Ralph W. Stenzel Jr. Lowman Rifles Drill Team Collection

Collection

Identifier: UAC/34/2019.a002

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The materials in this collection are made up of "The Lowman Rifles Drill Team of Sam Houston State University" historical book, decals, insignia patchs, a coat of arms insignia photoengraving plate, and a commemorative photoengraver.

Dates

Creation: 1963 - 1967
Creation: 2019

Conditions Governing Use

The materials represented in this finding aid have been made available for research, teaching and private use. For these purposes, you may reproduce (print, make photocopies, or download) these items without prior permission on the condition that you provide proper attribution of the source in all copies.

Please contact the Newton Gresham Library's Special Collections and University Archives department to request permissions to reproduce materials for any other purpose, or to obtain information regarding the copyright status of a particular digital image, text, audio or video recording.

Extent

1 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in alphabetical order by object.

The materials in this collection are composed of 6 files.

Folder 1- "The Lowman Rifles Drill Team of Sam Houston State University," depicts the history of then Sam Houston State Teachers College and Sam Houston State College's Lowman Rifles Drill Team.

Folder 2- is made up of one Sam Houston State Teachers College Lowman Rifles insignia decal and one Sam Houston State College Lowman Rifles insignia decal.

Folder 3- is made up of one Sam Houston State Teachers College Lowman Rifles insignia patch.

Folder 4- is made up of two Sam Houston State College Lowman Rifles insignia patch (one large patch and one small patch).

Folder 5- is made up of the Lowman Rifles Coat of Arms insignia photoengraving plate.

Folder 6- is made up of a commemorative Lowman Rifles photoengraver.

Physical Location

This collection is location in the Newton Gresham Library 400, University Archives.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated by Ralph W. Stenzel Jr. on June 20, 2019. A former member of the Lowman Rifles Drill Team who was elected as the Rifle Commander for the academic years of 1964-1965 and 1965-1966.

Bibliography

The Lowman Rifles started in 1952 when Sam Houston State University was known as Sam Houston State Teachers College. The Lowman Rifles ended in 1986 when the university was known as Sam Houston State College.

On June 11, 1952 the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) was establised at what was then known as Sam Houston State Teachers College. ROTC was a required program for all male freshman and sophomores until Fall 1965. Soon after its establisment, an honorary drill organization know as the Lowman Rifles was formed. Named after the current president Dr. Harmon Lowman. The purpose of the Lowman Rifles was showmanship and precision drill. The Lowman Rifles Drill Team used M-1 rifles and later changed to using Springfield 1903 rifles.

In their first year the Lowman Rifles Drill Team marched in parades in Huntsville such as the Pioneer Roundup Parade, Sam Houston State Teachers College Homecoming Parade, and the Walker County Fair Parade. Later on in the year they marched in the King Rex Mardi Gras Parade in New Oreleans and the Battle of the Flowers Parade in San Antonio. The drill team also competited in several drill competitions against other university ROTC programs throughout their establisment.

In 1974 women were able to join ROTC and a few became members of the Lowman Rifles Drill Team.

The ROTC program was housed in the Austin College Building. The burning of Old Main on February 12, 1982 caused the Austin College building to catch on fire. Unlike Old Main, Austin College was saved, but the fire destroyed many of the Lowman Rifles' tropies, artifacts, and records. The ROTC program was then housed in the Criminal Justic Center and later the Randle House and finally in 1986 moved to the former Men's Gymnasium (Academic Building 3) where the program is located today.