The oldest collegiate athletic conference in the southwestern United States will celebrate its 75th birthday on Tuesday, and Lone Star Conference (LSC) officials are planning a year-long celebration in honor of the league's first 75 years.
The LSC -- an NCAA Division II conference with 15 member institutions in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas -- was founded on April 25, 1931. The 1931-32 athletic seasons were the first for the league.
When the 2006-07 athletic seasons begin in August, the LSC will pay tribute to its first 75 years by recalling stories of the outstanding teams and great sports personalities in LSC history, like former NFL great Darryl Green and Olympic gold medalist Bobby Morrow, among many others.
Additionally, the league has unveiled a special commemorative logo to recognize the 75-year mark, and a committee has been formed to organize events surrounding the 75-year celebration, including the announcement of 75-year standout teams in football, basketball and selected other sports.
The LSC will complete its 75th year of existence Tuesday as one of NCAA Division II's most established and successful conferences. Since being founded in 1931, the LSC has grown from a five-team conference of Texas-based schools to a 15-member league that spans three states (Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico).
The league has its headquarters in Richardson, Texas, with a four-person conference staff that assists member institutions in the maintenance of intercollegiate athletic programs that are compatible with the highest standards of education and competitive sports.
Throughout the league's now 75-year history, various institutions have competed under the LSC banner. Today, only Texas A&M University-Commerce (then East Texas State) remains from the original group that was formed in 1931 when North Texas State, Southwest Texas State, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin withdrew from the old Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
The membership alignment has changed over the years, with current members having been added in each of the past five decades. Texas A&M-Kingsville (formerly Texas A&I) joined in 1954, followed by Angelo State in 1968 and Abilene Christian in 1973.
Conference membership remained within the Texas borders until 1984 when Eastern New Mexico was admitted. Since then, the LSC has expanded to include members from Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Central Oklahoma (1987) and Cameron (1988, 1996) were the next additions in the LSC's recent expansion phase, while Texas Woman's (1989) and previous members West Texas A&M (1986, 1993) and Tarleton State (1968, 1994) joined the league soon after.
Midwestern State was admitted early in 1995, and the league grew again further later that year with the acceptance of four more Oklahoma schools -- East Central, Northeastern State, Southeastern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma -- along with Harding and Ouachita Baptist from Arkansas.
That brought the league membership to 17, but Harding and OBU departed the conference after the 1999-2000 athletic season to bring about the LSC's current look.
Other past members of the LSC include Trinity, Houston, Lamar, Howard Payne, Sul Ross State and McMurry.
The LSC has a long-standing tradition of athletic success, with many member teams and individuals having distinguished themselves on the national stage. As of today, LSC member institutions have collected more than 100 team national championships, including 63 in NCAA Division II.
The LSC conducts conference championships in 15 sports (seven men and eight women). Men's championships include football, cross country, basketball, baseball, track and field, tennis and golf. Women's titles are determined in volleyball, soccer, cross country, basketball, softball, track and field, tennis and golf.