I was the presiding officer of the student senate and a member of Phi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honorary society, when Sen. Lyndon Johnson visited campus in 1959 ("Visitors to Campus," spring 2012).
President Matthews asked me to accompany the senator around the campus and to introduce him when he spoke to the members of Phi Sigma Alpha.
For the most part, Sen. Johnson ignored the aide who tried to remind him of his schedule, and he spent extra time with students.
About a week later I got a letter from the senator expressing his thanks for the tour and saying how much he enjoyed the visit.
I had no thought at the time that he might become president. He just impressed me as a very busy and important man who would take the time to visit with students.
Ed Smith (’60),
Smith & Stephens
Dallas
In 1954, when I was a student at North Texas, Professor J. Frank Dobie came to campus to lecture and to read from one of his books on the legends of the old Southwest.
Nine years later when I began to research the life and career of the Texas novelist George Sessions Perry, I wrote Professor Dobie, who had been Perry’s friend and mentor. He sent me information and observations about Perry and his works.
If I had not heard him speak, I probably would never have dared request information from him.
Bob Cowser (’54)
Martin, Tenn.
In the fall of ’66, Henry Kissinger spoke one afternoon. He was not yet the internationally famous figure he would become in the Nixon administration, but he was a well-known expert on foreign policy, still teaching at Harvard and serving as an unofficial advisor to Johnson.
I recall that he told us to stop criticizing the government of South Vietnam so much for not being democratic — "You can’t keep pulling up a tree to see if the roots are growing."
Tom Strother (’68 M.A.)
Fort Worth
My wife, Linda, and I went to some great concerts on campus when we were there in 1973 and early 1974.
Among the best were Brewer and Shipley and Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.
There also was a concert we wanted to go to, but for some reason were unable to — Willie Nelson, before he became a big star.
Cliff Griffith (’74)
Fort Worth
One great memory of my time at North Texas was seeing Willie Nelson.
This was before the "redneck rock Austin scene" thing really got going. I would guess only 30 or 40 others were in attendance as Willie was not well known at that time.
He invited all of us to sit on stage with him and took requests. He seemed to enjoy it more than if he’d been playing to thousands!
Looking back, it was one of my fondest memories of North Texas.
John White (’73)
Daingerfield
I remember a visit by Martin Luther King Sr. (Daddy King) in 1976.
He made a great impression and I had the opportunity to meet him at a reception after his speech. I will always remember his speech on RESPECT.
Glenn D. Phillips (’78)
Houston
I was at UNT in the mid 1990s and never heard any star guest speakers, nor did I ever get to hear the jazz players for which UNT is famous.
However, I was greatly educated by my professors, Martin Yaffe, Pete Gunter, Carmen Terry and Harold Tanner, to name a few, who were special guest speakers in my eyes.
I learned a lot at UNT, and treasure the one year that I was there!
Corine Sutherland, 1994-1995
Los Angeles, Calif.
