Kilgore College



Kilgore College (KC) is a public community college in Kilgore, Texas. It has an annual enrollment in excess of 5,000 students and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. The college was established in 1935 at the height of the East Texas oil boom, and as such, is home to the East Texas Oil Museum which houses a large collection of memorabilia documenting this period of Texas history. It is also famous for having the first ever dance-drill team, the Kilgore College Rangerettes, which began in 1940 under the direction of Gussie Nell Davis.

History
The East Texas oil boom that started near Kilgore in late 1930 generated large amounts of revenue that made it possible to establish a community college. W.L. Dodson, superintendent of the local Kilgore school district, brought B. E. Masters, then president of Amarillo Junior College, to Kilgore in the spring of 1935 to assist in creating the college. The college was established in August of that year, with Dodson named as the first president, and Masters as the first dean. College classes began that fall with 11 faculty members and 229 students temporarily using the Kilgore public school facilities.

Academics
In addition to preparing students for undergraduate degrees that are completed at 4-year colleges and universities, KC's programs also include continuing education, medical training and short-term and long-term workforce training. The college offers Associate in Arts and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as tech prep and certificate programs.

Athletics
KC fields teams in four sports:
 * Football - NJCAA national champions 1966
 * Men's Basketball - NJCAA national champions 1956, 1958
 * Women's Basketball - NJCAA national champions 1988, 1990, 1993
 * Softball

The Rangers compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Region XIV, as a member of the Southwest Junior College Football Conference for football, and the Southwest Junior College Conference for all other sports.

Texas Shakespeare Festival
In June 1986, the Texas Shakespeare Festival opened its inaugural season at Kilgore College; the festival has called KC home for what will be 38 summers in 2023. The college provides financial support and facilities for the festival, which is a vital cultural asset for all of East Texas.

College service area
As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of KC includes territory within the following school districts:
 * Big Sandy Independent School District
 * Carlisle Independent School District
 * Gilmer Independent School District
 * Gladewater Independent School District
 * Hallsville Independent School District
 * Henderson Independent School District
 * Kilgore Independent School District
 * Laneville Independent School District
 * Leverett's Chapel Independent School District
 * Longview Independent School District
 * Mount Enterprise Independent School District
 * New Diana Independent School District
 * Overton Independent School District
 * Pine Tree Independent School District
 * Sabine Independent School District
 * Spring Hill Independent School District
 * Tatum Independent School District (except the part of the district that is located in Panola County)
 * Union Grove Independent School District
 * West Rusk Independent School District
 * White Oak Independent School District

Notable alumni

 * Lyle Alzado, professional football player
 * Rodney Carrington, comedian
 * Ricardo Colclough, professional football player
 * Ricky Collins, professional football player
 * Jorge Diaz, professional football player
 * Francisco Elson, professional basketball player
 * Kevin Everett, professional football player
 * Thomas Herrion, professional football player
 * John Hill, Texas Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
 * Lane Johnson, professional football player
 * Derrick Lewis, professional football player and mixed martial artist
 * Dwayne Stovall, Cleveland, Texas business man and 2014 Republican primary candidate for the United States Senate against incumbent John Cornyn.
 * Marcus Thornton, professional basketball player
 * Marvin White, professional football player
 * Demorrio Williams, professional football player
 * Jason Williams, professional basketball player
 * Darren Woodard, professional football player
 * LeJuandro 'Kai' Zeiglar, professional football player