1. College Spotlight

2. Location Tarleton is located 305 miles (5 hours) north of Humble/Kingwood in Stephenville, TX.

3. Namesake: John Tarleton (1808-1895)  Born in Vermont  After moving around quite a bit (he was orphaned at a young age), he purchased cheap unsettled land in Texas and decided to move there.  He lived in different parts of Texas, owned a mercantile, and tried cattle ranching.  He died of typhoid fever at his home on November 16, 1895, leaving his money to establish a college.

4. Mascot and Colors  Purple and White  “Texans & TexAnns” Texan Rider ~ Check out the vest and chaps!

5. Academics – Many choices!  Agricultural and Consumer Sciences  Animal Science and Wildlife Management  Environmental and Agricultural Management  College of Business Administration  Accounting, Finance, and Economics  Computer Information Systems  Management, Marketing and Administrative Systems  College of Education  Curriculum and Instruction  Educational Leadership and Policy Studies  Kinesiology  Psychology and Counseling  College of Liberal and Fine Arts  Communication Studies  English and Languages  Fine Arts  Social Sciences  Social Work, Sociology and Criminal Justice  College of Science and Technology  Biological Sciences  Chemistry, Geosciences, and Environmental Science  Engineering and Physics  Engineering Technology  Mathematics  Nursing

6. Hand Signal  It’s kind of like the “Guns Up” of Texas Tech, but with a double- barreled gun (two fingers up.)  Is supposed to look like the state of Texas.

7.  Oscar P. was John Tarleton’s pet duck.  Oscar P. went everywhere with John Tarleton.  It is rumored that Oscar P. is buried somewhere on campus, which is why students are not allowed to walk on the grass.

8. TTS/TTP  Formed long ago, the Ten Tarleton Peppers (TTP) and Ten Tarleton Sisters (TTS) are the two oldest organizations on campus.  The identity of the members were kept a secret until their senior year when they were revealed in the yearbooks.

9. Purple Poo: A secret organization which promotes school spirit.  In the1960s, the TTP and the TTS combined and became “The Purple Poo.”  They only allow twenty members: ten guys and ten girls.  The members keep their identities secret by wearing masks and disguising their voices.  Graduating members of the Purple Poo give the president a small purple pig when shaking his hand during graduation.

10. Purple Poo

11.  In 1984, a group of students established a spirit group named “Plowboys.”  The Plowboys attend athletic events and other activities.  They wear white shirts, hats, and purple chaps.

12. Beating the drum  One of the best-known Tarleton traditions is “beating the drum.”  Begins Tuesday night of homecoming week and lasts 24 hours a day until the beginning of the football game on Saturday.  Groups of students take turns pounding on a 55- gallon oil drum (not an actual musical instrument) with sticks or clubs.  This tradition began in the 1920s as a way to defend the bonfire from being lit early by rivals.

13. Texan Stars – Dance Team For over 25 years the Texan Stars Dance Team has been an important part of Tarleton State University. They perform at halftimes of all Tarleton home games and at pep rallies. They have won many awards.

14. Alumni you might know  Amber Lockhart  Angela Munchrath  Emily Norris  Jamie Ricketts & Roger Ricketts (Who was a member of Purple Poo!)  Lisa & Howard Sprague  Staci & Matt Meade  Charlotte Mahler & Stan Mahler, and son Matthew  Marsha & Larry Richardson, and daughter Leah  Susan McElroy  Megan Jeske  Carmen Neal

15. Tarleton fans: want pretty computer wallpaper? Click here Click here for downloadable images!

16. Sources  http://www.tshaonline.org - Texas State Historical Association http://www.tshaonline.org  Tarleton.edu  Wikipedia

17. Freshman Graduation Ceremony