beyond the other schools. Looking back to that time, there were no bad days, just care free memories I think about all the time.

Guns Up!!

Lindsay Mills • Elmira, NY • Class of 1981

I decided to attend Texas Tech in 1977 primarily because my father was an alumni, having graduated in 1950 with an Electrical Engineering degree. Growing up in upstate NY, long before the internet, on Saturday nights, we would sit in the family station wagon with the car antenna fully extended, and if weather conditions were right, listen to Tech football games on the radio. There was a 50,000 clear channel watt radio station in Fort Worth which would broadcast the games.

I had the opportunity in 1976 to visit the campus and quickly decided I wanted to attend Tech. I received my degree in Construction Engineering in 1981. Living in Murdough Hall, I met a group of fellow freshman from Sweetwater, Texas. We have been lifelong friends ever since. We get together whenever we can to attend Tech football games. On gamedays when we can't be together, we share a text thread where we all share our comments during the game.

My education has served me well throughout my working career allowing me to succeed in business and to be able to set up 2 endowed scholarships within the Construction Engineering Department. It has been a joy to read the letters from the scholarship recipients and hear their stories.

Nina Cortez • Houston, TX • Class of 2018

I have too many incredible memories to count from my time at Texas Tech. Lubbock brought me the most incredible and indispensable friendships and life lessons. I have many professors from the College of Media and Communications to thank for instilling such a fire in me and guiding me down my career path such as Dr.Peaslee, Bill Dean and Dr.Taylor just to name a few.

Leave it to a tiny town in old West Texas to mold me into the person I am today. Because of Texas Tech I was able to both appreciate tradition and receive an outstanding education. Some of my favorite memories are throwing my first tortilla in the Jones, wild nights on Broadway with my pals and a taking in a fresh coat of snow in the English and Philosophy courtyard plus many, many more.

I am so thankful to be a Red Raider. Happy 100th Birthday Texas Tech and Wreck 'Em forever!!

William (Tex) Wilson • Mt. Vernon, WA • Class of 1954

At age 93 I now reflect on my life in general and certainly my five years in Red Raider country, Texas Tech.

Becoming an artist of some sort was a dream of mine since the third grade but didn't know how I was going to achieve it. After graduating from Slaton High School in 1946 I learned that Texas Tech College in Lubbock offered a degree in Commercial Art. Interestingly, the Art and Architecture Departments were together under the Engineering Division. The tuition was $25.00 a semester and monthly room & board, $47.50. There were so many WWII veterans entering school on the GI Bill the enrollment at Texas Tech swelled from 1,000 to 4,000 students in a single semester. The rapid expansion caused numerous classes to be held in recycled army barracks. May seem archaic compared to Tech today.

I recall a few teachers and professors, i.e, Dr. Kleinshcmidt, Dr. Elizabeth Sasser, Edna Houghton, Richard Tracy and many others who helped immeasurably with my art and academic education. Joining the Socii Social Fraternity and the Saddle Tramps improved my social skills and created many occasions for promoting school spirit and just having fun. Carrying a full class load wasn't possible because it was necessary to have a part time job during the school year plus working for the Santa Fe Railroad in the summer.

Molly Collie • Burnet, TX • Class of 1986

I wasn't suppose to go to TTU. But at the last minute came for summer school with a friend already enrolled. I stayed, I pledged Pi Beta Phi. And I met my husband Ray Irvin also a freshman who was on the basketball and baseball team at the time, later just playing on the basketball team. I missed few basketball games as we started dating before his first season. To go through the old Southwest Conference games and tournament, to the excitement of the 84-85 year when they won it all conf and tourney!

My time at Tech is intertwined with Tech basketball, Greek life and Ray. We went on to live in Lubbock for many years afterwards, our twins were born in Lubbock and their first game was at about six weeks old in the "bubble" old coliseum where Tech beat the Aggies and it was deafening packed house. The babies slept through the whole thing! Through the years we have attended and had season tickets for many sports. My children attended many events for kids on campus.

Sadly Ray died after a car accident in December 2004 and there is a memorial bench between the Marsha Sharp center and the Frazier alumni Pavilion. My children's last events with their dad include Lady Raider basketball game in December and the month before a football game where they were on the field with their dad for a pre game presentation. Ray is memorialized on the bench in an etching of him shooting the basketball in his #52 jersey. We have many great memories of Texas Tech during our college years and beyond!

Mari Kate McLaughlin • Dallas, TX • Class of 2020

Texas Tech runs in my family's blood. My late grandfather attended Texas Technical College and graduated in 1959. I, along with my father, mother, three siblings, husband, aunts, uncles, and cousins attended Texas Tech University.

I vividly remember my first Texas Tech University football game at age 7. I remember going to school the next week with a double T tan line on my face from a sticker I had worn on my cheek. I remember wearing my Texas Tech cheerleading uniform to school in third grade and for many Halloweens. In my parents' home, we have a Texas Tech themed living room with framed diplomas, TTU wallpaper, and many pictures.

I grew up loving Texas Tech because of the community, traditions, and values of the university. I loved the university because those before loved it. During my senior year of high school, I knew I wanted to be a Red Raider. There were no other schools I had even considered.

Gary Swanzy • Fort Worth, TX • Class of 1978

I don't have any one memory of Tech. There are many. It was the whole experience of my four years on the High Plains. I had great instructors, mediocre ones, and some that were down right terrible. What I learned most was how to deal with the whole spectrum of life. Good people. Bad people. Experiences that will last me a lifetime and helped build who I am today. Mainly I learned how to deal with the highs and lows of life. What to look for to take any hope in bad situations or to just move away to something else. To enjoy what pleasures come my way.

To kind of paraphrase Kenny Rogers, I learned when things were going good or bad and what to look for to change the situation. Or to just move on. There were a lot of people from different states and countries so what mainly I learned was how to deal with the differences that make life the wonderful journey that it is.

Richard Ledesma • Lubbock, TX

As kids growing up in the 90's right across from the stadium. We would walk up to the practice field and watch our Red Raiders practice. One day out of the blue Coach dykes sees us and walked up up to at the time a 4 ft gate and says would y'all like to get up here and meet the guys we said yes. In shock of him calling the guys over I never forgot feeling so small. First up in his trademark half jersey # 35 himself Zack Thomas I remember feeling like my hand was gunna break lol. Then shaking Byron Hanspard hand. Playing catch with Zebe Lethridge, Tony Darden. That as a kid will always be what made me a Red Raider!

Brice Key • Amarillo, TX • Class of 1994 and 2011

Texas Tech alumnus and Ag Science & Natural Resources 1994 graduate, Brice Key, and his daughter, current Tech student, Emma Key, are reaching new heights in their prospective roles in the business world.

Emma, who grew up in Gail, TX and who is currently a Senior at Texas Tech University, started with Chick-fil-A in 2019 in Lubbock. Over the past three years, she has been promoted from Team Member to Team Lead to Store Manager to Director, and now, last week at the tender age of 21, she has been promoted to Executive Director within the Chick-fil-A organization. The Executive Director is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the CFA stores and strategic organizational planning. The only higher level is owner/operator. Emma is the youngest ED in Lubbock CFA history. She was also named "Chick-fil-A 2021 Employee of the Year" winning a sizable academic scholarship. Emma will graduate from Texas Tech with her Bachelor's degree in the Spring of 2023. When CFA thanked Emma for her leadership and continued loyalty to the brand of Chick-fil-A she replied with a smile..."my pleasure."

Her father, Brice Key, who also grew up in Gail on his family's cattle ranch and who is also a Texas Tech University graduate, has accepted a position as the National Key Account Manager-U.S. for Bayer Crop Science in the Turf and Ornamental division. Mr. Key earned his Bachelor's Degree in Ornamental Horticulture with a Turfgrass specialization and also a Master's Degree in Business Administration, both from Texas Tech University, ('94, '11).

Rodger Watkins • Bryan, TX • Class of 1956

I just love Texas Tech!

Erton Tate • Wichita Falls, TX • Class of 1956

My story includes my father's graduation year, 1936, which was also not shown. I taught an elementary accounting course in 1957. My father attended Texas Technological College when the football team was called the Toreadors (i.e. bull fighters), later changed to Red Raiders (maybe because of their red uniforms) by the Fort Worth Star Telegram when the Toreadors beat the TCU Horned Frogs.

Carol Henry • Cloudcroft, NM • Class of 1975

It was my first day of classes as a Freshman. I was by the library walking back to my dorm, and it began raining very hard! I ran into a friend who suggested that if I got on a "yellow" bus, I could get out of the rain and the bus would take me to my dorm. That sounded like a grand idea! I stood under a roof out of the rain and waited.....and waited....and waited. Several busses passed by, but they were all green and white busses. No yellow bus. So I finally just walked to my dorm. Later that evening, I was talking to some friends about the lack of yellow busses on campus. What a laugh we all had when I found out that those green and white busses all had a "route name" in front. There was a red, green, yellow, blue route. You just had to get on the correct "route" color! No doubt I waited thru several "yellow routes" before giving up on that yellow bus!

So that's my Freshman funny. I was humiliated as an 18 year old Freshman, but now it really does seem pretty humorous! I wonder if they still have the bus system on campus?

Bryce Dehlin • Canyon Lake, TX • Class of 2019

Where do I begin about Texas Tech. It's a place that I hold dearly, from the first game where I sat front row to walking across the stage and throwing the horns down symbol. Texas Tech is something I'm very proud to say I'm from. From the first week of welcome week where I didn't think I was going to make it to 3 years post graduation where I can't believe I did it. I've met so many friends and couldn't be more grateful for a university to give me as much as they did.

I always go out of my way to ask someone who has any sort of gear on when they went and strike up some sort of conversation with them. Tech brought me 5 years of pure joy while getting 2 degrees. The struggles of class and the highs of going to all sporting events. To see what we Tech students accomplished as a university in the time I was there was amazing. Getting such high remarks from our Research Programs to our sports it was something incredible every single day.

I proudly display my Tech gear and always get a smile whenever I see it in public on a car, or whenever someone is wearing it. Congratulations on 100 years Tech I can't wait to see what the next 100 years brings for us!

James T. South • Glen Allen, VA • Class of 1969

I arrived at Texas Technological College in the Fall of 1965, as part of the first wave of Baby Boomers to reach college age. Enrollment the previous year was 12,000. That year it was 16,000. There was scrambling for faculty and classroom space, and the growth never stopped. Among my Tech memories - in addition to the name change - are playing trumpet in the Goin' Band for 4 years (especially at the 1966 Gator Bowl - my first plane ride) when Dean Killion was director; working first for the Tech dormitory system, then at the original Gristy's Cleaners on 19th St., where I drove a delivery truck for two years; a sandstorm my sophomore year that knocked down two light standards on Jones Stadium; excellent classes in English Lit., especially with J. Wilkes Berry and James W. Culp; a Fall Convocation which included Gov.

John Connally, who wouldn't let the band sit behind him after being wounded during JFK's assassination; the Carol of Lights; being served pecan and cream cheese sandwiches as a meat choice in Carpenter Hall (!?); hanging out with friends at the Texas Tech Bible Chair on Broadway; and, coming back to Lubbock the year after my graduation to witness the aftermath of the 1970 tornado. So many life-changing experiences, and so many great memories!

Trey Hill • Idalou, TX • Class of 1981 and 1986

I was top 10% in high school in 1978 & was accepted at Texas Tech, UT & UTEP. I wanted to go to UT, but felt they didn't care if I ever showed up. Visiting Texas Tech, Dr. Tom Bacon in the Germanic & Slavic Languages met with my father and me in Spring 1978. Dr. Bacon seemed excited about an in-coming freshman, who already spoke German (although I was going to major in Political Science & go to law school). The entire interview was in German. At the end, Dr. Bacon shook my hand and said in English, "I hope you come to Tech", then turned to my father and said, "That way, UT won't get him." I thought - hell, these people want me, so I enrolled at Texas Tech.

Double-majored in German & Political Science (Dec. 1981), Master of Arts in German (Dec. 1983) and Doctor of Jurisprudence (May 1986). Interestingly, my daughter selected Texas Tech too and for about the same reason: UT didn't care if she showed up, Texas A&M just kept telling her how great it will be to be an Aggie, but Texas Tech told her, you are what we want in our honors college: rural, intelligent & female.

Ken Hargesheimer • Lubbock, TX • Class of 1957

I graduated in 1957 with a BS in dairy husbandry. The last three years I lived in one of the "feed rooms" in the dairy barn with 10 other students. We milked the cows 3 times a day. Rotated the cooking/clean up. Rotated the summers.

Roger Schuster • Lubbock, TX • Class of 1996

Texas Tech provides me with the perfect job for me since the most serious of my birth issues has so limited me now; Texas Tech allows me to work remotely solving and maintaining computer programs for the Rawls College of Business. I was impressed at my 20-year service pin ceremony when Dr. Schovanec remembered me from my math TA days, and I smile and think of Texas Tech when I hear Alanis Morrisette or other artists that were popular in my math TA days.

Bill Dean • Lubbock, TX • Class of 1961 and 1971

I came to Texas Tech on a journalism scholarship and a baseball scholarship. The journalism scholarship paid $200, and the baseball scholarship was books, tutition and fees. I lived at 2608-20th right behind what is now Café J. (It was St. Mary's Hospital in those days.). That was a pretty good deal.

I thoroughly enjoyed my early time on campus wearing a slime cap. I had a good academic background from Lubbock High School and made good grades, except for Zoology. I played baseball that spring and missed several labs. I swore if I could just pass, I would never enter the Biology Building again. I made a D.

I made lifelong friends in my fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, and in the journalism department. My parents frowned on journalism, and I eventually transferred to marketing, with a minor in journalism.

Darren James • Lubbock, TX • Class of 1955

Where to begin.....growing up in Houston, I knew I wanted to go to college far away! Once I set foot on this campus to visit it, I knew it was home.

For those who never had the pleasure of the "all you can eat buffet" in every dining hall - you really missed out! There wasn't anything a la carte back then. They scanned you in and you went to town - and gained 15 lbs!

There were lots of great professors then who made a difference in my life. With a degree in Accounting, I knew I could do anything with it. Tech prepared me for the real world as they say.