1979
University of Texas-El Paso, El Paso
1978
Howard Payne University, Brownwood, April 8
1977
Angelo State University, San Angelo
1976
Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, April 10
1975
Amarillo College, Amarillo, April 12
1974
Lamar University, Beaumont, April 19
1973
Tarrant County Junior College-Northeast, Fort Worth
1972
Pan American University, Edinburg
1971
University of Texas-Arlington, Arlington
1970
University of Texas-El Paso, El Paso
1969
Southwest Texas College, San Antonio, April 26
- Garner Roberts – 2nd, Sports Feature, “Ronnie Hearne”
- Garner Roberts,
- Garner Roberts,
- Raymond Blasingame and Milton Taylor – 2nd, Picture Story, “Oklahoma picture page”
- Tom Farr – 1st, Poetry
Attendees: Twilla Duncan, David Himes, Virginia Hughes, Jud Thurman, Dr. B.E. Davis.
1967
Texas Southern University, Houston, April 15
- Garner Roberts – 1st, Sports
- Garner Roberts – 2nd, Sports
- Garner Roberts – 3rd, Sports
- Geof Moore – 1st, Editorial Writing
- Joe Simmons – 1st, Picture Story
- Milt Anglin – 2nd, Column Writing, “The Right Angle”
1966
Odessa Junior College, Odessa, April 30, 1966
- The Optimist – 1st, Newspaper (First Division)
- Lola Sue Batts – 1st, Feature Writing, “House of the Carpenter”
- Prickly Pear – 2nd, Yearbook (First Division)
- Glo Coalson – 3rd, Editorial Cartoons, “Social Club Memberships”
- Garner Roberts – 3rd, Sports News Writing, “Good Game (If You Are a Cowboy)”
- Jim Ridgeway – 3rd, News Photo, “Tug-of-War at Rivalry Day”
- Lola Sue Batts – 3rd, Editorial, “Tickets Mean Graft in S.A.”
1965
Texas A&I College, Kingsville
1964
Texas Wesleyan College, Fort Worth
1963
Sul Ross State College, Alpine
1962
Southwest Texas State College, San Marcos, April 29, 1962
- Bob Anderson – 1st, One-Act Play, “Merry Vagabond”
- The Optimist – 2nd, Newspaper (First Division)
- Prickly Pear – 2nd, Yearbook (First Division)
- Jimmy Parsons – 3rd, Sports Feature (feature on Lamoine Lewis)
- Linda Berry – 3rd, Essay, “Passion for Mediocrity”
- Linda Berry – 3rd, Poem, “The Wake of Man”
- John Sweet – 3rd, Short Story, “The Grandfather”
- James Batts, HM, General Column
Attendees: Donna Gudeen, Janelle Campbell, Lynda Bell, James Foster, David Spradlin and Charlie Smith.
1961
West Texas State Teachers College, Canyon, April 22, 1961
- The Optimist – 1st, Newspaper
- Royce Caldwell – 1st, Sports News
- Don Haymes – 2nd, Essay
- Don Haymes – 3rd, Feature Story
- James Batts – 3rd, Sports Feature Story
- James Batts – 3rd, Sports News
- Harold Straughn – 3rd, Short Story
- Howard Mohr – 3rd, One-Act Play
Attendees: Harold Straughn, James Batts, Howard Mohr, Carolyn Cunningham and Heber Taylor.
1960
Texas Western University, El Paso, April 2, 1960
- Prickly Pear – 1st, Yearbooks
- Bob Stewart – 1st, One-Act Play, “Fate Is My Brother”
- “Gordon Campbell” (a pseudonym of several students), 2nd, General Column, “Through the Needle’s Eye”
- Bob Armistead – 2nd, Feature Story, Feature on James Culp
- Frances Marbury – 2nd, Poetry
- Dudley Lynch – 3rd, Sports Column, “On the Bench with Lynch”
Attendees: Harold Straughn, Dudley Lynch, Jerry Hayes, David Purcell, Bob Stewart and adviser Heber Taylor.
1959
Sam Houston State Teachers College, Huntsville, April 25, 1959
- Mickey Ligon – 1st, Cartoons
- Sports Staff – 1st, Sports News Story
- Marilyn Malney – 1st, Short Story
- Dorothy Goodwin – 1st, Poem
- David Dallas – 2nd, Sports Photography
- Dennis Renner – 2nd, Feature Story
- Harold Straughn, Sports Feature
1958
East Texas State College, Commerce, April 26, 1958
- Coy Roper – 1st, One-Act Play
- David Dallas – 2nd, Photo News
- Alice Ann Mann – 3rd, News Story
- David Treat – 3rd, Sports Column
- David Treat – 3rd, Sports Feature Story
- Prickly Pear – 3rd, Yearbook (First Division)
1957
Odessa College, Odessa, April 28, 1957
- Buddy Beck – 1st, Sports Column, “Sports Scene” on “false claims of track experts,” the ACC-Texas sprint rivalry, and the departure of North Texas from the Gulf Coast Conference
- Mac Bedichek – 1st, Editorial Writing, “Council Hedges”
- Elizabeth Ross – 3rd, Poetry
- The Optimist – 4th, Newspaper
1956
San Angelo College, San Angelo, April 14, 1956
- The Optimist – 1st, Newspaper (First Division)
- Tex Heathcock – 1st, Sports Feature on Dee Nutt
- Bob Johnson – 1st, Feature on Billy White
- Del Nett – 1st, Poetry
- Sandra Thomson and Alice Ann Mann – 2nd, Advertising
- Dick Shelton – 3rd, General Column Writing, “The Liter Side”
Attendees: Elizabeth Ross, Mary Odle, Lillian Quattlebaum, Alice Ann Mann, J.W. Campbell, Bob Johnson, Jerrel Rowden, Steve Hillier, Don Gage, Ed Mullins and Heber Taylor.
1955
Abilene Christian College, Abilene, April 22, 1955, at the Wooten Hotel
- Dick Shelton – 1st, General Column, “The Liter Side”
- Bob “Lambo” Lambert, Sports Column, “Athletes’ Footnotes”
- Bob Lambert – 1st, Feature on athlete Tommy Morris (son of Don H. Morris)
- Rex Vermillion – 2nd, News Photo
- Rex Vermillion – 2nd, Newspaper Ad
- Prickly Pear – 3rd, Yearbook (First Division)
1954
Mexico City College, Mexico City College, April 25
Elected for coming year: Lane Cubstead, president, J.W. Campbell, vice president; Mary Odle, corresponding secretary; Peggy Marler, treasurer, Charlie Marler, contest director.
1953
Midwestern University, Wichita Falls, April 25
1952
Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogoches
1951
Sul Ross College, Alpine, April 29, 1951
- Prickly Pear – 1st, Yearbook
- Pat McMahan – 1st, Advertising Layout
- Joyce Frashier – 2nd, Poem
- Allen McDaniel – 2nd, One-Act Play
- The Optimist – 3rd, Newspaper
- Keith Barnhart – 3rd, Composition Photography
- Jim Wilburn – 4th, Sports Story
- Ed Broadus – 4th, Editorial
Attendees: Heber Taylor, Jean Taylor, Dot Brown, Harvie Pruitt, Ed Broadus, Gary Moore, Rita Walker, Bill Hart, Billie Ruth Willis, Dee Pigg, Donna Huffman and Jimmy Jackson.
1950
North Texas State College, Denton, April 30, 1950
- Prickly Pear – 3rd, Yearbook (First Division)
- Fred McClung – 4th, Column, “Informal Informer”
- Harvie Pruitt – 3rd, One-Act Play, “The Night Before”
Attendees: Margaret Phillips, Barbara Allen, Mary Draper, Anne Howard, Billie Pigg, Joye Deavenport, Janna Collines, Harvie Pruitt, Robbie Robinson, Ed Broadus, Heber Taylor, Wendell Bedichek. Harvie Pruitt elected contest director.
1949
The College of the Mines and Metallurgy, El Paso, April 29, 1949
- Kenneth Overton – 1st, News Story
- Don Liles – 3rd, Poetry Writing
- Kenneth Overton – 4th, Feature Story
Attendees: Kenneth Overton, Harvie Pruitt, Anne Howard, David Sprague, Bettye Elrod, Bob Bond, Robbie Robinson, Fred McClung and Lucille Bri
1948
McMurry College, Abilene, April 30, 1948
- A.C. Greene – 1st, Essay, “Strike Up the Band”
- The Optimist – 2nd, Newspaper (Class B division)
- Willard Reel – 4th, Poem, “Sculptor”
Attendees: Morris George, Bettye Elrod, Eugenia Scott, Joe Yowell, Robbie Robinson, Loyce Weathers and Birdie Brockman.
1947
Sul Ross State Teachers College, Alpine
No participation.
1943-1946
Convention cancelled because of World War II.
1942
Sam Houston State Teachers College, Huntsville
No participation.
1941
The College of the Mines and Metallurgy, El Paso
No participation.
1940
Southwest Texas State Teachers College, San Marcos, April 26-27, 1940
- Leon Henthorn – 1st, Feature Story
- June Sellen – 3rd, Feature Column
- Loyd Bixler – 3rd, Photography
Attendees: Ben Bailey, Leon Henthorn and Charles “Squire” Williams
Local Journalists Attending State Meet
In San Marcos today and tomorrow are Leon Henthorn, editor of The Optimist; Ben Bailey, associate editor; Squire Williams of the Prickly Pear to attend the annual Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. Also making the trip as unofficial delegate is Gaston Cogdell, business manager of The Optimist.
The group will spend the two days attending lectures and round-table discussions on journalism and advertising.
The climax of the conclave will come tomorrow night when winners in the annual state-wide writing contest will be announced. ACC is entered in twelve divisions at the literary tournament.
The delegates will return to ACC Sunday.
From the Optimist, Vol. 27, No. 27, Friday, April 26, 1940
1939
Texas Wesleyan College, Fort Worth
1938
Texas College of Agriculture and Industries, Kingsville
1937
East Texas State Teachers College, Commerce
1936
Sui Ross State Teachers College, Alpine
1935
Sam Houston State Teachers College, Huntsville
1934
Abilene Christian College, Abilene
1933
Texas College of Agriculture and Industries, Kingsville
1932
North Texas State Teachers College, Denton
1931
Texas Woman’s College (originally scheduled/canceled)
Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College, Nacogdoches
1930
Sam Houston State Teachers College, Huntsville
1929
Abilene Christian College, Simmons College, McMurry College, Abilene
1928
West Texas State Teachers College, Canyon
1927
Trinity University, Waxahachie
1926
Howard Payne College, Brownwood
1925
College of Industrial Arts, Denton
1924
Southern Methodist University (SMU), Dallas, April 12-13, 1924.
- The Prickly Pear – 3rd (tie), yearbook
- Raymond Symcox – 3rd (tie), short story, “Human Courage”
1923
Baylor Woman’s College, Belton, April 12-13
- Optimist – 3rd, Newspaper
- Wendell Bedichek – 2nd (tie), editorial, “Lines-Groups”
Attendees: Louise Jones, Margaret Bishop and Wendell Bedichek
1922
Baylor University, Waco
- HM in poem and Short story
- Optimist – 4th, overall excellence
Attendees: Willie Pritchett and Herbert Sikes
1921
Texas Woman’s College, Fort Worth
- Margaret Sanford – 1st, Poem, “Not as I Will” (Apparently a poem by Helen Fiske Jackson)
- Margaret Bellah, 3rd, Humorous Story, “The Blue Platter”
Attendee: Paul Witt
1920
Simmons College, Abilene
ACC admitted to the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.
1919
College of Industrial Arts, Denton
1918
Baylor University, Waco
1917
Texas Christian University (TCU), Fort Worth
1916
Simmons College, Abilene
1915
North Texas State Normal, Denton
1914
Trinity University, Waxahachie
1913
College of Industrial Arts, Denton
1912
Southwestern University, Georgetown
1911
Daniel Baker College, Brownwood
1910
Baylor University, Waco
1909
Baylor University, Waco