Southwest Conference Meeting Minutes (from the Southwest Conference Records, 1914-1996 and undated)

Biographical Sketch

On May 6, 1914, the Southwest Conference was formed when representatives from several universities met to discuss the future of regional sports among the local schools. Baylor University, Southwestern University, Texas A&M College, Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State), Louisiana State University, University of Texas, and the University of Arkansas participated in this organization.

On December 8, 1914, representatives from the Rice Institute (Rice University) and the University of Oklahoma also met with the group at the Rice Hotel in Houston. All those who met joined as charter members with the exception of Louisiana State to create what was known as the Southwest Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a Division I conference.

Since then the Southwest Conference has seen as many as nine universities join or leave their league. Rice left for a short spell from 1916-1917. Texas Christian University joined in 1923, Southern Methodist University joined in 1918, Texas Tech joined in 1958, and Houston joined in 1972. Arkansas left in 1991, Oklahoma dropped out in 1920, Southwestern left in 1917, and Oklahoma A&M went in 1926. For one year, 1920, Phillips University of Enid, Oklahoma, was a member of the conference. Overall, by the time the conference disbanded, eight schools were still members of the SWC

It was not until 1938 before the office would be headed by an Executive Secretary (later Commissioner in 1982) of the SWC. Dr. P. W. St. Clair served from 1938-1945 as a part-time employee. Others who served were the following: James H. Stewart (1945-1950), Howard Grubbs (1950-1973), Cliff Speegle (1973-1982), Fred Jacoby (1982-1993), Steve Hatchell (1993-1995), and finally Kyle Kallander (1995-1996).

The Southwest Conference has spawned such legends as Carl Lewis, Doak Walker, Sheryl Swoopes, Darrell Royal, Teddy Lyons, Earl Campbell, and Andre Ware to name a few.

On June 30, 1996, the Southwest Conference came to a final close and disbanded. Four schools, Texas Tech University, University of Texas, Texas A&M University and Baylor University, united with the Big Eight to create the Big Twelve. Why the SWC disbanded? Most would agree that money was a leading factor to the breakup of the SWC. The Big Twelve would give the new members more media coverage and therefore more revenue for their invididual schools. Some would say that politicians had a role in its breakup. Who else would pressure schools, other politicians, and university representatives to consider a new outlook to collegiate sports in the State of Texas and the rest of the central U.S. region. The legacy of the Southwest Aithletic Conference has left impressions of rivalries and camaraderie probably unlike any other collegiate conference in U.S.A.

Scope and Contents

The collection of the day-to-day business records of the Southwest Conference consists of correspondence, memoranda, financial material, printed material, and memorabilia. Of the printed material, the collection contains media guides, game programs, news clippings, and record books from each of the member universities, though not a complete set.

Also included are 343 sound recordings, 854 video tapes, 10 reels of microfilm, 538 oversized items, and 12 linear feet of photographic materials. A more complete listing of the audio and photograph materials pertaining to the Southwest Conference can be found at http://swco.ttu.edu/swc/Manuscripts/swac1.htm.

Restriction

Access Restrictions

Open for research

Index Terms

The subject headings used by the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library are derived from the Library of Congress and/or locally developed.

Subjects (Organizations)

• Baylor University--Football
• Baylor University--Basketball
• National Collegiate Athletic Assocation
• National Collegiate Athletic Association--Records and Correspondence
• Rice University--Basketball
• Rice University--Football
• Southern Methodist University--Basketball
• Southern Methodist University--Football
• Southwest Conference (U. S.)
• Southwest Conference (U. S.)--Archives
• Southwest Conference (U. S.)--History
• Southwest Conference (U. S.)--History--Periodicals
• Southwest Conference (U. S.)--Records and correspondence
• Southwest Conference (U. S.)--Statistics
• Texas A & M University--Basketball
• Texas A & M University--Football
• Texas Christian University--Basketball
• Texas Christian University--Football
• Texas Technological College-Basketball
• Texas Technological College--Football
• Texas Technological College--History
• University of Arkansas, Fayetville--Basketball
• University of Arkansas, Fayetville--Football
• University of Houston--Basketball
• University of Houston--Football
• University of Texas at Austin--Basketball
• University of Texas at Austin--Football

Subjects

• Basketball--Arkansas
• Basketball--Coaching
• Basketball--Statistics
• Basketball--Texas
• College administrators--Texas--Attitutdes
• College sports--Southwest, New
• College sports--Texas--Management
• Football--Arkansas
• Football--Coaching
• Football--Statistics
• Football--Texas
• Golf
• Golf--Statistics
• Golf--Texas
• Sports--History
• Sports for women--Texas--Management
• Swimming
• Swimming--Statistics
• Tennis
• Tennis-Coaching
• Tennis--Statistics
• Tennis-Texas
• Track and field
• Track and field--Statistics
• Universities and colleges--Texas--Administration
• Volleyball
• Volleyball--Statistics
• Volleyball--Texas

Related Material

For related materials located in the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, see the following collections:

NCAA Collection, Records, 1939-1997

Southwest Conference oral history interviews, 1997-1998

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Southwest Conference Records, 1916-1996 and undated, Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

Acquisition

Accession numbe(s): 96-0117-B, 96-0179-B, 96-0186-B, 98-0089-B

Gifts, 1996 and 1998

Processed by

Abel Ramirez, April, 1998

Additional Sources

The Handbook of Texas has published a more in-depth on-line biography of the Southwest Conference at http://www.tsha.tuexas.edu/handbool/on-line/search.html

Cheatham, Tina Robin. The athletic organizational structure and administrative views of university and athletic governing personnel in the Southwest Conference. [microform] Thesis (Ph. D.): Texas Woman's University, 1992.

Collection Inventory

Agendas

Box 5

• Folder 1, Supervisors, 1991-1994
• Folder 2, Three-Point Play, 1991
• Folder 3, Women's Board of Directors and Alumni Representatives, 1995

• Folder 4, Minutes, 1914-1938
• Folder 5, Minutes, 1939-1943
• Folder 6, Minutes, 1947-1951
• Folder 7, Minutes, 1952-1954
• Folder 8, Minutes, 1955-1957
• Folder 9, Minutes, 1958-1961
• Folder 10, Minutes, 1962-1964
• Folder 11, Minutes, 1965-1968

Box 6

• Folder 1, Minutes, 1969-1972
• Folder 2, Minutes, 1973-1976
• Folder 3, Minutes, 1977-1978
• Folder 4, Minutes, 1981
• Folder 5, Minutes, 1989
• Folder 6, Minutes, 1991
• Folder 7, Minute Book, 1914-1923
• Folder 8, NCAA Legislative Services Committee Minutes, 1996

+++++Policies

• Folder 9, Bands, 1987
• Folder 10, Bulletin for Student-Athletes, 1987
• Folder 11, Changes in NCAA Legislative and Interpretive Processes, 1992
• Folder 12, Compliance Program, 1988
• Folder 13, Drug Testing, 1986, 1991-1992
• Folder 14, Drug Testing Program, 1988
• Folder 15, Drug Testing Program, 1992

Box 180

• Folder 1, Commissioner's Honor Roll, 1995-1996
• Folder 2, Scholar-Athlete Awards, 1996
• Folder 3, National Consortium for Academics and Sports, 1993-1994
• Folder 4, Racial and Gender Statistics for Student Athletes, undated

+++++Agenda and Meeting Information

• Folder 5, Administrative Committee for Women's Sports Meetings, 1994-1995
• Folder 6, Administrative Committee for Women's Sports Meetings, undated
• Folder 7, Baseball Coaches Meetings, 1994-1995
• Folder 8, College Football Association Meeting, June 2, 1996
• Folder 9, College Football Association Meeting, 1995
• Folder 10, College Football Association Board of Directors Meeting, January 7, 1996
• Folder 11, College Football USA/AdCraft Meeting, September 27, 1995
• Folder 12, Collegiate Commissioners Association Meeting, September 27-28, 1995
• Folder 13, Compliance Committee Meeting, May 26, 1995
• Folder 14, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association Meeting, May 25, 1993
• Folder 15, Cotton Bowl Board of Directors Meeting, 1995
• Folder 16, Council of Presidents Meetings, 1995-1996
• Folder 17, Directors of Athletics Meeting Minutes, 1993-1995
• Folder 18, Directors of Athletics Meeting, April 19, 1995
• Folder 19, Directors of Athletics Meetings Information, 1995 and undated
• Folder 20, Directors of Athletics Meetings, 1995-1996
• Folder 21, Division IA Athletic Directors Association Meetings, 1995
• Folder 22, Division IA Commissioners Meeting, February 6-7, 1996
• Folder 23, Division IA Commissioners Meeting, April 22-26, 1996
• Folder 24, Editorial Board Meetings, undated
• Folder 25, Executive Committee Meeting, May 25, 1995
• Folder 26, Executive Committee Meeting, May 30, 1996
• Folder 27, Legislation Committee Meetings, 1994-1995
• Folder 28, Mayor's Basketball Task Force, 1996
• Folder 29, Meeting Minutes, 1914-1996
• Folder 30, Meeting Minutes, 1992-1993
• Folder 31, Men's and Women's Basketball Coaches Meetings, May 24, 1995
• Folder 32, National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Meeting, 1996
• Folder 33, NCAA Convention Information, 1995
• Folder 34, NCAA Convention, 1996
• Folder 35, NCAA Post-Conference Meeting, 1995-1996