4 Acknowledgement

Several individuals were supportive in the effort to write and share this book. Dr. Robert Furgason, who served as President of TAMU-CC from 1990 to 2005, authored the forward to this book and provided a wealth of information. It has been an honor to meet him and discuss the history of the institution he once led. Ms. Callie Walker edited numerous drafts of the book and provided valuable insight from her experience at TAMU-CC. Her work has been diligent and is most appreciated. The Director of the Mary and Jeff Bell Library Special Collections and Archives, Ms. Lori Atkins, and her staff, were most helpful in providing background information as well as historical photographs featured in the book. Dr. Paul Orser, who prior to his retirement served in numerous roles at TAMU-CC including as a professor and Associate Vice President for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, provided a friendly review of an earlier draft of the book. I appreciate his valuable insight he was gracious enough to share with me on the history of the university. Mr. Russell Wagner was very supportive of this project in his past role as Executive Director of Alumni Relations at TAMU-CC. The staff of the Marketing and Communications Department at TAMU-CC took many of the photographs that are attributed to the university and presented in this book. Their work adds a rich visual appeal. Ms. Lisa Louis, Director of User and Research Services, was instrumental in adapting the book into the electronic version. She has shown helpfulness and kindness since I first arrived on campus a decade ago.

I sincerely appreciate the efforts of each person who assisted me with the writing of this book to share the story of the Island University. All errors are my own.

-The Author