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Monday, May 14, 2018
Texas History Minute He worked with architects on To accomplish great things, one several building designs and plans must be willing to for the future campus. He was determined that the new college perform great work over a great would maintain the highest span of time. Rice standards in education. With a location set, construction on the University in Houston, which main administration building began Dr. Ken in 1911. He set about hiring ten has come to Bridges professors in preparation for the exemplify such opening. The ornate glory, has in its century of life become one of the administration building was most respected universities in the completed in fall 1912. A total of nation. The college started from 77 students enrolled, including nothing, except for the dream and women, all of whom attended generous donation of its founder. tuition-free thanks to the generous It was the job of its first president, terms of the Rice endowment. The Edgar Lovett, to make that dream school was officially dedicated on a reality. With years of hard work September 23, 1912. and determination, Lovett built the institution and set the direction for The co-educational status was greatness for its students and the unusual for the time, but Lovett college itself. made sure that the men’s and women’s dorms would be across Edgar Odell Lovett was born in campus from each other. Athletics 1871 in a small town in central were a tradition Lovett established Ohio. As he grew up, he had a immediately while he chose the solid education and steadily blue and gray team colors. moved up the academic ladder. Students quickly adopted the owl He received a degree from as the mascot. At the first Bethany College in West Virginia graduation ceremonies in 1916, in 1890 at the age of 19. From some 36 students graduated, there, he moved into graduate including one with a masters studies. To help pay for graduate degree. school, he taught at West Kentucky College. He graduated Elaborate plans for new buildings with a doctorate from the were developed. The student University of Virginia in 1895. newspaper was established in 1916. In 1918, the college Enchanted by mathematics, he awarded its first doctorate, for went to Germany and studied at math. The college grew, but the University of Leipzig, earning because of limitations of the Rice a second doctorate in 1896. He endowment and the intention to returned to the US, and steadily keep quality as high as possible, moved from one institution to freshman enrollment was capped at another as an instructor, including 450 in 1924. Competition for slots such prestigious institutions as the into the college was high, and University of Chicago and Johns tuition was still paid by Rice’s Hopkins University. He married bequest. in 1897, and the couple eventually had four children. In 1898, he was By 1941, Lovett considered hired as a math professor at retiring. However, World War II Princeton University. Eventually, erupted, and he decided to stay and he became chairman of the continue to guide Rice. The Department of Mathematics and college became part of the navy’s Astronomy. officer training program, a forerunner of ROTC. In 1945, he The family suffered a devastating officially retired after leading the loss in 1906 with the death of an institution for nearly four infant daughter. In the meantime, decades. a nationwide search was underway for the inaugural president for the He stayed in Houston after his new Rice Institute. Woodrow retirement, keeping a careful Wilson, the future President of the interest in the university he helped United States and the president of build. Grateful for the work he had Princeton University from 1902 to done, the university renamed the 1910, recommended his old friend administration building after Lovett to the search committee. Lovett in 1947. He died in a Impressed by Lovett’s credentials Houston hospital in 1957. and Wilson’s recommendation, the search committee extended an A month after his death, the offer. Looking for a way for the Houston Independent School family to start over, he accepted, District opened Lovett Elementary and the family moved to Houston. School in his honor, which is today Lovett assumed his new position a fine arts magnet school. A in 1907. portion of a street was also renamed for him. Today, Rice Lovett faced a great challenge. He University is a respected university was president of a college that did of more than 7,000 students and not yet exist. He had to start from includes among its alumni two scratch. Businessman and Nobel Prize winners and fourteen benefactor William Marsh Rice astronauts and is a respected had left a large fortune to start the institution for science and college, but there was not yet even diplomacy. a location or a building for it. Dr. Bridges is a Texas native, Lovett toured dozens of universities around the world to try writer, and history professor. He can be reached at to model the new institution. drkenbridges@gmail.com.
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Howe PTA hits a homerun with "Buddies and BBQ"
Moms and sons enjoy a night out together thanks to the Howe PTA. The Howe PTA used funds recently raised from the "Ties and Tiaras" (Daddy/Daughter Dance) event recently which was able fund an event for moms and sons. "Buddies and BBQ" was a full BBQ spread of brisket, sausage, turkey, potato salad, mac and cheese, watermelon, rolls and butter donated by Texas Roadhouse, and desserts. The boys and their moms, grandmas, aunts, and more also enjoyed cornhole, a three-legged race, and a water balloon toss. The biggest hit was the 100' inflatable obstacle course. There were just over 60 families
totaling approximately 150 guests on Saturday night at Howe Elementary's Bulldog Hill. The Howe PTA has had a very busy and successful year, having much more involvement than before. They hope to continue the tradition of both the Daddy/Daughter Dance and the Mother/Son picnic. The orgnaniation will soon start working on the calendar for 20182019 school year and say they are hoping for even more participation from the families and opportunities to give back to the students. For more information on the Howe PTA, contact Samantha Allison.
