Leading With a Smile Years of success for Lazenby started at ENMU By Thomas Ash The first time Dr. Roy Lazenby (BS 63)
For the next 25 years, Dr. Lazenby earned
served as a president on a college campus
advanced degrees while building an
was at Eastern New Mexico University. It
impressive track record as an instructor
was 1959 and Roy’s classmates chose him
and administrator. In 1973, his path led
to lead the freshman class as president.
him to North Harris County College
Things were much different then – a
located in the northwest Houston area.
movie ticket was one dollar, a gallon of
He was hired as the first director of
gas, 25 cents. Mattel introduced Barbie
student services and registrar for the
to young girls across the nation, and the
fledging community college system.
first microchip was invented.
There, he later recalled, “I happily
Every year since, Roy has been a part of
registered the first student.” The new
something special. He led his sophomore class as president while leading the folks in the bleachers as a cheerleader
college, which initially operated as a night school, didn’t have a home of its own, so classes were taught at a nearby
alongside ENMU mascots Ralf and Roxy.
high school.
As a junior, Roy was a charter member
As the college grew into an institution
of two fraternities, Delta Sigma Phi and Kappa Sigma. In his senior year, Roy served on the Inter-Fraternity Council, the governing body of the College’s fraternities. His remarkably warm smile paid offf once again when Roy was voted Yucca Beau, an honor given to the class’ favorite student.
with multiple campuses, Dr. Lazenby rose to the position of dean of students. When, in 1981, the residents of Tomball, Texas, voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining the college system, plans for a local campus began and a groundbreaking ceremony was held in 1985. Soon after, Dr. Lazenby was named the first and founding president of Tomball College.
Even in “retirement,” Dr. Lazenby
During construction of campus buildings,
continued to help improve people’s lives
the new president and his sole assistant worked from a small office in the library of Tomball’s intermediate school. From there, Roy managed the construction progress while interviewing and hiring faculty and staff and planning for the
now known as Lone Star College System, offers an Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL), which offers instructional courses to people ages 50-and-up in a variety of topics. Dr. Lazenby became the ALL
first day the campus would open. In those
manager on the Tomball campus.
tumultuous early times, Dr. Lazenby’s
He and Linda, his wife of 56 years,
unwavering optimism and reassuring
own Cruise Planners, a travel agency
smile were always present.
franchise. They attend Tomball’s First
Dr. Lazenby led the college from 1986
Baptist Church where Dr. Lazenby is a
to 1996, overseeing dramatic growth in
Roy Lazenby (bottom right) during his undergraduate days at ENMU
and livelihoods. The college system,
deacon. They have two children and five
enrollment and an enduring, positive
grandchildren.
impact on the Tomball community.
Since Dr. Roy Lazenby first stepped
While serving as president, Dr. Lazenby
foot on the campus of ENMU, he has
was elected to Tomball’s city council.
had a lasting, positive impact on those
His ongoing and unselfish service to the
around him. His unfailing, optimistic and
community was recognized in 1991 when
progressive leadership is his legacy, as is
he was named Citizen of the Year.
his renowned, warm smile.
Green & Silver | December 2019
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