Texas College Celebrates 120 Years

TYLER (AP) – Alumni of Texas College have gathered to mark the 120th anniversary of the founding of the historically black college. William Parker Jr. was among alumni attending the celebration Wednesday. The 54-year-old retired deputy sheriff from Georgia makes the trip annually to his alma mater. He told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that his education at Texas College gave him the skills necessary to be successful in life. The college in Tyler was started by a group of Christian Methodist Episcopal Church members in 1894. In addition to celebrating the school’s founding, the college also celebrated 50 years of existence for the Top Ladies of Distinction Inc., a public service organization founded on the Texas College campus that now operates chapters nationwide.