WT, Canyon, and Alcoholic Beverages

With the recent discussion of allowing some restaurants in Canyon to serve alcohol, it is relevant to look back at the role of alcohol in the locating of the West Texas State Normal College in Canyon. A legend has developed suggesting that the school was located in Canyon because the town had no saloons. There is little evidence to support the proposition that the lack of saloons was the reason for the location.

The first source to consult is always Hill's More Than Brick and Mortar. In Footnote 8 on page 17, the historian notes, "On one occasion in the summer of 1914, when removal talk [to Amarillo] was common, President Cousins was heard to say that Amarillo would have had a better chance in the first place if she had not had saloons. On being asked if he didn't know that prohibition would soon make that Panhandle metropolis saloonless he replied: 'Yes, but I didn't know how many college boys might be ruined in the meantime, and my own might be among them.'"

The proposal submitted by Canyon to the locating committee also makes no mention of a lack of saloons. In fact, very few candidate cities made mention of alcohol sales. Tulia addressed it at some length, while Clarendon noted that there were no "Blind Tigers" (unlicensed saloons) in that town. A few of the towns provided specific counts of the number of drunks.

Is there any recorded evidence showing that Canyon was awarded the school because of a lack of saloons?

What's a regional university?

The recent exchange in the Amarillo newspaper about the appropriate mission of WTAMU raised an issue of WT's role as a "regional university." During the recent visits by the persons seeking to be the next WT president, one or two of the candidate mentioned that WT should be a strong regional university. Back in the early 1960s, during the period when West Texas State College was lobbying to become West Texas State University, President James Cornette argued that WT should become a "regional university."

I should continue with a brief story. Several years ago I applied for a position at Northern Iowa University. My dissertation advisor indicated that he believed NIU to be a "good regional university."

I've searched most of the higher education literature with little success. The only solid reference to "regional university" was the president of Johns Hopkins University arguing in the late 1800s that Johns Hopkins would not become a regional university.

What's a regional university? Please post any thoughts by clicking on comments.

References:
Allen Finegold arguing that WT should not become a university that only serves this region.

Russell Long arguing that WT should serve this region.

Myrna Raffkind arguing that WT benefits the region and donors from the region benefit WT