Perot museum opens: College benefactor is impressed with changes at TC

Ross Perot waves to the crowd after Nash Elementary School students performed Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, at the closing of the opening reception of the Perot Leadership Museum at Palmer Memorial Library Friday at Texarkana College.
Ross Perot waves to the crowd after Nash Elementary School students performed Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, at the closing of the opening reception of the Perot Leadership Museum at Palmer Memorial Library Friday at Texarkana College.

Hundreds gathered Friday at Texarkana College to dedicate the Ross Perot Leadership Museum to the Texarkana-born millionaire whose donations saved the school during its 2012 financial crisis. Perot has donated a total of $5 million to his alma mater, and upon his initial $1 million gift, he made certain conditions.

"Mr. Perot challenged us to do one of two things," TC President James Henry Russell said. "Either pass an election that would match his money or to raise it from personal or from private donations. And guess what? Not only did this crazy community pass a countywide election, but they also matched you dollar for dollar on private donations."

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That original $5 million has turned into $22 million, Russell said-with $12 million in additional tax contributions and $5 million in private donations.

"Since 2012, this college has served 21,000 students," he said. "Just in the last four years, because you helped keep us open and change our future, we've been able to serve over 20,000 students. We have awarded, just since 2012, 3,336 degrees and certificates. (These) people have a better life because of your investment and what you did here. You just changed over 3,000 people in the
past four years."

Perot said he was particularly impressed with the positive changes at Texarkana College, which cost $50 and enrolled 200 students when he attended in 1948 and 1949, he said. Perot is also responsible for TC's move from Pine Street to the current location, after suggesting to then-administration that a larger campus would better serve students.

"Much of this positivity is the result of the work you've done in recent years, and I'm honored to congratulate you and compliment you on what you've done and continue to do," Perot said. "Thank you for continuing to make this college better every day and getting the students the finest possible education at a critical time in our country."

He went on to thank those responsible for honoring his family with the museum, which features murals and quotes of Perot alongside the central staircase and cotton house, with a focal mural comprised of various photographs and painted portrait of Perot in the center. A recessed, lighted ceiling dome was also created for the space, with the Perot Leadership Museum's logo directly beneath, in a specially-crafted circle of floor laminate. The space is designed to not only honor Perot and his family, but to also honor other visionary Texarkana leaders, with the display changing periodically.

"I want to thank you for making this college better every day," Perot said. "I want to thank you for honoring our family with the Perot Leadership Museum. My mother and father would be very proud of Texarkana. I'm sure they are, looking down from heaven. I know they would be very proud of all you've accomplished, but more importantly, what you will accomplish in the future."

The museum is inside the Palmer Memorial Library, 1024 Tucker St., Texarkana, Texas.

 

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