Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest
James S. Currie, Executive Secretary
In his lovely book Enter With Hope: Schreiner at 100 Tim Summerlin, the fifth president of Schreiner University, provides an updated history of this Presbyterian institution on the occasion of its centennial in 2023. Before getting to something about the namesake of the school, here a few facts about the school’s development.
The school opened in Kerrville, Texas in 1923 as a military prep school for young men with James J. Delaney named as its first president. He served until 1950 when Andy Edington came from south Alabama to preside as the school’s second president. During Edinton’s tenure (1950-1971) military training and uniforms were discontinued and the school became fully co-educational. With Edington’s retirement in 1971 Sam Junkin, who had grown up on the campus of Schreiner, became president in 1971 and served for 25 years. In 1973 Schreiner Institute became Schreiner College.
J. Thompson Biggers became Schreiner’s fourth president in 1996 and served until 2000. Tim Summerlin succeeded Biggers in 2001 when Schreiner College became Schreiner University. Summerlin served until his retirement in 2017. In that year the current president, Charlie McCormick, was named the school’s sixth president. By 2017 enrollment surpassed 1,300 students. In addition to its undergraduate degrees, the school offers several Master’s degrees, including a Master’s of Education and a Master’s of Business Administration.
Now, who was Charles A. Schreiner for whom the school is named? According to an article by W. Eugene Hollon in the Texas State Historical Association Handbook, Schreiner (1838-1927) was born in Riquewihr, France (Alsace). When he was 14 years old, his parents moved to San Antonio, Texas. When he was only 16 years old, Schreiner joined the Texas Rangers and served for three years after which he resigned upon his mother’s death in order to enter the cattle business in Kerr County.
In 1861 he married Mary Magdalena Enderle. They had eight children. Also in 1861 Schreiner enlisted in the Confederate Army and served for 3 1/2 years in the Third Texas Infantry. Following the Civil War he faced poverty and hardship. In 1869 he moved to Kerrville where he went into “the general merchandising business” with August Faltin of Comfort, Texas. As the town grew, Schreiner’s business also grew. In 1879 he bought Faltin’s interest. He diversified his business interests, expanding into banking, ranching, marketing wool and mohair. According to Hollon, “By 1900 the Charles Schreiner Company owned more than 600,000 acres of land extending continuously from Kerrville to Menard.” From 1868 to 1898 he served as treasurer of Kerr County. Schreiner was elected “Captain” in 1875 in the face of possible American Indian attacks.
According to Summerlin’s history, the Presbytery of Western Texas (PCUS) had hoped to “create a school for boys in the Hill Country town, but it did not have the assets to do so.” In 1906 the Presbytery accepted land and $2500 from Captain Schreiner to establish Westminster Encampment which offered “Summer Bible studies and activities.” In 1917 Schreiner donated more land and money to establish the military school for boys, Schreiner Institute. The school opened in 1923.
Over the years Schreiner University has established at least two interesting connections. The first is with the Presbyterian Pan American School in Kingsville. Each year some Pan Am graduates matriculate at Schreiner, often receiving generous scholarships. In addition, it is not unusual for some of those students to go on to Austin Seminary. At the present time the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville, Rev. Jasiel Hernandez-Garcia, is a graduate of Pan Am, Schreiner, and Austin Seminary.
In addition, in recent years The Texas Center at Schreiner University was established under the leadership of Dr. Don Frazier. A specialist in Texas history, Frazier has written books on the American Civil War, Texas history, military history, and the U.S.-Mexican borderlands. He also produces a regular column which can be accessed at DSFrazier@schreiner.edu.
As we make history today, we are grateful for the foresight of members of Western Texas Presbytery in the early 20th century, the generosity Captain Charles Schreiner, and the labor and witness of faculty, staff, students, and administrators of Schreiner University.
The Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest exists to “stimulate and encourage interest in the collection, preservation, and presentation of the Presbyterian and Reformed heritage” in the Southwest. If you are not a participating member of the Society and would like to become one, the annual dues are $20 per individual and $25 per couple. Annual institutional and church membership dues are $100. Checks may be made out to PHSSW and sent to:
PHSSW – 5525 Traviston Ct., Austin, TX 78738.
Comments