# Texarkana College

Texarkana College is a public community college in Texarkana, Texas.

## History

Texarkana College was founded in 1927 as part of the Texarkana Independent School District. In 1941, the Texarkana College District was established. In 1948, twenty acres of land were purchased to for a new campus. In 1950, construction began and the college moved locations. In 1957, the college became independent from the school district when the members of the board of the Texarkana Independent School District (who had also been serving as a board of regents of the college) voted to separate the two boards.
In 2022, the college had 3,794 students.
The college is governed by a board of trustees. Jason Smith is the current president of the college.

### Academics

The college offers associate degree programs, certificate programs, and non-credit courses It is also home to the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing. The college's bladesmithing program is associated with the American Bladesmith Society and was established by William F. Moran.
The college offers classes at the Barry Telford Unit state prison.

### Athletics

The college was formerly home to the Texarkana Bulldogs football team and the Texarkana Bulldogs baseball team. The college has formerly been part of the National Junior College Athletic Association, the Texas Junior College Conference, the Texas Eastern Conference, and the Southwest Junior College Football Conference.

## Accreditation

The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Individual programs are also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

## Notable alumni
### Business and politics

* Ross Perot, American businessman and politician (founder of Electronic Data Systems and Perot Systems, known for his third party presidential campaigns in 1992 and 1996)
* Barry B. Telford, American politician (former member of the Texas House of Representatives)
* Fonda Hawthorne, American politician (former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives)
* Larry Teague, American politician (former member of the Arkansas Senate and the Arkansas House of Representatives)

### Sports

* Hunter Pence, American baseball player (player for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and Texas Rangers)
* Danny Ardoin, American baseball player (player for the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, and Los Angeles Dodgers)
* Tyler Eppler, American baseball player (player for the Wei Chuan Dragons, Orix Buffaloes, Kiwoom Heroes, and Fubon Guardians)
* Steven Trout, American baseball coach (head baseball coach of Texas State University)
* John Briscoe, American baseball player (player for the Oakland Athletics)
* Melvin Bunch, American baseball player (player for the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, and Chunichi Dragons)
* Buddy Carlyle, American baseball player (player for the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, New York Mets, LG Twins, Hanshin Tigers and Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters)
* José De La Torre, Puerto Rican baseball player (player for the Boston Red Sox)
* Bryant Nelson, American baseball player (player for the Boston Red Sox)
* Phil Norton, American baseball player (player for the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds)
* Jamie Pogue, Canadian baseball coach (assistant coach for the St. Louis Cardinals)
* Andrew Russell, Australian baseball player (player for the Australia national baseball team)
* Drew Sutton, American baseball player (player for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and Pittsburgh Pirates)
* David Welch, American baseball player (player for the Milwaukee Brewers and Sydney Blue Sox)
* Daniel Berg, American baseball player (player for the Minnesota Twins and Victoria Aces)
* Ryan Lynch, American race car driver (competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series)

### Music

* Karmyn Tyler, American singer and beauty pageant contestant