Today I have decided to feature my Alma Mater Hardin–Simmons University. Founded in 1891 near Abilene, Texas Hardin-Simmons. Affiliated with the Baptist General Convention, HSU has been dedicated to an education enlightened by faith since its earliest days. At a cap of 2,500 students HSU is able to provide a quality education and focus on helping individual students reach their potential. Personally, I believe that I not only received a good education but also developed as a person. One of the benefits of a small school is that students are people and not just numbers. I hope you enjoy today’s tribute to my Alma Mater. My computer is down so the pictures today are from HSU’s website.
- Stained glass in the Logsdon School of Theology Chapel
HSU’s campus is known as the 40 acres. Originally the campus was 40 acres today it has grown to over 200 acres. HSU is the only school in Texas that offers a doctorate in Physical Therapy. The chapel in the Logsdon School of Theology features the beautiful stained glass window pictured above. The stained glass features a cross, an open Bible, and a dove. The cross represents the centrality and Lordship of Christ in the lives of believers. The open Bible is a reminder that the we are guided by the authority of scripture. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
One of the most notable traditions at HSU is the “World Famous Cowboy Band“. Founded in 1923 the band was all male until the late 1990’s. HSU has the oldest accredited school of music in Texas. The Cowboy Band known for its legendary antics is more of a marching stage or show band. The band has preformed in numerous parades world wide, rodeos, and presidential inauguration. The band’s trade mark “Cow Step” supposedly started because they had to share a practice field with the Six White Horses. The “Cow Step” is pictured above. Couldn’t find a good video featuring the “Cow Step” but did find a couple featuring the Cowboy Band.
This was taken at the 2006 West Texas Fair and Rodeo parade in Abilene. The quality is poor but you can see the band in action. Notice 2 band boys serenade bystanders. One of the traditions I enjoyed as a student at HSU was when the Band Boys (it was still all male back then) would come to our dorms and serenade us with their own version of Christmas songs.
The video is a promotional video for HSU done a couple of years ago. I believe the music was preformed by the HSU Cowboy Band. The song is “Hey Baby”.
The famed Six White Horses began in the late 1920’s when Will “Sheriff” Watson decided to ride his white horse in front of the Cowboy Band. It was so popular that it was expanded to include all 6 flags of Texas. Students were chosen to carry the 6 flags of Texas (Spain, France, Mexico, Texas, Confederate and U.S.) and an HSU tradition was born. In 1962, Dr. W.O. “Doc” Beazley took over the helm of the 6 White Horses. Under Doc’s 36-year tenure the program grew. Doc also authored 11 books featuring the White Horses. The Horses are popular with school children.
In 1948 the HSU Cowboy football team set an NCAA record by appearing in 4 post-season football games in one year. HSU won 3 and tied the 4th game. In 1949, the NCAA instituted the rule limiting teams to only one bowl game per year. HSU alum and former Chicago Bear Clyde “Bulldog” Turner and is a member of Pro Football Hall of Fame. Not bad for a school that went 27 years (1964-1989) without a football team.
In the center of campus sits the Purple and Gold fire hydrant that supposedly marks the grave of Fritz, aka “Dam-It”. Fritz was a dog that belonged to Gib Sandefer, son of President J.D. “Prexie” Sandefer. From 1916-1920 Fritz served as the unofficial college mascot. After his death a funeral service was held on campus that even drew national media attention. One interesting thing about the fire hydrant it that it is supposed to mark the grave of Fritz, however over the years it has been moved several times. Somehow I doubt the grave has been moved.
See more
ABC Wednesday
or
ABC Wednesday Linky
The Dee Zone 
lovely tribute to your alma mater!
LikeLike
I like your ABC Wednesday post. It’s a great subject because it’s so personal to you.
LikeLike
Nice posting and great photos and videos. I learn something, thanks for all the commentary of Hardin-Simmons University, I enjoyed.
LikeLike
Magiceye, Lynette, & Columbo: TY for visiting.
LikeLike
Excellent tribute to your school. Lovely photos and videos.
LikeLike
Congratulations! You just won an award. Look at my blog.
LikeLike
Wonderful choice for ABC Wednesday letter H.
How nice that you highlighted the key words with the school colours of Purple and Gold. Very clever.
Bear((( )))
LikeLike
That’s quite a stained glass window in that first shot…
LikeLike
Antigonikoukouraki: TY and I will share the award tomorrow.
BearNaked: I was bored and wanted to find a way to tie in the purple and gold.
Donald: That is only a portion of the stained glass window. It is a huge window that goes from the floor to ceiling of the front of the chapel.
LikeLike
What a fun post for H. I love that cow step. Our favorite college team in Washington don the purple and gold too…
LikeLike
This is a lot of “H’s” and they are all nice photos too.
My post for H (hair) is over at Canon Pixels
LikeLike
Ellen: That is cool. Wish I could have found a video showing the Band in action.
Abe: Ty.
LikeLike
thank you for so many photos, a great blog for this week
LikeLike
lovely stained glass. 🙂 and that cowboy band rocks. 🙂
LikeLike
Polly used to feel that it was her duty to bark at the 6 white horses as she lay in a bedroom window overlooking the pasture in which the 6 white horses grazed.
H-SU Alumni Association has awared (in the past) Ph.T. diplomas–Pushing Hubby Through.
“Between Acts” were very entertaining.
LikeLike
Brian: TY
Kouji: Actually the picture doesn’t really do it just. The Cowboy does rock but is more like swing. They play a lot of Texas Swing style music.
Polly: She never did like horses. My favorite interacts were Ray & Brad.
LikeLike
Looks like you attended a pretty awesome school and I do love that band and its antics.
Perfect H post.
Hope your computer is up and running soon.
LikeLike
VERY cool post, Dee! 🙂
LikeLike
Photo: Yes it was a very good school in my opinion. Nothing beats seeing the band live. Well, my new computer is here. Will need to get things off the old one but this is up and running.
ENM: TY
For all the horse lovers out there be sure to check out photowannabe’s blog for the ABC Wednesday. Just click on Photos name up there.
LikeLike
This was a neat post for the letter H. The use of school colors was very creative and fun without being distracting. It had a lot of good historical notes and fun trivia, too! Like you, I have to wonder if Fritz’s grave was moved with the fire hydrant.
Gee, it looks like I have been doing too many book reviews for my online classes lately 🙂
ttyl!
LikeLike
Quinn,
TY.
LikeLike
Sorry I am a little late, but this is just so lovel. Agree about what you say about losing identity in big places & organisations.
Thanks so much
Dx
LikeLike
TY for stopping by & hosting ABC Wed.
LikeLike
What an excellent post! I enjoyed it tremendously!
That stained glass window is awesome!
LikeLike
Kim,
TY, you should see the real thing.
LikeLike
anybody know the date of the big HSU fire in the 40’s?
LikeLike
I remember hearing about that fire not sure of the date. If you could get your hands on a copy of Dr. Richardson’s How Famous Are Thy Hall I know it is recorded in the book. Or you might try contacting the alumni office.
LikeLike
fires on campus?
LikeLike
Found the answer thanks to help from a friend in the Development Office. According to Dr. Richardson’s book “Famous are Thy Halls” Abilene Hall burned in February 1947. and the chapel (the chapel before Beherns) burned in February 1957.
LikeLike