(Photo of Abner Haynes provided by UNT)
Recent talk by area university leaders focuses on themes such as moving forward and future growth. However, that discussion often ends up touching on successes of the past.
For example on Feb. 13, the University of North Texas unveiled a five-year plan aimed at making that campus the first choice among graduating high school seniors.
Among historical highlights mentioned was desegregation of the football program in 1956. Back then, UNT was known as North Texas State College. Players Abner Haynes and Leon King - both graduates from Dallas' Lincoln High School - helped usher a new chapter at UNT. (Oral histories tied to this event and others are available online.)
At the University of Texas at Arlington, where much news centered on the recent opening of a new special events center, history also entered into discussions about the university's future. UTA integrated the first African-American students in 1962, while under the Texas A&M System. UTA states it was the first campus in that system to do so.
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