[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 58 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E496-E497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH 
                                 TEXAS

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2016

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the University of 
North Texas (UNT) on their 125th anniversary. On September 16, 1890, 
Joshua C. Chilton established what was then known as the Texas Normal 
College and Teacher Training Institute in Denton, TX. Starting with 
only 70 students, UNT has risen

[[Page E497]]

in the ranks of academia to become the largest university in the 
Dallas-Fort Worth area with a student population of over 37,000.
  Starting out as a small, private teacher's college, an important 
milestone was reached in 1901 when the school became a publicly-funded 
educational institution. 1913 was a banner year with the opening of the 
first library and genesis of the sports program as well as student 
enrollment reaching 1,000 students. In the 1920's, the music program 
became well-known with the introduction of the Aces of Collegeland 
band. This iconic moment still resonates today as the School of Music 
has gained renown as the first in the world to offer a jazz studies 
degree and is one of the largest music institutions at the collegiate 
level in North America.
  During World War II, the campus became a training site and enrollment 
declined by half as the student body was called to service. In the 
decades to come, the institution grew in size and stature as it 
attained university status; became home to the Texas Academy of Math 
and Science; added the College of Engineering at the Discovery Park 
campus; built the premier Murchison Performing Arts Center, Apogee 
Stadium and Union venues; launched the nation's first comprehensive 
emergency management degree and just recently achieved recognition as a 
tier one research university.
  The University of North Texas has become a cornerstone educational 
institution and powerful economic generator for not only Denton, but 
also the entire north Texas region. As a proud UNT alumnus, I am 
pleased to join the students, faculty, staff, administration and 
community in celebrating the university's quasquicentennial. In the 
years to come, UNT will continue to serve as a leader in higher 
education. It is an honor to serve the University of North Texas in the 
U.S. House of Representatives.

                          ____________________