McCabe’s Influence Felt on Campus and Beyond

Serving as university President for nearly two decades, Dr. Dennis McCabe had a major influence on improvements both academic and in facilities.

Taking office in 1991, McCabe vowed to continue the progress started during the administrations of both Dr. W.O. Trogdon and Dr. Barry Thompson. By the time he retired in 2008, he had more than fulfilled that promise, guiding more than $100 million in construction projects and a ground-breaking partnership within The Texas A&M University System that extended Tarleton’s reach.

Tarleton’s sphere of influence expanded past Stephenville under McCabe as The Killeen campus of the University of Central Texas became Tarleton State University System – Central Texas on Sept. 1, 1999.

From the beginning, the new school had a definite Tarleton flavor as McCabe named Dr. Lamar Johanson the new entity’s first executive director. Johanson, part of the Stephenville campus for almost four decades, had been a professor and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

A unique agreement between Tarleton, the A&M System and the new campus stipulated that after meeting established enrollment goals, the college became an independent university. That milestone was reached in 2009.

Now titled Texas A&M University – Central Texas, the Killeen school is home to more than 2,500 mostly non-traditional students studying in bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in three schools – Arts and Sciences, Business Administration and Education.

Students’ average age at TAMU-CT is 34 and most students attend classes on a part-time basis. Not surprisingly, given its proximity to Fort Hood, more than 40 percent of the student body has some affiliation to the United State military. In fact, there are extension facilities on the Army post.

At home, McCabe-led projects featured the university’s recreation sports complex and Tarleton’s first new dining hall in nearly eight decades. Plus, planning for the $24 million nursing building, the cuttingedge Southwest Dairy Center, and renovation and upgrades to the library and science building also happened under his guidance.

Former President Dr. Dennis P. McCabe speaks at the inauguration of Tarleton’s 15th President Dr. F. Dominic Dottavio.