Texas XVI

South West Texas State University may be best known as the place from which President Lyndon B. Johnson graduated in 1930. It is the only Texas school to have ever produced a President or Vice-president.

It also honors its alum who have fought and died, too.

This memorial garden honors those lost in several wars and Vietnam holds its place of remembrance.

When I found this spot, not actually easy as no students could direct me to it, I was surprised to find that one student from SWTSU had died in Nam.

Just at the very bottom of the memorial is the name Sammie Don Hoff and some research found that he was shot down in 1966. He was known to have ejected from his aircraft but was lost.

In 1988 his remains were returned to the U.S. and were able to be identified along with those of the pilot of the plane, Captain Kenneth D. Robinson.

Once more I must comment on what some places do for a single lost soul. 

Nearby, I found this simple marker to a 'Nam vet who came home to become a teacher here at SWTSU.

Next time, on the third of October, we will return to Virginia, so join me there at 9:00am.

To see additional memorial from Texas, or any other state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.