Southwest Conference (U.S.)

On May 6, 1914, the Southwest Conference was formed when representatives from several universities met to discuss the future of regional sports among the local schools. Baylor University, Southwestern University, Texas A&M College, Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State), Louisiana State University, University of Texas, and the University of Arkansas participated in this organization.

On December 8, 1914, representatives from the Rice Institute (Rice University) and the University of Oklahoma also met with the group at the Rice Hotel in Houston. All those who met joined as charter members with the exception of Louisiana State to create what was known as the Southwest Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, a Division I conference.

Since then the Southwest Athletic Conference has seen as many as nine universities join or leave their league. Rice left for a short spell from 1916-1917. Texas Christian University joined in 1923, Southern Methodist University joined in 1918, Texas Tech joined in 1958, and Houston joined in 1972. Arkansas left in 1991, Oklahoma dropped out in 1920, Southwestern left in 1917, and Oklahoma A&M went in 1926. For one year, 1920, Phillips University of Enid, Oklahoma, was a member of the conference. Overall, by the time the conference disbanded, eight schools were still members of the SWC.

It was not until 1938 before the office would be headed by an Executive Secretary (later Commissioner in 1982) of the SWC. Dr. P. W. St. Clair served from 1938-1945 as a part-time employee. Others who served were the following: James H. Stewart (1945-1950), Howard Grubbs (1950-1973), Cliff Speegle (1973-1982), Fred Jacoby (1982-1993), Steve Hatchell (1993-1995), and finally Kyle Kallander (1995-1996).

The Southwest Conference has spawned such legends as Carl Lewis, Doak Walker, Sheryl Swoopes, Darrell Royal, Teddy Lyons, Earl Campbell, and Andre Ware to name a few.

On June 30, 1996, the Southwest Athletic Conference came to a final close and disbanded. Four schools, Texas Tech University, University of Texas, Texas A&M University, and Baylor University, united with the Big Eight to create the Big Twelve. Why the SWC disbanded? Most would agree that money was a leading factor to the breakup of the SWC. The Big Twelve would give the new members more media coverage and therefore more revenue for their individual schools. Some would say that politicians had a role in its breakup. Who else would pressure schools, other politicians, and university representatives to consider a new outlook to collegiate sports in the State of Texas and the rest of the central U.S. region. The legacy of the Southwest Athletic Conference has left impressions of rivalries and camaraderie probably unlike any other collegiate conference in the U.S.A.

From the guide to the Southwest Athletic Conference Records, S 1254. 1., 1914-1996 and undated, (Southwest Collection/Special Collections Libary, Texas Tech University)