I was about 7 years old and attended the TCU Homecoming parade (1968). I saw the band, the cheerleaders and, of course, the TCU mascot, our beloved Horned Frog. I dreamed then of being a Horned Frog but never thought it would happen. My first experience as a student in 1992 was in the admissions office. The counselor treated me like TCU had been waiting for me all that time. I’m so very proud to be a TCU alumna and everyone who knows me knows that! Go Frogs!
Lori Batchelor ’95

The “Howdy Week” beanie caps. Meeting dorm mates Dorothy Traweek (my bridesmaid when I married my husband of 60 years), Sylvia Boker, Pam, Janine Howell, Liz Satterwhite, and meeting Thomas Inman.
Shirley Tait Inman ’54

My maternal grandparents lived in the TCU area. We would visit them every summer for two weeks. We would walk over to the campus and look at the buildings. I decided at a young age I was going to attend TCU. My maternal aunt attended TCU when I was young, and she would take us inside some of the buildings.
Susan Bond Butch ’71

I’d never heard of TCU until a pop-up on my computer. Coming from Connecticut, I’d never been to Texas, so my parents and I decided to visit. I immediately fell in love with the campus and people. It was such a great community and the student ambassadors were amazing. (I later became one to help inspire and welcome future Frogs!) It was everything I ever wanted in a college – and more.
Heather Fagan ’08

I was traveling to TCU from Oregon. I stopped for gas outside of Denver. When leaving the pump, I had to back up. I backed into a car behind me. The driver discovered I was going to TCU Brite Divinity School. He told me he was a recruiter for TCU. He told me, “Never mind the dent in the car. Get to school and have a great life.” I did!
Rev. Donald Riordan ’60 MDIV

I was sold on TCU as a high school junior when I attended a leadership conference sponsored by the Disciples of Christ church I attended. The people were amazing and purple has always been my favorite color (lol). The orientation process cemented it, and I have bled purple since 1981. Go Frogs!
Brent Chesney ’85

My first impression of TCU was before spring semester 1969. At the end of a frustrating day of shopping my Texas Western (UTEP) and Eastern New Mexico university transcripts around the Metroplex I had found that many additional courses would be needed to graduate in journalism. As a married transfer student, I had not considered and assumed I could not afford two years at a “private” school. In desperation and without an appointment, I met with TCU Journalism professor Doug Newsome who called Dr. Horn in the School of Education. Leaving for the day, he waited and evaluated my transcripts for a BS in Education with journalism and English teaching certification. I could graduate in just one tough year! After graduation I taught journalism then returned to TCU for 13 years to coordinate the Friday on Campus (now Monday on Campus) program as a Director of Admissions. That day was simply life-changing.
Charleen Hayes McGilvray ’70 and ’83

My father took my best friend and me to a TCU vs Air Force football game in the late 1990s. We were sophomores in high school in Colleyville, and we were excited to go to a university for the first time. I specifically remember nice-looking female students, the nice campus and the Frog Fountain and beautiful old Amon G. Carter Stadium. I knew right there I wanted to be a Frog—and LT winning the game sold me.
Brandon Simon ’05

I entered TCU as a night school student after attending another four-year college. I was extremely impressed with my instructors. The next year I became a full-time student. I was so impressed with the education I received. In my family, a school of this caliber was so out of our reach. We had to struggle to keep me in TCU. In the end, I love the prestige of saying I am an alumni of TCU.
Beverly Buchanan Daniels ’70

I was from a small town and had never seen the campus. When I arrived for a summer freshman weekend, I “hitched” from home and the truck driver dropped me on campus. The campus and the grounds were beautiful, and I met my four-year roommate and friend. I thought it couldn’t get any better, and I was right.
Dan Holt ’65

I spoke to one of your counselors at a high school college fair. He encouraged me to apply. At that point I lived in Miami, and college seemed like a pipe dream because I had limited funds and was a Cuban immigrant. TCU helped me go to college. Without your help, I would not have become the physician I am today. Many thanks.
Diana Mederos ’84

My first view of the TCU campus came as I drove up Berry St., turned right onto University Drive and saw the gateway in front of the administration. It was beautiful. I immediately thought, "This is what a university is supposed to look like!  I'm going to love it here." And I did. And still do!
Hank Dittman ’66

I was on a “Monday at TCU” program on the campus tour and as soon as crossed University Drive I looked at the library and looked at Sadler Hall and knew that I would be attending TCU. I have often returned to that same spot (sidewalk on the library side) and thought on how lucky I have been to have had such a great college experience at TCU.
Daniel Mabry ’91

I remember leaving Delt study hall in the Mary Couts Burnett Library and walking to Milton-Daniel, probably in mid-September of 1991. I obviously chose TCU (luckily they chose me, too!), but there was this moment crossing University when I read the sign on the brick in front of Sadler: “Texas Christian University” and “1873” really stuck out and hit home. That’s when I knew I was where I was supposed to be.
Mark Mourer ’95

I remember in the middle of the night in the summer we had a “Tarrant County electric storm,” like none other. Being a devout Christian, believing in the pre-millennial philosophy, there appeared a “splitting the sky” thunderbolt that not only awakened me, but the sky looked as though the sun was shining through. All lights came on all over the city, campus and the news media explained it was a phenomenal occurrence, not the end of the world as I imagined.
Cynthia A. (Cranford) Lyseight-Pennon ’74

I was a Boy Scout usher at TCU football games. When I graduated from high school most of us were eligible for the draft. However, all ROTC students were deferred. I had always wanted to fly. Twenty years after graduating from TCU, I was a financial advisor for 35 years until retirement. The USAF allowed me to live four years in Tokyo, a year in Germany and 15 months in Turkey.
Harold Langley ’57

The first time I saw TCU was August 1983. That was also the day before freshman orientation and the start of my freshman year. I was 17 years old, from Chicago and had never been south of the Mason-Dixon line. My parents raised independent daughters, so when I decided to attend TCU sight unseen, they were completely supportive. But they both worked in the education field and couldn't take off work in August to drive me to Texas. So I flew by myself — it was during Hurricane Alicia and my flight was delayed for hours. Susan Appleby Nix '69, doing a good deed for the Admission office, picked me up from DFW Airport, dropped me off at Colby Hall and called my mom to tell her that I had arrived safely. I didn't think it was crazy at the time, but now that I have three daughters of my own — Kelsey, TCU Class of 2016 — I can't believe that I had never even visited the university before attending TCU! I'm glad I followed my heart. I met my husband Brian Zempel '87, and we've been married almost 27 years. My dearest friends are the ones from TCU, and we bleed purple up here in Wisconsin. And Susan Nix? She and her family were my family while I was a student, and we still keep in touch. Really, my first impression? It was hot.
Jill Goodwin Zempel '87

A TCU-Georgia Orange Bowl game played 72 years ago, and a program brough home by his Dad, set TCU in the sights of a 10-year-old Waycross, Ga., boy who didn't know his church had a college. Later, that inevitable 8th grad question, "Where do you want to go to college?" brought forth a hasty reply, "TCU." In 1949, I boarded a bus for my first trip to far-off Texas. Two weeks later, on a blind date, I met another freshman, Nancy Smith from Tyler. We've been married now for 62 years … and are still proud Horned Frogs. P.S. – We have a picture of that first date, wearing our beanies, carrying a cowbell, and holding hands. It was taken by a street photographer as we headed to a football game.
Donald C. Brewer '53
Nancy Smith Brewer '53

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