Charles E. Clayton

Biography

Charles E. Clayton (1929–2003) was born in San Marcos, Texas. He attended the Southwest Texas State Teachers College campus public schools and grew up on and around the campus. Clayton earned his BA and MEd from SWTSTC and spent two years studying at the University of Texas. He held a number of jobs on campus, varying from working on the maintenance crew to being an instructor in the history department.

Part of the Texas 150 Oral History Project

Charles E. Clayton talks about his Southwest Texas State University experiences as both a child growing up on campus and in San Marcos, and as a faculty member in the history department. He shares his memories attending the campus's laboratory school and working on the college's maintenance crew. He recalls prominent memories concerning other well-known faculty members, such as President Evans, President and Mrs. Flowers, Dr. Spurgeon Smith,  J.R. Buckner, Coach Strahan, Jerome Cates, Prof. Green, James Taylor, Retta Murphy, Leland Derrick, Deacon Wright, and others. Clayton describes how the New Deal played out on campus, including the construction of certain buildings like Evans and Sayers Hall. He talks about earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees and then working as vice principal at San Marcos High School. Clayton touches on other topics such as the San Marcos River, Old Main, and the changes he's seen on campus and in town.

Full audio is available for this interview. Reading Room access only.