Celebrating 75 Years

1923

Texas Technological College is established in Lubbock, Texas.

1926

Business education consists of economics and business administration nested under the Division of Arts and Sciences at Texas Technological College. Associate Professor Benjamin Franklin Condray is named as head of the Department of Economics and Business Administration, a post he holds for more than 10 years.

1927

The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration is offered to students who fulfill the requirements for that degree.

1931

The degree of Bachelor of Business Administration is offered for the first time.

1932

The first Bachelor's in Business Administration degrees are awarded to nine graduates. Included in that group is the late Mr. R. Canon Clements (1913-2006). Mr. Clements was the first Rhodes Scholar from TTU. He was named a COBA Distinguished Alumnus in 1988.

1934

The Honorable Preston E. Smith (1912-2003), future Governor of Texas, earns a BA in economics from Texas Technological College. Smith spent more than 25 years in state government as a state representative, state senator, lieutenant governor (1963-69), governor (1969-73), and chairman of the Higher Education Coordinating Board. Among his accomplishments is the role he played in establishing the TTU School of Medicine. Smith signed HB 498 on May 27, 1969, which created the medical school. Smith was recognized as a COBA Distinguished Alumnus in 1991.

1939

Paul Timothy Coe becomes the first graduate to receive a master's degree in business administration.

1942

The Division of Commerce is created at Texas Technological College, and Dr. John O. Ellsworth is named as dean.

1947

The division named is changed to the Division of Business Administration.

1950

Dr. George Gail Heather named as Dean.

1955

The Division of Business Administration is expanded to include a full-time teaching staff of 22 in five departments: accounting and finance; business education and secretarial administration; economics; management; and marketing. The division offers two undergraduate and two graduate degrees.

1958

The College of Business Administration receives full accreditation of undergraduate programs.

1964

The business school is ranked as the fourth largest in the nation in terms of enrollment, coming in just under Ohio State, Michigan State, and University of Texas.

1965

On October, a faculty building committee is appointed to work with the campus planning committee and architects to formulate plans for a new state-of-the-art business administration building.

1966

The new business school building site is announced at 15th Street and Flint Avenue, the former location of the Texas Technological College's Horse Barns.

1967

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new College of Business Administration building occur at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 1967.

1969

The new business building is completed, and students begin classes in the fall.

1970

Dr. Jack Donald Steele is named as dean of the business college.

1975

Dr. Carl H. Stem is named as dean of the business college.

1976

The first alumni magazine is published, titled the COBA Update, with the purpose of establishing a closer relationship between business, the public sector, and the college.

1976

The Center for Professional Development is established, with Charley Pope named as the first director. Additionally, the Roy Furr Computer Learning Center, "a living memorial", is established in the college.

1977

The Texas Tech School of Banking receives official endorsement from the Texas Bankers Association and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, helping the program become even better known throughout the state.

1978

Professor Haskell G. Taylor retires after 42 years of active and distinguished service with the Texas Tech Tax Institute and the Area of Accounting. In honor of his dedication, the Tax Institute created the Haskell G. Taylor Endowment in Taxation to help attract outstanding faculty and to meet other needs for the new concentration in taxation for the M.S. in Accounting degree.

1978

The College of Business Administration awarded its 100th Doctor of Business Administration to Dr. Tony Kakar, making Texas Tech University one of only around 75 schools to reach this milestone.

1979

Professor David S. Kidwell becomes the first appointment to the I. Wylie and Elizabeth Briscoe Chair of Bank Management.

1979

Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. donate $20,000 to the Area of Accounting to support the taxation program, its tax library, the Haskell G. Taylor Endowment in Taxation, and general academic accounting education.

1981

Dr. Jay Conover becomes the first faculty member of the College of Business Administration to receive Texas Tech University's highest faculty honor- the Paul W. Horn Professorship, named for Texas Tech's first president.

1981

The College of Business Administration receives full accreditation for its graduate programs and renewal of accreditation for its undergraduate programs from the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.

1982

The College of Business Administration accounting programs receives official accreditation from the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business, making Texas Tech University one of only seventeen schools with accredited accounting programs.

1982

Economics and finance expert, Richard L. Peterson, is appointed to the I. Wylie and Elizabeth Briscoe Chair of Bank Management.

1982

The First National Bank in Dallas honors the College of Business Administration with a $50,000 grant to support program development, innovative teaching activities, faculty development, and research in finance and banking.

1982

Dr. John R. Darling is appointed by President Lauro F. Cavazos as the vice president for academic affairs, in addition to his role as a professor in the Area of Marketing.

1982

Dr. Eugene Payne is named vice president for finance and administration at Texas Tech University, as well as an adjunct professor of business administration.

1982

Dean Carl H. Stem is named to the prestigious Standards Committee of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.

1983

Dr. Lawrence C. Phillips is named the first professor to hold the Frank M. Burke Chair in Taxation in the College of Business Administration.

1983

The Texas Tech University Board of Regents designate Dr. Shelby Hunt, professor of marketing, as a Paul Whitfield Horn Professor, which is bestowed on individuals who have attained national or international distinction in teaching, research, or other creative achievements.

1983

The Frank M. Burke Chair in Taxation in the Area of Accounting is established with a $600,000 gift from Mr. Frank W. Mayborn, a well-known business and civic leader in Central Texas.

1983

Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. match employee contributions to create a total donation of $49,720 to the College of Business Administration Area of Accounting, making it the largest single donation to the accounting program.

1984

TThe first annual Dallas Alumni Event is held at the Doubletree Inn. The keynote speaker – Kent Dove, V.P. of the University of California Berkeley - addressed the continuing need for alumni-assisted college support. This event is now known as the Dallas Scholarship Breakfast and has become the largest single scholarship fundraising event that the college sponsors.

1984

The first College of Business Distinguished Alumnus award is presented to the late James L. "Rocky" Johnson who graduated in 1949 with a B.B.A. in Accounting. The college opens a 4,400 square foot computer center.

1984

Pamela Ann Keith, a 1982 accounting graduate, ties with two other state university graduates for the top score on the Texas CPA examination.

1984

Dr. James G. Hunt, professor and area coordinator of management, is designated a Paul Whitfield Horn Professor.

1985

The College of Business utilizes a $12,000 grant from First National Bank to establish the First National Bank Resource Center to give students and faculty access to financial journals, personal computers, and other resources.

1985

The College of Business hosts the president, four professors, and the department chairmen from the Shaanxi Institute of Finance and Economics in Xian, China, who visited to counsel with TTU faculty member, Dr. Richard L. Peterson, after adopting his textbook, Financial Institutions, Markets and Money, at the Shaanxi Institute.

1986

The first College of Business Distinguished Alumnus award is presented to the late James L. "Rocky" Johnson who graduated in 1949 with a B.B.A. in Accounting.

1986

The College of Business hosts an international conference with panel experts from the U.S., Great Britain, Japan, and the People's Republic of China to address international workforce expectations and management styles.

1986

An exchange program is established between the College of Business and the Helsinki Institute thanks to the work of a professor of marketing, Dr. John R. Darling.

1986

The Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center (NWTSBDC) is established with the College of Business serving as the lead institution.

1989

The Texas Tech University chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the national business honor society, celebrates its 30th anniversary with a dedication of the Beta Gamma Sigma Great Bronze Key.

1989

The Texas Tech Accounting Society (TAS) celebrates its 50th anniversary with the Accounting Emphasis Week Banquet and an alumni reception.

1989

Dr. Paul Cheney, area coordinator and professor, and Dr. George Kasper, associate professor in ISQS, organize a doctoral consortium among Texas universities to discuss important MIS research topics.

1989

The Area of ISQS establishes the Industrial Advisory Board to foster a closer and more synergistic relationship between the practitioner and Texas Tech's MIS faculty and students.

1989

Chairman and CEO of Plains National Bank, Alan White, establishes the College Board of Directors to acquaint students with the actual decision making processes in banking.

1990

College of Business undergraduates receive national recognition with the Small Business Institute's Outstanding Case of the Year, which was sought after by more than 400 business schools across the U.S.

1992

The Chief Executives' Roundtable (CER) is established. Associate Dean Dr. Robert Phillips creates the CER program with local professional business executives and leaders in the Lubbock area. The CER provides a forum for the college to bring in nationally recognized speakers and leaders in the world of business.

1992

The College of Business establishes the annual fall scholarship reception at which both scholarship recipients and donors are recognized.

1992

The Area of Accounting creates the Accounting Scholars program for incoming freshman to reward qualified applicants for outstanding academic performance.

1992

The College of Business' Small Business Development Center (SBDC) receives accreditation from the national Association of Small Business Development Centers.

1992

Dr. Larry M. Austin is honored for his 15 years as associate dean as he makes the decision to return to the ISQS faculty.

1992

Dr. L. Louise Luchsinger is honored for her service as associate dean for six years before acting as coordinator of the London Semester Business Program and returning to the marketing faculty.

1993

The BA Ambassadors (now the Rawls Ambassadors) is established to assist the college with recruitment events and to serve as goodwill ambassadors.

1993

Dean Stem establishes a student group of student ambassadors to assist the college with recruitment events and to serve as goodwill ambassadors.

1994

The J.B. Hoskins Professorship in Marketing is established by his daughter, Sue Hoskins, with a $125,000 donation that was equally matched by a challenge grant from the Houston Endowment, Inc.

1994

Houston Endowment, Inc. presents the College of Business with a $90,000 grant to build five multi-media classrooms and other technological advances

1994

Exxon USA donates $27,000 to Texas Tech University to promote academic excellence, support special programs, and meet equipment needs in several academic areas.

1994

Dr. Shelby D. Hunt, Paul Whitfield Horn professor of marketing, becomes the first recipient of the Dean's Eminent Scholar Award, recognizing his prominent and sustained scholarly record and for his contributions to the field of marketing through education.

1994

The Accrediting Commission for Education in Health Services Administration gives accreditation to the Health Organization Management/MBA program – a partnership between the College of Business and the Texas Tech School of Medicine.

1995

Dr. Shelby D. Hunt becomes the first marketing educator in history to win the Harold H. Maynard Award, which is given to the article with the most significant contribution to marketing theory and thought.

1996

Alumna Mrs. Judy Sims (B.B.A. in accounting, 1974) receives the Medallions for Entrepreneurship Award from the national Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, making her one of only four recipients in the country.

1996

The College of Business receives a $25,000 pledge from City Bank of Lubbock to establish a City Bank Scholarship endowment for banking, finance, and agricultural finance students.

1996

Dr. Scott E. Hein, coordinator of the Area of Finance and well-known author in the field of finance, is selected as the first appointee for the James E. and Elizabeth Sowell Professorship in Finance.

1996

Dr. John D. Blair is awarded the Senior-Level Healthcare Executive Regents Award from the American College of Health Care Executives in recognition of his unique contributions to building bridges between theory and practice in the world of health care education.

1997

Spoken of as "the end of an era," Dean Carl H. Stem retires after 22 years as dean of the College of Business, and Dr. Roy Howell steps up to fill the role.

1997

The College of Business Administration creates the Student Managed Investment Fund. The class is designed to permit students to gain experience in selecting stocks and managing a portfolio.

1997

Dr. Jane O. Burns, professor of accounting, retires as the Frank M. Burke Chair in Taxation – a position she held for 11 years.

1997

The College of Business Administration opens the Center for Entrepreneurial and Family Business. The mission of the center is to facilitate learning about entrepreneurship, family, and closely held firms.

1998

The COBA Writing Center, now known as the Communication Skills Center, is established in the fall. The goal of the center is to help students improve and polish their writing and communication skills.

1998

A second donation of $500,000 from Nelda and Ed Benninger (BBA in accounting, 1965) pushes COBA past its $30 million endowment goal as part of the Texas Tech University's Horizon Campaign to create a $300 million endowment.

1998

The Area of Accounting changes the 129 hours required for a BBA in accounting to 120 for students who are interesting in entry-level positions in careers that do not require the CPA certificate. It also introduces the 150-hour Professional Program as an integrated program consisting of 114 hours of undergraduate credit and 36 hours of graduate credit. Thus, students can earn the combined BBA and MSA degrees in one less semester than the two degrees earned separately.

1998

Park-like landscaping around the College of Business Administration building is installed. The upgrade was made possible in part by James E. Sowell (BBA in finance, 1970).

1998

The tremendous volume of research conducted by the Institute for Management and Leadership Research in the specialized areas of business leadership and health care strategies warrants the creation of two separate institutes in the Area of Management. The proposal is approved to rename the establishment the Institute for Leadership Research and create a separate Center for Health Care Strategy.

1999

The College of Business Administration announces the international business degree now available to students through the partnership created by merging the Area of Marketing and International Business program.

1999

The Area of Accounting launches an Accounting Information Systems (AIS) concentration for students in both the 150-hour Professional Accounting and Masters of Science in Accounting programs.

1999

The College of Business Administration and Universidad Anahuac, Mexico City, offer a joint international Master of Business Administration degree. The joint program strives to provide rigorous academic and practical experiences in business, as well as in the related political, social, cultural, and economic environments of both countries.

1999

Shirley Wittman, the director of undergraduate programs at the college, retires after 32 years.

2001

Jerry S. Rawls ('67 BS Mechanical Engineering) makes history with an unprecedented $25 million endowment to the College of Business. The endowment specifically targeted areas that will benefit from the gift; graduate scholarships, faculty endowed chairs, faculty and staff career development, academic support and technical equipment. Allen T. McInnis, Ph.D. is appointed dean of the College of Business. The Physician MBA program in Health Organization Management (HOM) is rolled out with 18 physicians enrolled in the two-year program. The Rawls College of Business Advisory Council is organized with nearly 50 members, and the first Council meets for the first time.

2001

Allen T. McInnis, Ph.D., is appointed dean of the College of Business.

2001

The Physician MBA program in Health Organization Management (HOM) is rolled out with 18 physicians enrolled in the two year program.

2001

The Rawls College of Business Advisory Council is organized with nearly 50 members, and the Council meets for the first time.

2001

Dr. Shelby Hunt is recognized as one of the world's top scholars of marketing by the Journal of Marketing Education.

2002

The College is officially renamed the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration in honor of the $25 million donation made by Jerry Rawls.

2003

The Rawls College of Business Career Management Center (CMC) opens to provide career services for undergraduate students.

2004

The decision to construct a new business administration building is made and the silent phase of the Rawls College of Business Capital Campaign begins. The initial focus of the campaign is to raise $25 million in donated funds that will be matched by $25 million from the university.

2006

On April 27, Texas Tech University officially announces the public phase of the Rawls College of Business Capital Campaign to raise private funds for the new building, having raised nearly $19 million.

2007

The new building campaign donations reach over $55 million, including $30 million of matching funds from Texas Tech University. Building campaign fundraising enter into the second phase with the goal of an additional $15-20 million. The Regents approve the new location for the business building as part of the future North Campus Gateway.

2008

The International Business Programs Center was changed to International Business Education Resource Center. Since its creation in 1997, the growth of students traveling abroad increased from 25 to nearly 300 (18 percent of the student body at the time).

2009

The Executive Style M.B.A. is introduced. It is designed for managers and professionals who wish to remain fully employed as they pursue their graduate degree. The M.B.A. has three tracks, including: an MBA Program for Physicians and Dentists, a Weekend MBA Program for Working Professionals, and a Week Bloc MBA Program for Working Professionals.

2009

The Rawls College's undergraduate programs were ranked 77th overall in the 2009 Business Week annual program ratings report.Add other rankings

2011

The new Rawls College of Business building is completed. The building receives the Gold Leadership Environmental Design (LEED) certification based on its energy use, lighting, water, and material use, as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies.

2012

Lance Nail, Ph.D., is named dean of the Rawls College of Business.

2013

The International Business Education Resource Center is changed to the Rawls Center for Global Engagement to more accurately describe the scope of the center.

2013

The Rawls Business Leadership Program is established. The program creates a dynamic learning experience designed to provide students with real-world knowledge and experiences to excel in leadership roles. The four elements of the program include experiential living and learning opportunities, real-world application, international experience, and interactive personal development with a designated professional mentor.

2013

The Rawls College of Business gets approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create the School of Accounting. It is the first School of Accounting in the state of Texas.

2014

The Rawls College of Business launches a one-year STEM MBA program. The program allows students to receive a general business master's degree with an emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) applications.

2014

In an effort to strengthen the alumni network in local communities, the Rawls College launches the Rawls Raiders Alumni Network. Rawls Raiders provides networking opportunities for Rawls graduates.

2015

Paul Goebel, Ph.D., is named interim dean of the Rawls College of Business.

2016

The new Rawls College building addition is completed. The 38,000 square foot addition includes more classrooms, offices, a state-of-the-art testing center for student exams, a third-floor behavioral research laboratory, and a multipurpose space for events, guest speakers, and student engagement.

2016

The Rawls College of Business Advisory Council celebrates 15 years of accomplishments.

2017

Margaret Williams, Ph.D., is named dean of the Rawls College of Business.