T

January 31, 2002

\
Richard Edwin Vrooman
March 8, 1920 - January 29, 2002
Services for Dik Vrooman, 81, of College Station, will take place at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of McGee Memorial Chapel Mortuary in
Santa Fe, N.M.
Mr. Vrooman died Tuesday in Santa Fe, N.M.

Mr. Vrooman was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was a graduate of both Oberlin
College and Western Reserve University in Ohio. He received his master's
degree in architecture from Texas A&M University in 1952. He taught
architecture at Texas A&M University for 45 years. Early in his career Mr.
Vrooman designed the existing All Faiths Cha el for the main campus of the
- -------- .
university. He was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and professor
emeritus of the College of Architecture at Texas A&M.
Mr. Vrooman spent seven years of his teaching career in the 1960s in East
Pakistan (now Bangladesh) as part of a U.S. Agency for International
Development contract with Texas A&M. There he established the first school of
architecture and city planning for a country that had no trained architects. He was
the author of a number of textbooks, including The Secrets of Ancient Design.
His knowledge of the pyramids, Stonehenge and stone circles of Easter Island
led him to be named the Texas A&M University Faculty Lecturer in 1976.
Mr. Vrooman served as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II
and participated in the invasions of Africa and Italy.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kelley Vrooman.
Survivors include a brother, Clare Vrooman, of Florida; a son , Chuck Vrooman of
College Station; a daughter, Vikki Vrooman, of Washington, D. C.; and two
grandchildren.
Memorials maybe made to the Texas A&M Foundation (Please send them to the
Texas A&M College of Architecture) for the "Kelley and Dik Vrooman Endowed
Scholarship" in the College of Architecture.
Texas A&M Professor Emeritus Dies

COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M University Professor Emeritus
Richard E. "Dik" Vrooman died Tuesday, Jan. 29 at his home in Santa
Fe, New Mexico. He was 8l.
For 45 years, Vrooman made his mark teaching, training
generations of Aggie architects in design and drawing. He established
the Kelley Vrooman R.N. Endowed Scholarship in honor of his wife and
designed Ie)@? P.&rv[? All Eaith's ChaE,el.
Vrooman won the commission to create the chapel through a
competition sponsored in 1956 by the Association of Former Students,
which financed the construction. He also designed several residences
and the School of Architecture Building at Bangladesh University of
Engineering & Technology, where, representing Texas A&M in an

international cooperational program, he was that nation's first dean of
architecture.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
'Garcia
1/30/02

of University Relations

(979) 845-4641
1129/2007 http://newsarchives. tamu.edu/stories/02/0 13002-2.html
HERE WE'LL BUILD THE
192
1957. ALL FAITHS CHAPEL
Cost,
Richard Vrooman, Arc hitect
Ernest Langford, Profess ional Advisor
R. B. Butler, Inc., Contractor
All Faiths Ch a pel is by all odds the best of th e smaller buildings
on the campus. nc,lly conc ei ved to be ".I" Chapel for tat ion and
Prayer," th e bui i s just that. Beautiful a nd in its

simplicity, the chapel provides areas for meditation and discussion, a

3 ar de n for beauty and enjoyment, a sanctuary for religious services and
rites, o.ffices, a sr.: 2. 11 libl'ary, and public reading or waitin ?; ar ea . All
el emen ts of the plan look out u pon a spacious garden which itself is en
closed on part s 01 three sides by brick walls whos e is in harmony
with that of the proper.
The chapel cont ai ns about 9,000 square feet of floor space. The
sanctuary seats 160 comfortably. Exterior walls which open on to the
garden are largely g lass; others are brick and stone. The builoin; is
a gift of former s tude nts of the coll ege .
The a rchitect far the ch a}e1 was selected by a competition open
only to g raduates of division of architecture. All competitors
worked from the same and within limits of mandatory requirements.
A jury of awards mpde the s election from the desi;ns submitted. The
winnins design was that of Richard Vrooman, Arch., 1952 , who at
th e time of the was a n Bssist&nt pr o fessor in the division
of architecture. '] he ch; ; pel was dedicat e ci l<",y 10, 1S" 58.
The Chapel which the Association gave to the eolleg'e t b d 'd' .
, 0 e e Icated thIS fall.
Chapel Built;
Dedication
In Autumn
Beautiful and inspil' l' no- l'n ltS
b
the Interfaith Chapel
whIch the Association gave the
College by means of the Develop
ment Fund is completed.
Although fOl'mal dedication of t he
bu ' lding will not take place until thi "
f all, and t he landscaping remains to be
completed, 8 weddings have already
t aken place in it with 2 more scheduled
for thIS summer, and more than 2,100
have already signed the visitors'
. . 1;'he Chapel is open at all hours for
Ylsltmg, meditation, and prayer, accord
mg to. J . Gordon who will occupy
an offIce III the bUlldmg as Coordinator
. of Rel igious Life in addition to his duties
as General Secret ary of the YMCA.
Centered on Enclosed Garden
The Chapel has approximately 9,400
square feet of area capable of being
heated or cool ed. Its air conditionino
system has a capacity of 32 tons. b
. The portion of its exterior walls which
IS not shell limestone is transparen t
[. lass , making possible easy view of the
spacious gm:den. area, enclosed by a wal l.
A lawn-sprmkhng system is being in
stalled in . this outside space, and de
velopment of the landscaping here will
follow. A small cork oak tree has al
ready been planted to serve as a visual
foca l point at the cha ncel end of the
sanctuary, or main room. J
" Has Meditat ion Room and Library
. The Chapel building also contains a
hbrary, a lobby, and a secluded medita
tion room.
The organ is a gift of Mr. and Mrs.
J. Harold Dunn '25 of Amarillo, in mem
ory of the l ate Thomas F. Mayo, Eng
lish professor.
The entire building is roofed with a
durable 20-oz. copper roof.
Development Fund Objective
The Chapel was made possible when,
in October 1955, W. L. Ballard '22, then
Association Presi dent; Loui s R. Blood-
worth '32, t hen Association Vice-Presi
dent; O. T. Hotchkiss '24, t hen Imme
diate Past President of t he Association
and J. B. (Dick) Hervey '42,
tion Secr etary, presented to the A&M
Board of Directors in behalf of the As
sociation a check for $150,000 and a
letter of commitment for an additional
$50,000 which was subsequently fulfiIIed.
The gift was an objective of the As
sociation's Development Fund, planned
since 1952.
Vr(){)man D.esigncd
The Chapel was planned by Richard
Vrooman '52, teacher in the Division of
(See CHAPEL, Page 6)
.' _____________
First wedding in the Chapel: Mr. and
Mrs. James Cassity leave the altar
at the conclUSIOn of their marriage cere
m(:my 31. The bride is the former
I
MISS. Scott of College Station '
CassIty IS a geology senior. .
Chapel
(Continued from Page 1)
Architecture, who won t he Association
sponsored architectural . competition to
which Ernest Langford '13 was Profes
sional Adviser, and which was judged
by a di stinguished Award Jury.
The Chapel is not intended to dupli
cate the faci liti es of local churches. Dur
ing 1955, a Committee on the Chapel a nd
Its Use appointed by t he College's Pres
ident made a study and submitted de
tailed proposals.
Included were the sugg'estions that
t he Chapel be equall y available to 1'e
li lC ious groups of all kinds but not be
the regular meeting place of any, and
that the Chapel program encourage t he
spiritual development and expression of
students and staff, supplementing r ather
than encroaching on the activiti es of ex
isting religious organizations.
Many ActiviJties Planned
The Committee expressed the belief
that the Chanel will be the center of an
active and vitally-needed spiritual serv
ice to the students.
In addition to encouraging individual
meditat ion and prayer, and serving; as
an occasional meeting place f or small
religious groups, other activities fore
seen were making a vailable for use a ii-
Ibrary of r eligioUS books, showing of
' ,noral and religious f ilms, and accom
modation of small weddings, funeral s,
baptismals, and other reli gious rites.
services and special relig- '
ious holiday services are also to be pro
vided for, according to Gay. Periodic
organ programs are al so planned.
Oscar T. Hotchkiss, Jr., '24, Past President of the Association, left, presents
$150,000 check for Chapel to W. T. Doherty, '22, Chairman of t.he College Board
of Directors. A letter of commitment for an additional $50,000 if needed accom
panied the check.
Vol. XX: No. 11

Committee Plans
L _ _, _ 11_ ___1


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Published For The Former Students of Texas A. & M. College
0;.:
November, "d915 College Station, Texas
.,..,
Faculty Appreciation
Card Response Heavy
",Faculty Appreciation" cards enclosed
,
Association Presents
Chapel to College
A check for $150,000, a letter of commitment for an additional
$50,000 if needed, and plans and specifications for the
chapel for the College's students were presented by the AssocIation
to the College Board of Directors on October 1.
Presentation of the check and promise of additional aid in building
the' chapel was made by a delegation of officers of the Association.
The group consisted of W. L. Bal-++------------
lard, '22, Longview, Association 11
President; Louis R. Bloodworth"
'32 Wcht F II V' P 'd t
, 1 1 a a s, Ice- reSl en,
O. T. Hotchkiss, '24, Port Arthur,
Immediate Past President; and J. B.
Hervey, '42, College Station, Secretary.
Plans shown the Board of Directors
call for a steel structure with stone and
glass facings, having 9,200 square f eet
of floor space. The chapel as planned
contains a sanctuary with seating ca
pacity for 162 persons, a chaplain's of
fice, rooms for meditation and counsel
ingi a religious library, and a large en
closed garden opening on the sanctuary.
It will be built on the campus, between
the President's home and Law and Pur
year halls.
Long Planned Project
Construction will climax a project be
gun by the Association in 1952. Since
that year thousands of former students
have contributed to the fund.
1:- feature of chapel is the garden,
whIch may be VIewed the sanctuary
as well as from the outSIde.
A decorative wood screen will conceal
space for the possible future installation
of a pipe organ.
The platform before the screen is pro
posed to be decorative ordinarily with
flowers and plants but is designed to be
adapted to special services.
Over the main entry doors, present
plans call for a large panel of colored
glass.
The front wing ' as planned contains
mechanical equipment; the building is
expected to be completely air conditioned.
A secondary entry leads to a small wait
ing-, area and library.
The back wing is designed to contain
offices for secretary and chaplain, a con
fEfrence room, and a room which may
serve as a special chapel or another con
ference room.
A covered walk is shown leading
Page 2 THE TEXAS AGGIE November, 1955
Morgan Praises Corps
At Commissioning
Pres. David H. Morgan was the prin
cipal speaker at ceremonies when the
oath of office was administered to 478
cadet commissioned officers of the Col
lege Corps of Cadets in late October.
The president of the College said that
"the first factor producing a 'good Ag
gie' is our strong academic programs;
the second force is the Corps of Cadets
-the best program for leadership de
velopment and character training that
can be found in the country-a third
factor in the development of a 'good
Aggie' is the Civilian Student Council.
"Another factor," the president de
clared, "producing the 'good Aggie' is
the operation of our Student Personnel
Services which this year have been or
ganized under the leadership of a dean
who is known throughout the country
for his work in guidance and counseling,
"You, the officers being commissioned
today, have the advantage of the excel
Their Finest Gift
(The following editorial appeared in the student newspaper The Bat
talion on Tuesday, October 4, 1955.)
The former students have done it again. And because they have done
it, students at A&M will have another beautiful building in the near future,
But this building encompasses more than just brick, steel and glass; in
this structure lies the opportunity for meditation and prayer that can prove
helpful to students seeking quietness and guidance.
This is the chapel, the culmination of another effort on the part of the
Former Students Association to expand the facilities and services for stu
dents at the college.
The money needed for this inter-faith chapel has been donated by for
mer students; the System Board of Directors also has appropriated funds
for its construction if more are needed.
As one Board member said, '"The former students have done many won
derful things for A&M, but this is undoubtedly the most wonderful and fin
est,"
And we agree.
lent leadership of the Corps of officers free as you were. You will learn one of
of last year and of the year before and the facts of life-the higher you go the
are better qualified than they were at more the responsibility and the less the
the beginning.
freedom.
"With your acceptance of the commis "I attribute the 9.3 per cent increase
sion comes responsibility," President in the student body at A. and M. this
Morgan declared. "You will not be as fall mainly to the excellent job per
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the purpose this year.
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basis, according to Ross Strader,
tor of Student Publications. The special
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Chapel
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Vrooman was chosen chapel Architect
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as the result of a competition in 'which
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twenty-three registered architects. who ..::c'r I I -,';..'
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mitted ' designs. The competition was
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approved by the Committee on Competi
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formed by the officers of two years ago
in establishing the framework of the
new Corps," the President said. Yearbooks Available
The oath was administered by Lt. Col. For Club Sponsorship
Taylor Wilkins, '36, of the School of Forty copies of the just-delivered 1955
Military Science. Aggieland yearbook are available to
A&M Clubs and A&M Mothers' Clubs
for placing in high schools so that the
story of Texas A&M can be available to
students who are thinking about higher
education.
The Beaumont, Cook County, and Pa
nola A&M Clubs have ordered a total
Board Expresses Its
Gratitude for Chapel
The College's Board of Directors has
expressed its thanks to the Association
for the gift of the chapel by means of
a letter it ordered written by Board Sec
retary E. L. Angell to W. L. Ballard,
'22, Association President.
"You were present at the meeting of
the Board of Directors on October 1
when it formally accepted the gift of
funds and plans for a Chapel to be built
on the A. and M. College campus," the
letter said. "You heard the expressions of
appreciation for this gift which is made
up of contributions from many former
students whose only desire is to work
for a better and greater A. and M.
College. .
"By Minute Order No, 179-55, in which
the Board accepted this gift, I was
directed as its Secretary to express to
you and the many members of your As
sociation the thanks and appreciation of
the Board of Directors for this gift
which will do so much toward the crea
tion of a finer A. and M. College."

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(Continued from Page 1)
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Vrooman was chosen chapel Architect
as the result of a competition in which
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twenty three registered architects who
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mitted designs. The competition was
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approved by the Committee on Competi
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The award jury in the competition
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Karl Koch, Boston (Massachusetts In
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:0 the Association.
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The Texas Aggie
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Published at College Station. Texas. by The
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ASSOCiation of Former Students J.....;,...
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MEMBER
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class matter at Co1Jege Station, Texas, August 22,
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1921, under the provisions of the act of March 3.
1879. Subscription price S5.00 per year.
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V .. ... < ""?- , ...... 1 1'; :1.. W. Lambert Ballard, '22r President .... Longview
; Q" ';... \ " t : .../'<:.,,, ' f . ' Louis R. Bloodworth, '32, Vice-Presiden.t ,
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-: --' '), ' r;- :'1 I \n J. B. (Dick) Hervey, '42, Executive Secretary .
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.J :;. "'. " . '.. ' . . .:r.::.J (" . -;, J . Rudder. Earl 32 ...... . .. .... ...... . Austin
. /. '\- " ,. . ..' It' '. , " . John R. Reeves. '41. .. . ......... San Antonio
{......... '. (" .'" . f' - ,'\ '.: .' Herman Heep. '20....... . .. .... . AUstin j
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"t, . ' ' /' ') .\' ::...r,. _ ; .r-" ....,.') JohnH.Cuthrell.29 ..........NewOrleans
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r 1J" t: ,. ' . .. ' "i ". . > :.:J. , " '- " -' .. ."'-'''t.. . ...... ,.,t 1-' ,,. I . John H. Lmdsey. 44. 7 .............. .. Houston
r'\ ' &'" .-." "1 . " . . 'f . .. oJ 'C., ' ,,', .:;i" ... _ p . . ! ..' , If Bruno Schroeder. :39, 8 .. ....... .. . ... .. . Austin
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FOODS
of International Fame
'/
HOTARD'S of TEXAS
',..,
<, Cliff Hotard

Breakfast Dinner
Supper
i
5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
303 North College Ave.
Drawing above shows the plan of the Chapel and its
visible from within. Site is across the street from home of
Bryan Texas
immediate Garden will be prominent feature, Dr. David Morgan, College President.
,
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November, 1955
THE TEXAS AGGIE
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Po. '12 (. H '( T& C T
Interior view of the Chapel as portrayed by the archi Architecture. Seating capacity will be 162. Building will
tect, Richard Vrooman, '52, teacher in the Department of be completely air conditioned.
THE DEVELOPMENT FUND News and Views
Board Pays Tribute
To Henry Reese ill
The Texas A&M College System Board
of Directors at the regular meeti ng held
1. About Annual Gifts II. About Special Gifts,
Of Former Students Grants, Bequests
Oct. 1 passed a resolution paying trib
To the Development ute to Henry Reese III, Gonzales news Sought Through
(
paperman \vho served as a member of
Fund of the The Development
the Board from 1945 to 1951. Mr . Reese
Page 3
'20 in Beaumont
Babcock Honored
As A&M Booster
C. L. (Charlie) Babcok, '20, long-time
College booster, was honored with a tes
timonial dinner-dance at the Harvest
Cl ub attended by 700 members and
guests of the Beaumont A. and M. Club
recently.
Present to honor Mr. Babcock were
Dr. Marion Thomas Harrington, '22,
Chancellor of the A&M College System,
and Dr. David H. Morgan, President
of the College.
Mr. Babcock was feted at a "This Is
Your Life" program reviewing hi s life.
Both he and hi s wife were presented af
terwards with books bound in maroon
and gold, inscribed with the words, "Thi s
Is Your; Life, C. L, (Charlie) Babcock."
"Through the years he has done untold
work on behalf of A. and IV!. , the Former
Students Assn" and Aggie Club and, the
Beaumont A, and M, Club, which owes
its popularity to his inspired, enthusias
tic and unselfish efforts," John F, Zum
mo, '45, one of the cosponson; of the
orogram, said of Mr. Babcock. Madison
Wright, ' 31, and Wayne Brown, '40, were
sponsors with Mr. Zummo.
Mr. Zummo and Mr , Brown were mas
ters of ceremonies during the "This Is
Your Life" show, As mystery guests fot,
Mr. Babcock to identify, they presented
Dr. Harrington, Dr. Morgan, Mrs, Leona
Hurlburt of Houston, George B. Morgan,
' 28, of Beaumont and W. J . Balmer of
Beaumont. Mrs. Hurlburt was a child
hood sweetheart and MI'. Morgan a col
lege classmate.
Other gifts presented Mr. Babcock
were a desk set from the A. and M. Club
and keys-just the keys-to a Cadillac
car; Mrs. Babcock was presented a vase
from the A. and M. Club.
Mr. Babcock, who has never worn a
hat, was presented with a Stetson.
Special guests included John Cuthrell,
'29, of New Orleans, president of the
A. and M. Club of New Orleans; J ohn
Mayfield, '23, of Houston, president of
the Aggie Club ; W. L. Ballard, '22, of
Longview, pres ident of t he Former Stu
dents Assn.; Melvin Maltz, '47, Houston
A. and M. Club president;
LAO" n"PVfll", 'M;, n" lvp."t.o" A ""rl
\
SPECIAL
Th,e Bryan Daily Eagle All-Faith Chapel
February 7, 1955 c ,
UNIVERSITY ARC H I V ES
Texas A&M U niversity
College S t a tio n. T e x a s
Quarter-Million Dollar
Chapel 'PlannedFor ,A&M
, COLLEGE STATION, - Con- and administration office.
r strlidion on a quarter-million Members of the jury making
I
dollar chapel "for, meditation the awards ill'clude Thomas E.
and prayer dedicated to all Greacen' II of Houston, chair-
I faiths" 'on ,the campus of Texas, man; Carl ,Koek of the ,Mass
iA and wil1.get under achusetts ' Institute of Technol
way this ,year. ' ogy; Oscar 'T. Hotchkills jr.,
The design for the chapel sub-Port Arthur, president of th,e
I
! mitted by Richard Vrooman, as- Association of Former Students;
i s}stant professor in the Depart- Howard-R. 'Meyer, Dallas; Prof.,
, inent of Architecture was selec:': Robert F. White, A. "and "M.
ted as tlie ' basic design for the Langford, head of the
buHdingand he was, named the' c<;>llege's Department of Arch
architect for ,the chapel. 'two
other designs submitted "by tor
mer students of the Architecture
Department, drew prizes of $500
and $250, /
Second plrze-Wf:!nt to Preston
M. Bolton of Houston and third
went ' to Donald E.Jarvis of
Dallas. '
The construction will be fi
nancedby , the , Association of
Former Students.
The chapel wm occupy a 'tree
lined plot now vacant)n front
of. the residence , of Dr. David
\H. ,Morglln, presIdent, of
,was ' the ", professional
advisor to the jury on awards.
Professor Vrooman holds an
AB degree from Oberlin college,
B. Arch from Western Reserve
and M. Arch frotti Texas A. and
M. He has .been with the ' college
for four years. ' , ,
Mr.Bolton, is the son of iPresi
dent-Emeritus and ' ,F.C.
Bolton of the ,college /and a 1941
,graduate; is a gtad'!late,
class and the' son of Mr
anq, MrS. W. E. Jarvis ' of Fort
Worth. '
of efoldowing
lege. It will include -the 'chap_assocIatIon reads: Tl1.1S , shall
, ',_ '" , ' " , " '" be ' a place where men of all
el properseatmg about 200 per- faiths shall find wholesoine and
sOI1S, 1ibrary; reception and con- inspirational environlnf:!nt for
ference -rooms, patio ?r garden the moment 'of meditation."
......r..;._._..___ ..... -............__ .... _._
A Chapel for Meditation and Prayer: Culmination of
long planning made possible by the contributions of thous
Ul t.AUapt:l
Plans for the use of the chapel
have been formulated by a Col
lege committee appointed by Pres
ident David H. Morgan. The com
mittee consisted of Rev. Norman
Anderson, College Station Presbyterian
minister who served as chairman; Gor
don Gay, Secretary of the College YM
CA; J. B. (Dick) Hervey, '42, Secretary
of the Association of Former Students;
John Paul Abbott, Dean of the College;
Rev. R. D. Longshore, Baptist minister
who is President of the College Station
Association of Reli gious Leaders ; and
Marvin Noble, Chemistry major who is
President of the student Inter-Faith
Council. Longshore and Noble were ex
officio members of the committee.
Proposals Made
The committee felt that the chapel will
be an evidence of the College's interest
in things of the spirit, and that it should
be a center of an active and vitally-need
ed spiritual service to the students.
Two specific suggestions were made
by the committee:
The chapel should be equally avail
able to religious groups of all kinds, but
should not be the regular meeting place
of any.
The chapel program should encourage
the spiritual development and expression
of students and staff, supplementing
rather than encroaching on the activities
of existing religious organizations.
Spiritual Counseling Program Asked
The Committee on the Chapel and Its
Use asserted the need on the campus for
a spiritual counseling program, for which
it recommended the appointment of a
College Chaplain, who would be respon
sible to the Dean of Student Personnel
Services in order to integrate the spir
itual counseling program with the total
program of student counseling and stu
dent life.
Other Uses Projected
The chapel could also, the committee
said, serve to encourage individual medi
tation and prayer; accumulate a library
of books relating to religion ; sponsor ,re
cital s of rehgious music ; show moral and
religious films; accommodate small wed
dings, funeral s, baptismals, and other
religious rites; and serve as an occasional
meeting place for small religious groups
of all faiths.
With the Association's October 1 Devel
opment Fund News Letter at the sugges
tion of President W. Lambert Ballard,
'22, have been sent to the Association
office in large number for delivery to
the faculty members concerned.
At the end of October, about 1,500 had
been received.
Each card had space for the name of
the faculty member whom the Associa
tion member wanted to greet, and room
on the back for a brief message.
In an editorial titled "In Appreciation,"
the Battalion commented, "To those staff
members who see students come and go,
it will probably mean a lot to know what
they had tried to present to their stu
dents dUring college days stuck with
them enough to make them want to note
their appreciation."
Turkey Day Open House
"Open House" for all A&M men, their
families, and friends will be held Thanks
giving, Nov. 24, 8:30 a.m. till gametime,
on the second floor of the Memorial Stu
dent Center. This is your invitation to
drop by for a visit and a cup of coffee.
The Association of Former Students
The building wiiI provide a center for
prayer and meditation for students of
all faiths.
Design for the chapel was done by
Richard Vrooman, '52, a teacher in the
College's Department of Architecture.
In the same action in which it accepted
the gift, the Board authorized Chancel
lor M. T. Harrington, '22, to receive bids
for construction of the chapel upon com
pletion of plans and specifications by
the architect.
Work On Plans Continues
Vrooman and a collaborating group of
professional men have been working on
the development of the final design and
details of the chapel since the spring
of 1955. Working drawings and specifi
cations are expected to be completed
about the end of the year.
Entitled "A Chapel for Meditation and
Prayer" in the program written for the
competition which resulted in the selec
tion of the architect, the chapel is not
intended to duplicate the facilities of any
local churches.
Garden Willl Be Featured
The building has been designed to fit
among the existing trees at the pro
posed building site.
ands of former students. Exterior front view as visualized
by Richard Vrooman, '52, Chapel
around the garden and back into the
chapel. It is proposed t o surround the
garden by a perforated brick wall.
Limestone, Glass For Walls
walls are planned to be
largely of glass, otherwise shell lime
stone matching the Memorial Student
Center. Other details include copper
roof, terrazzo f loor except for carpeting
in certain areas, interior wood finished
naturally, and acoustical plaster ceiling
in the wings.
Coloring, lighting, and landscaping are
also being planned in detail.
In addition to Vrooman, the design
team working on the chapel includes
William G. Wagner, Bryan, Associate
Architect; Howard R . . Meyer, Dallas,
ConSUlting Architect; A. M. Martin, '41,
Bryan, Structural Engineer; J. W. Hall,
'39, Bryan, Mechanical Engineer; Robert
F. White, teacher in the College's Flori-/
culture and Landscape Architecture De
partment; and R. N. Lane, Austin,
Acoustical Consultant.
Professional Adviser to the Association
has been Ernest Langford, '13, head of
the Architecture Department and Mayor
c:f College Station.
(See CHAPEL, Page 2)
...:.;
Annual Meeting on Campus
More than 100 club officers represent
matters of interest to the A&M' College
ing clubs in Texas, Louisiana and Okla
System being considered by the present
homa returned to the campus in Janu
legislative session. He also covered in
ary for the Ninth Annual Club Officers'
his speech the work of the presidents of
meeting.
military colleges in their mission to ob
The highly enthusiastic group heard tain more recognition for them.
speeches from President Oscar T. Hotch
One of the highlights of the weekend
kiss, Jr., '24, Port Arthur, and Vice
was a resolution approved unanimously
President W. L. Ballard, '22, Dallas,
by those in attendance at the Club Offi
among numerous college and Associa
cers' and Class Agents' Conference. The
tion officials.
approved resolution is as follows:
The workshop type conference got un
"A & M Club Officers, Repre
der way on Saturday afternoon and in
sentatives and Class Agents in
the first portion of the conference they
at the annual meeting
heard remarks by Pete Hardesty, '44,
this date express these views:
concerning High School Day and by E.
"Realizing the tremendous task
velopment Fund, who spoke on the 195(i
E. McQuillen, '20, director of the De
fal:ing- Athletic Director and Head
Opportunity Award Scholarship pro Coach Paul Bryant and his staff,
gram. we voice approval of placing pri
marv responsibility above other
The second part of the conference was
matters. Attendance of Mr. Bry
devoted to an exchange of ideas con
ant at any of our Club meetings
cerning club operation. Interesting and
is welcome. but we are in complete
informative talks were given by the fol
lowing club officers.
understanding that such attend
an"" is not the nrimary respon
John R. (Bubba) ReeVeS, '41, past
sibility of Mr. Bryant and his
president of the San Antonio A&M Club,
staff.
j2'ave a very interesting' discussion on
"We express to Mr. Bryant and
the development of the San Antonio
his pntire staff our anpreciation
Club AIY!rie Park and Memorial Club
for the marvelous job done in the
house. He reviewed the steps taken b
v
fall "nd. our confi'dence in them
the club from the acquisition of the land
for the future.
to the comnletion and dedication of the
$60.000 facility. "We further exnress to Presi
dent David H. Morgan and all
Ed H. lvev. Jr.. '41, president of the
members of his faculty and staff
Bra7.oriaA&M Club, discussed the or
our sincere wishes and complete
p'anization, activities and program of
group.
rrmfidence i" thpir I!'uidan('e of
the destiny of A&M College."
Rep
r
esentinj2' the smaller club. was
John B. Cunningham. '34. president of
W. L. Ballard. '22 . . DaIIas, vice nres
the Cooke Countv A&M Club. who out
iilpnt for the Association, presided at
liner!. the projects and program of the
the Club Officer's Conference for John
:o:m" IIer club.
Lindsey. '44. Houston. who was unable
C. L" Babcock. '20, past president of to attend because of illness.
Bpaumont A&M Club. nresented an
lYe covering' the sponsor
Spring Enrollment
en. meeting, club pUblicity and club pro
p'r"ms.
The enrollment, as of Monday, Feb. 14,
Highlip'ht of the weekend for club of for the spring semestpr at the CoIIege
a!?"en.ts and others in at was 5863, Lloyd H. Heaton, registrar,
tend;l n('p W8S the <linnergiven Satur has said. For the same period in the
,.I"" nin-ht I", the which fp:l ,nring of 1954 the enrollment waf: 5514.
an arlr!re'" bv P"esident H Registration continued for several more
Morgan. President Morgan spoke on days.
H. L. (Howdy) Wdout, Jr.; "1,7, Dallas,
I owner of Ridout Motors Inc., was ap
pointed to fill the unexpired tenn of
H. L. Winfield of Fort Stockton, who
resigned because of ill health.
Other Board members are J . W. With
erspoon, Hereford; Robert AIIen, Ray
mondville; W. T. Doherty, '22, Houston;
J. Harold Dunn, '25, Amarillo and R.
H. Finney, '38, Greenville.
A more comprehensive story about the
new Board appointees wiII appear in the
March issue of The Texas Aggie.
P. L. Downs, Jr., '06,
Confined to Hospital
Thousands of friends of the College's
Official Greeter, P. L. Downs, Jr., '06,
will reg'l'et to learn of his current ill
ness. "Pinky" became ill shortly after
the first of the year and was confined
to the Scott and White Hospital in
Temple for a brief time. Soon I .,
after he entered the St. Mary' s InfIrm
ary in Galveston.
"Pinky" is in Room 323, St. Mary's
Infirmary, Galveston, and he would be
glad to hear from his many friends and
classmates.
System Annual Report
Picturing the past year's developments
in the System of which the College is a
. part, the 1953-54 Annual of the
Chancellor, prepared originally for the
Board of Directors, has been printed
Richard Vrooman
with many photographs and a map show
ing the location in Texas of components
of the System.
An intocesting account is given of
what is going on in the four colleges,
two experiment station organizations,
two extension service organizations, and
forest service which the System con
sists of.
Copies may be obtained from Mr. Hen
derson Shuffler, Office of the Chancellor,
A&M College of Texas, College Station,
Texas.
All A&M men in the London, Eng_
land, area are asked to contact Lt.
Bryan W. Grosjean, '53, H&S Co.,
803rd Eng. Av. Bn., APO 195, New
York, N.Y., for the purpose of mak
ing plans for the April 21st Muster.

Chanter of the American Institute of
Architects. He has also served as Visi
tin.g Critic in Architectural Design at
the University of Houston.
Mr. Greacen served during World Wal'
n as Lt. Col. in the Air Force and Chief
of Research and Development Section,
Construction Branch, Air Installations
Division, in Washington. He is a mem
ber of the American Institute of Archi
tects and the Texas Society of Archi
tects; he is a Registered Architect in
New York and Texas.
Mr. Carl Koch, who also served on the
Jury, is a member of the architecture
faculty at Mass. Institute of Technology.
He has served as Visiting Critic at the
Yale School of Architecture. Educated
at Harvard (B.A., M.Arch.), he has been
a recipient of the Bacon Traveling Fel
lowship, and is a Registered Architect
(National, Massachusetts, New Hamp
shire, Rhode Island, New York, Ohio).
He has served as Senior Architect,
National Housing Agency. He has been
president of two corporations devoted
(See VROOMAN, Page 8)

The Texas A
ggle
''i'!-rrTI':''lfTrfffufT"rlEl''Y
Published For The Former Students of Texas A. & M. College -4 PJ, ;.'. . . ,"
The Beaumont club delegation registers for the ninth annual Club Officers
conference. Left to right are Eber Peters, '40, John Zummo, '49, and C. L. Bab
cock, '20. Registering the delegates is Mrs. Margaret Grange of the Association
staff.
Club Officers Hold Ninth
Vol. xx: No.2 College Station, Texas February, 1955
Vrooman Designated
Architect for Chapel
Richard (Dick) Vrooman, '52, assistant professor of architecture
at the College, has been selected architect of the chapel to be built on
the campus. He won tllE: competition sponsored by the Association of
Former Students and judged by a Jury of Awards which included four
prominent architects and the President of the Association.
Preston Bolton, '41 Class Agent, of Houston, received a $500 sec
I ond place award for his contest de
sign. Donald E. Jarvis, '49, Dallas,
was awarded *250 for third place.
The five-man Jury of Awards
Four Appointed
A&M Directors spent two days on the campus
studying the 23 designs submitted. The
Governor Allan Shivers in mid-Febru
Executive Board of the Association,
ary announced the appointment of three
meeting on Feb. 5 and 6, 'authorized the
members of the A. & M. College System
President of the Association to enter
Board of Directors and appointed a
into contract with MI'. Vrooman, who
fourth man to fill an unexpired term.
expects to present sketches for the con
Three of the four men appointed to
Isideration and approval of the Council
the Board are newcomers and another
when it meets in May.
was reappointed. All three new men are
former students of the College. Award Jury
New appointments for full terms are
Chairman of the Jury of Awards was
Price Campbell, '13, Abilene, President
Mr. Thomas E. Greacen, II, member of
of the West Texas Utilities Company,
a Houston architectural firm. He was
and H. B. (Pat) Zachry, '22, owner of
educated at Pritlceton and Columbia, and
the H. B. Zachry Construction Company,
studied at the N. Y. Building School and
San Antonio.
the School of Fine Arts (Fon
A. E. Cudlipp, Lufkin industrialist,
tainbleau, France). He has practiced
whose term expired this year, was re
architecture in New York City and
Itppointed.
u "'." .... ..... ..... ,3 ... ........... . ............ ,....l ... 1........ 4-\... ..... ....... .
UNIVE RSITY A RCHI VES
SPECIAL SUBJECTS

THE EAGLE '., ALL FAITHS CijAPEL
T e xas A&M Unive rsity
AUGUST 26,1954
College Station, T e xas
(ha'pel To Be
.' . ,
BuUI O'n A&M
Colleile Campus
C,OLLEGE STATION ' - A
former student in the Depart
ment of Architecture at ' Texas
A&M will design and supervise
on the campus of
a quarter.;m'illi'on doUar chapel
, "for meditation and prayer ded
icated to all faiths.".. ' .' I
' The Association of Former
' Students has funds for . the I
builcUng to be started early i,
next 'year. . .
Only former students are eli- I
gible to submit drawings in the !
, cempetition for a $14,000 ' plus
award. Ernest Langford,' head
of the Architecture ' department
I at A&M will act as professional,
\adVise,r fora ju.ryon . awards. 'I
Second prize of $500 and thlrd
, prizeot $250 are provided.
. Members of the ' jury are
Thdmas E . . Greacen II of Hous
ton, chainnan;Pietro Belluschi,
dean of th eSChool of Architec
ture at Massachusetts Institute
of TeelinolO.gy, . Cainbridge,
,Mass.; Howard RMeyet, pal
las; Prot. , ,Robert F. Whlte,
A&M' and Oscar '.I'.
I Hotchkiss IIr., Port Arthur;
president of the Former
, 4ssociatiotL .
The , chapel will occupy a
tree-lined plot now vacant inl munion with the Infinite."'!
front of 'the resident of Dr.Da- '
vid H. Morgan, president of
thecoUege. It will inclUde the
chapel proper seating about 200
persons, library, reception and
conference rooms, patio or gar
dEm and administration office.
Program .of the endowing as
socIation peads: "This shall 'be
a place where men of all faiths
shall find wholesome and inspi
r ational env-ironment for a mO'
,ment of meditation . and com