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Community college in Kilgore, Texas, U.S.

Kilgore College
Motto“Your Future Starts Here!”, and “Blue Steel”
TypePublic community college
Established1935
Endowment$24 million
PresidentStaci Martin
Students5000+ credit hour; 3700+ non-credit
Location
Kilgore
,
Texas
,
U.S.

32°22′37″N 94°52′21″W / 32.377056°N 94.872600°W / 32.377056; -94.872600
ColorsBlue and White    
NicknameRangers
Sporting affiliations
Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC) and Southwest Junior College Conference (SWJCC)
MascotRangers
Websitewww.kilgore.edu
Map

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.[1][2]

The college was established in 1935 at the height of the East Texas oil boom,[3] 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

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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.[3]

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Old Main at Kilgore College

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

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KC fields teams in four sports:

  • Men's Basketball - NJCAA national champions 1956, 1958[4]
  • Women's Basketball - NJCAA national champions 1988, 1990, 1993[5]
  • Football - NJCAA national champions 1966[6]
  • 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

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In June 1986, the Texas Shakespeare Festival opened its inaugural season at Kilgore College, and it will celebrate its 41st year in the summer of 2026. The college provides financial support and facilities for the festival, which is a vital cultural asset for all of East Texas.[7]

Notable alumni

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Lane Johnson
Derrick Lewis

College service area

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As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of KC includes territory within the following school districts:[15]

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References

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  1. ↑ "Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges". Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Kilgore College Reaffirmation of Accreditation". Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "A brief history of Kilgore College". May 2, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ "NJCAA Men's Basketball Record Book 2023" (PDF). njcaa.org. May 31, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ "NJCAA Women's Basketball Record Book 2023" (PDF). njcaa.org. May 31, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ "NJCAA Football Record Book 2022" (PDF). njcaa.org. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Texas Shakespeare Festival - About Us". Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  8. ↑ "ESPN Classic – Not the size of the dog in the fight". go.com. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  9. ↑ "San Bernardino Sun 7 May 1970". Cdnc.ucr.edu. May 7, 1970. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Steve Bracey - University of Tulsa Athletics". Tulsahurricane.com. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Steve Bracey". US-DE: The Draft Review. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  12. ↑ Penrose, Kathryn (October 28, 2005). "Caldwell observing 'Rodney'" (PDF). The Flare. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 3, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Derrick Lewis UFC Bio". Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Proud to Be Texan". texansforstovall.com. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  15. ↑ Texas Education Code, Section 130.184, "Kilgore Junior College District Service Area".
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