Site of Old Goodnight College

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the site of Old Goodnight College, out in Armstrong County. Now, some schools get built by committees and boards and men in suits arguing over budgets. This one got built by ranchers.

The first permanent Texas Panhandle ranchers, to be precise. Colonel and Mrs. Charles Goodnight put this thing into motion, and when you think about what it takes to put down roots in the Panhandle in the first place, the notion of founding a college on top of all that starts to feel about right for people of that particular grit.

The year was 1898. Classes began with twenty students, meeting in the Methodist church while something more substantial was taking shape nearby. Donors' funds were going up into a three-story administration building, two dormitories, and a dining hall.

Twenty students in a church pew, and a three-story building climbing out of the Panhandle dirt. That is a certain kind of faith right there. Enrollment grew to two hundred.

The school had itself a good athletic program. Then in 1905 the college became a Baptist-supported academy, and by 1913 it had grown into a junior college. Seven men led this institution across those years.

Dr. Marshall McIlhaney. C.

H. Webb. The Reverend J.

P. Reynolds. Dr.

D. T. Sutherland.

The Reverend A. H. Thornton.

E. B. Moore.

And R. B. Morgan.

Seven presidents for a school that ran from 1898 to 1917. And 1917 is where the story turns quiet. In the World War I era, this useful pioneer school closed.

Nineteen years of students, of presidents, of Panhandle kids getting an education that might not have existed at all without two ranchers who decided that wasn't good enough. The building is gone. The marker stands.

What the marker says

(1898-1917) Founded by first permanent Texas Panhandle ranchers, Col. and Mrs. Charles Goodnight. With 20 students, classes began in the Methodist church while donors' funds were being used to erect 3-story administration building, two dormitories, and dining hall. Enrolment grew to 200; school had good athletic program. College in 1905 became a Baptist-supported academy; a junior college, 1913. Presidents were: Dr. Marshall McIlhaney, C. H. Webb, the Rev. J. P. Reynolds, Dr. D. T. Sutherland, the Rev. A. H. Thornton, E. B. Moore, and R. B. Morgan. In World War I era the useful pioneer school closed. (1971)