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This is the transcript from the first of three interviews that Bruce Roche conducted with Dr. Flowers just prior to his retirement. Dr. Flowers (Class of 1913) was President of Southwest Texas State College from 1942-1964. In this interview, Dr. Flowers talks about the history of education in Texas, his educational philosophy, and the need for vocational schools to provide practical skills to their students. He also talks about growing up in a family that had books in their home, and how he was encouraged to get his master’s degree at the age of 30. Interviewer Bruce Roche was director of the College News Service. This interview was the source material for his article “Goal: Excellence – Dr. Flowers’ Lifelong Watchword,” published in the Austin American-Statesman on August 30, 1964.

William Dibrell talks about his career as both an educator at Texas State and as a member of the San Marcos City Council. He recalls his early life in Bastrop, serving in the Korean War, and earning his master's degree in special education at SWTSC. He reflects on his experience working as the assistant county school superintendent in Lockhart before teaching at San Marcos High School and helping with the Upward Bound program. He outlines how he devoted his career to supporting vocational education teachers and teaching public speaking courses. He describes the evolution of education in San Marcos, with specific mention of the laboratory school, the Coronal Institute, and the San Marcos Baptist Academy. He addresses his frustrations and the ways in which he believes San Marcos and its City Council need to improve and shares his views on teaching and the education system in general.