students , with the college ’ s enrollment reaching more than 2,100 students , making it the second-most attended normal college in the state next to North Texas State Normal College in Denton . The 1910s also saw ETSNC and other Texas normal colleges lobby to the state to be allowed to have on-campus dormitories to house its growing student population – as accomodating students had previously largely relied on Commerce residents who were willing to take in boarders .
In 1923 , as the term “ normal college ” fell out of favor , its leadership chose to rebrand it East Texas State Teachers College in an effort to define its purpose “ more clearly .”
EAST TEXAS STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE ( 1923-1957 )
After Binnion resigned to accept the position of provost at George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville in 1924 , ETSTC faculty member Samuel H . Whitley took the reins as president .
The 22 years that Whitley served in his post until his death in 1946 saw an
increase in the amount of faculty who had advanced degrees , and more growth in campus facilities .
Of course , major events like the Great Depression and World War II also brough changes to the university , with it participating in more government programs , such as hosting the Women ’ s Auxiliary Corps , Army Specialized Training Program , and Civilan Pilot Training Program .
After Whitley unexpectedly died of a heart attack , he was eventually replaced in 1947 by James Gilliam Gee – a former dean at Sam Houston State Teachers College and a retired U . S . Army colonel who served under General George S . Patton during World War II .
Described by late ET faculty member and historian Donald E . Reynolds as " unquestionably the most individualistic president " in the institution ’ s history , Gee ' s leadership style was one of “ involvement , engagement and impulsiveness .”
However , with that drive came growth for the college , which largely involved expanding it from being mostly a teachers school to also providing a more “ liberal , pre-professional education for occupations other than teaching ."
The growth also required the construction of more buildings , which included ( now-Ernest Hawkins ) Memorial Stadium , the field house and Binnion Hall . There was also a large increase in the number of faculty who had doctorates during this time .
With these and other changes that broadened the institution ’ s scope , it rebranded as East Texas State College in 1957 .
EAST TEXAS STATE COLLEGE ( 1957-1965 )
This relatively short period in ET ’ s history nonetheless saw strong growth from a little more than 3,000 students in 1958 to nearly 7,000 in 1965 . The college ’ s first doctoral programs , one in English and one in education , were also introduced in 1962 .
However , ET also endured growing pains during this era , as it and several educational institutions in the South resisted the U . S . Supreme Court ’ s order
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