A classic photograph of a college team. Standing behind the players is a well-dressed gentleman, no doubt their coach. Texas College, on 101 acres of land just north of Tyler, was organized in 1894 under the auspices of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1909 the college was renamed Phillips University in honor of the exceptional service of CME bishop Henry Phillips. Supporters objected to the new name, and the college took back its original name in 1917. Texas College became the state's third black-controlled institution to be founded by a black church.
