Tyler

By BETTY WATERS
Staff Writer

Texas College President Dr. Billy C. Hawkins announced his resignation today after seven years at the helm of the Tyler institution, saying he accepted appointment as president of Talladega College in Talladega, Ala.

Hawkins’ resignation is effective Dec. 31 and he will begin his new duties on Jan. 1.

Hawkins said he is leaving TC with mixed emotions because of his love for the college, but that he wants to move on to accept a new challenge at Talladega College.

Coincidentally, Hawkins was the 20th president of Texas College and will be the 20th president of Talladega College. Both institutions are historically black colleges.

Hawkins transformed Texas College into a more solid institution, academically and financially. He led Texas College through the last stages of regaining reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools after SACS revoked its accreditation in the 1990s for failing to meet standards.

Early in Hawkins’ presidency, Texas College earned five-year reaccreditation, and then Hawkins guided the institution to a 10-year accreditation review under new SACS standards in 2006.

During his tenure, the campus underwent a makeover with many renovations and new facilities, new academic programs, major improvements in finances, increased fund-raising and grant procurement, acquisition of new property, the acquisition of new property, the addition of six new sports programs, enhanced campus technology and a new marching band.

Texas College was included in a recent listing by the magazine US News & World Report as one of the best colleges in America.

“This experience for me is like raising a newborn baby,” Hawkins said. “Texas College has grown up over the past seven years and still has some growing. When you have been the parent of something so precious, it is hard to walk away.”

But Hawkins added, “I believe God placed me at Texas College for a reason, and now he has called me to another institution where my talents and abilities are needed.”

Hawkins said his “proudest accomplishments” at Texas College is that he will leave the college with no long-term debt and all renovations paid for, which is unusual in higher education.

Hawkins raised $1 million in the first 90 days of his presidency in trying to overcome financial hardship facing Texas College at that time. There have been eight financial audits of Texas College during his tenure, all finding the college in the black and with auditors issuing unqualified opinions that the college was operating in line with accounting procedures.

Hawkins implemented four new academic programs — a “success program” for adult learners, religious studies, criminal justice and teacher certification.
Enrollment jumped 82 percent during the first nine months of his presidency, from 281 to 511, and has been as high as 1,035 during the past seven years with student diversification including Hispanics, whites, African Americans and others. Hawkins increased faculty and student research dollars in science and technology with grant funding he obtained.

During his presidency, Texas College acquired 5.5 acres from the city of Tyler, the former Emmett Scott High School property where a new soccer field was built, and also purchased five across the street from the existing campus for possible use for future dormitories.

Campus improvements during his tenure have included a new athletic training complex, band hall and fitness center and dance rehearsal hall, campus landscaping. Major renovations were made to Martin Hall auditorium, the library, main academic building, cafeteria, student union and dormitories.

Campus grounds beautification won a city of Tyler beautification award and included new signage, a wrought iron and brick column fence surrounding the front of the campus financed with private funding, a brick walkway, sprinkler system, pole lighting throughout the campus, a new parking lot and new sidewalks.

Four campus buildings were placed on local, state and national historic registries.
New athletic programs include football, with Texas College being two-time conference champs in three years; women’s softball, men’s soccer with Texas College conference champs for the first time, women’s soccer and men’s and women’s track teams. Texas College athletes ranked No. 1 in 2006 in academic standings with other athletes in the Red River Conference.

Texas College started a 100-member marching band and increased membership in the concert choir to 100 voices. The choir tours and performs across the state and outside of Texas.

Texas College Billy C. Hawkins (r) is pictured with his wife at halftime of Saturday's Texas College Homecoming football game.
(Spotted photo by Payton McCormick)