Donald R. Hougland began his career in television production in 1956 as a camera operator at KRGV-TV in Weslaco, Texas. Over the next five decades he played a role in the evolution of television from black-and-white telecasts to high-definition productions. He worked in a variety of production positions at television stations in Austin and Houston, before retiring in 2008 from KPRC-TV in Houston. During his career, Mr. Hougland also produced and directed sporting events for many well-known broadcasters including TVS, Raycom, USA, ESPN and NBC Sports. He was a crew member on the first nationally televised NCAA regular season basketball game between UCLA and the University of Houston on Jan. 20, 1968. Often called the Game of the Century, the match-up established college basketball as a sports commodity on television and paved the way for the modern "March Madness" television coverage. In addition, Mr. Hougland produced and directed Southwest Conference basketball and football telecasts, NCAA regional basketball tournaments and was part of the production crews for, Houston Astros baseball, Houston Oilers football and Houston Rockets basketball telecasts. His SWC collection is contributed in honor of his children Denise Winn, Douglas and David Hougland, and his grandchildren, Dylan and Rachel Winn, Spencer and Landon Hougland.
From the guide to the Donald R. Hougland Video Collection, U 306. 1., 1957-2004, (Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University)
