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THE
ARTHUR TEMPLE
SCHOOL OF FORESTRY
by Archie
P. McDonald |
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Dr.
Paul Boynton, second president of Stephen F. Austin State College,
understood that the College’s mission was to prepare teachers to take
their places in Texas’ public schools, but severe enrollment problems
during WWII convinced him that an expanded vision for SFA would increase
chances for success.
Boynton decided that the presence of so much timber in East Texas
and the absence of a school of forestry in the state offered SFA an
excellent opportunity for diversification. Boynton worked with local
timber man Lacy Hunt to persuade Congress to create the Stephen
F. Austin Experimental Forest, the only experimental forest in
the nation assigned to a single educational institution.
In 1946, Boynton hired Robert Owens to teach the first courses
in forestry even before they were listed in the college’s catalog,
and before long Owens was joined by Dr. Nelson (Doc) Samson
in teaching the courses. Owens was succeeded as department chairman
in 1954 by Dr. Arne Kemp, who remained until 1963. Kemp founded
the department’s summer camp, located near Red Hills Lake, not far
from Milam in Sabine County, and "rising juniors" were required to
attend. The camp provided hands-on experience for skills and activities
discussed academically in classrooms, and became a defining bonding
experience for all SFA forestry students.
Dr. Laurence Walker succeeded Kemp as department chairman in 1963
and succeeded also in winning accreditation for the department from
the Society of American Foresters. Walker guided the forestry program
from a few hundred students to over 1,000, through its designation
as one of seven administrative schools within SFASU, oversaw the construction
of a new building dedicated to instruction in forestry, and concluded
his career as a Lacy Hunt Professor of Forestry within the School
of Forestry.
Walker was succeeded by Dr. Kent Adair, who diversified the
forestry program into various areas of research, led the school into
significant international programs, and also relocated the summer
camp to a new facility at the Piney Woods Conservation Center
located near Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
When Adair retired, Dr. Scott Beasley came home to administer
the forestry program at his alma mater and to lead the program into
its transition into the Arthur Temple College of Forestry.
In that 60 years, the forestry division at SFA has become one of the
premier programs of its kind in the world. |
© Archie P. McDonald
All
Things Historical >
February 20-26, 2005 column
A syndicated column in over 40 East Texas newspapers
Provided as a public service by the East Texas Historical Association.
Archie P. McDonald is director of the Association and author of more
than 20 books on Texas. |
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