College History

1876-1920

• Business education intermingled with mechanical and agricultural programs. Courses included single and double-entry bookkeeping and creamery management.

1920

• Department of Economics offers business courses.

1921

• Agricultural Administration programs offers business courses.

1926

• Formation of accounting and statistics, farm and ranch management, marketing and finance departments.

1946

• Department of Business and Accounting formed in School of Arts & Sciences. Thomas W. Leland named department head.
• First master's degree awarded in accounting and statistics.

1951

• General MBA degree is offered.
• Department moves from temporary structure into Francis Hall.

1953

• Center for Executive Development established.

1961

• School of Business Administration formed. John E. Pearson becomes head after the retirement of Thomas W. Leland.

1965

• School of Business departmentalized into programs of study in accounting, business analysis and research, finance, marketing and management.

1966

• Implementation of the MBA degree.

1968

• College of Business Administration formed. John E. Pearson named dean.

1972

• College accredited by American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.
• First PhD awarded.

1978

• William V. Muse appointed dean upon the retirement of John E. Pearson.

1980

• First business career fair held.

1981

• College moves to the Blocker Building

1983

• William H. Mobley appointed dean, succeeding Clinton A. Phillips who served as interim dean for one year.
• Center for Retailing Studies established.
• Fellows Program created.

1985

• Center for International Business Studies created.

1987

• A. Benton Cocanougher appointed dean after interim dean Don Hellriegel serves for one year.
  
• Texas Real Estate Center moves to college from College of Agriculture.
  
• Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship created.

1989

• Center for the Management of Information Systems created.

1990

• Center for Human Resource Management established.
• Center for International Business funded as a Center for International Business Education and Research.

1991

• Implementation of the bachelor's degree in agribusiness.

1992

• Professional Program in Accounting formed.
  
• Outstanding Alumni Awards established.

1994

• Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade created.

1995

• College moves to the Wehner Building.
  
• Graduate Business Career Services center created.

1996

• College endowed by Mr. Lowry Mays '57, founder and CEO of Clear Channel Communications. In honor of this $15 million gift, the college is renamed the Lowry Mays College & Graduate School of Business.

1998

• Implementation of master's degree in agribusiness.

1999

• Executive MBA Program accepts first class.
  
• Reliant Energy Trading Center founded.
  
• College adopts enrollment management for the undergraduate program.

2001

• Jerry R. Strawser '83 becomes dean upon the retirement of A. Benton Cocanougher.
  

2002

• College renamed to Mays Business School

2003

• State-of-the-art Jerry and Kay Cox Hall opens, adding classroom and office space, as well as permanent space for the trading center and the Cocanougher Special Events Center.

2007

• Ricky W. Griffin serves as interim dean for one year during Jerry R. Strawser's tenure as interim Executive Vice President and Provost of Texas A&M University.