Record details
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Tyler Junior College played an important role in my life following graduation from Tyler High School in 1947. I was an immature 16-year-old and had not chosen where to continue my education. It was a crucial stage in my life and I was fortunate that TJC was available as a college option.
At that time, TJC was embarking on major new initiatives that would have a positive impact on the College. These plans included the formation of the first TJC Band, the Apache Belles and a TJC football team. All of this was to occur during the summer of 1947 in time for the beginning of the football season. In addition, a relocation to a new campus was to be completed before the fall of 1948.
I received a full scholarship to help start that first band and it changed my life forever. The band, directed by Doc Witt, was a blend of TJC students, a few Tyler High School students, and several men who had only recently returned from World War II. Doc Witt had been director of both the Tyler Municipal Band and the Tyler High School Band before coming to TJC and was a well-respected leader.
For much of that summer, I worked for Mildred Stringer and Al Gilliam who were designing what became the Apache Belles. I would play music on the clarinet while they were creating routines for the Belles for the coming football season. It was very exciting to be there helping what became major traditions at TJC. The Band and Belles were great hits, and with a great coach the football team won all of their conference games (including the first Kilgore College game). Coach Wagstaff was given a new DeSoto automobile by a grateful city and we were all very ex-cited.
Even though I was busy with extracurricular activities, TJC professors provided me with a top-quality education. I fully appreciated their efforts later at Texas A&M where I had chosen to study petroleum geology. Professors like J. C. Henderson prepared me well for school and for life. Mr. Henderson was a very capable, dignified gentleman and an excellent professor. During my first semester at TJC I took a full schedule, including Mr. Henderson’s chemistry class. Band and having fun were my priorities at that time and I made a “D” in his chemistry class. Mr. Henderson told me he was disappointed in my work and that I was capable of doing much better. He was an intelligent and distinguished man who expected high performance from his students. It made a lasting impact on me and I tried to never again disappoint him or the other professors.
Following graduation from Texas A&M I worked as an exploration geologist for a company in Dallas, Abilene and Tyler. In 1971 I left the company to begin business for myself as an independent geologist. Many good things have happened in my career since that time, and I have been able to spend time in various community activities. This success was made possible by the education and maturity that began for me at TJC. My wife, Rosemary, also attended TJC and shares my high regard for this community treasure with its excellent teachers and wonderful traditions.
I never will forget what TJC did for me, what it has done for countless others, and what it can do for many thousands more in years to come. I ended my 12 years of service on the TJC Board in 2004, but I will always be at TJC’s service. Being able now to give band scholarships to students 60 years after receiving a scholarship has been a very rewarding part of my life.
- Biography
- TJC Hero and Friend Harold Beaird is a member of the fifth generation of the Beaird family to live in Tyler. His great grandfather, who was Mayor of Tyler at the time of his death in 1915, established the Beaird Farm in 1868. In 2001, the Texas Legislature recognized the Beaird Farm as an Historic Farm with over 100 years of continuous family ownership. The Beaird family has given 50 acres of that farm to TJC for the establishment of scholarships. In addition to numerous TJC scholarships for Presidential Scholars and Legacy Scholars that are designated for Band students, Harold and Rosemary have given scholarships to UT Tyler and Texas A&M. Harold has served on more than 15 boards in the Tyler community, and he and Rosemary have been recognized with awards and gratitude for all they have given back to Tyler and the Tyler area.
