Legislation Would Prevent Renaming Of Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Sul Ross State Universities

Legislation filed by State Rep. Wayne Christian (R-Center) would prevent the governing board of a state university from changing the name of any institution named after an historical figure in such a way that the name of the person associated with the school is obliterated.

The bill, HB 425, would effect four Texas universities: Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Lamar University in Beaumont (named after Mirabeau B. Lamar–the second President of the Republic of Texas considered the “Father of Texas Public Education”), and Sul Ross State University in Alpine.

Christian filed an additional bill, HB 426 which would codify a regulation specifically preventing the name of Stepehen F. Austin State University being changed.

The legislation addresses concerns that arose in the last two decades relating to retaining the names of Texas’ various formerly independent universities in a climate when major university systems such as UT and Texas A&M have begun to swallow up the schools, such as with the 1996 merger of East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce) with the A&M System.

In 2006 and 2007, a significant uproar followed talk of a potential name change for Sam Houston State University to identify it more closely with the Texas State University System, of which it is a member. During the 80th Session of the Texas Legislature in 2007, House Bill 1418 was passed to prevent any name change for the school.

Christian’s measures will essentially protect the names of all other state universities presently named after historical figures.

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