The Double T is a logo that is the most readily identified symbol of

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas. Established on , and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the main institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University Sys ...

History

The Double T is generally attributed to Texas Tech University's, then

Texas Technological College Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas. Established on , and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the main institution of the five-institution Texas Tech University Sys ...

, first football coach,

E. Y. Freeland Ewing Young "Big 'un" Freeland (January 1, 1887 – August 15, 1953) was an American football and baseball player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at Daniel Baker College (1912–1914), Texas ...

, and assistant coach,

Grady Higginbotham Grailey Hewett "Grady" Higginbotham (December 31, 1892 – February 10, 1989) was an American football and baseball player, coach of football, basketball, and baseball, and college athletics administrator. Commonly known as Grady, he was also nickn ...

. The Double T's design draws upon the popular block T of the

Texas A&M University Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, or TAMU) is a public, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System in 1948. As of late 2021, T ...

logo, Higginbotham's alma mater. It was first used as decoration on the sweaters for the football players during the college's 1926 football season. The Double T became the official logo of the school in 1963. By the 1960s, the school had expanded its offerings to more than just technical subjects. Feeling the phrase "Technological College" was insufficient to define the scope of the institution, Faculty Advisory Committee considered changing the name to "University of the Southwest", "Texas Technological College and State University", and "The Texas University of Art, Science and Technology" before recommending "Texas State University". While most students supported this change, the board of directors and many alumni, wanting to preserve the Double T logo, opposed it. The Board of Directors chose Texas Tech University, preserving the Double T, and submitted the name change to the state legislature in 1964. A failed move by Governor John Connally to have the school placed into the

Texas A&M University System The Texas A&M University System is a state university system in Texas and is one of the state's six independent university systems. The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the United States, with a bu ...

, as well as continued disagreement and heated debate regarding the school's new name, kept the name change from being approved until the Board of Directors again submitted the change in 1969. It finally received the legislature's approval on June 6 and the name Texas Tech University went into effect that September, preserving the Double T logo. The Double T existed in its original form until 2000, when an updated version of the logo was created. The new logo maintains the original premise, but incorporates three-dimensional bevelling effects paired with a white trim.

Usage

To recognize the importance of the Double T, the class of 1931 donated the Double T bench. Per tradition, freshmen are not allowed to sit on the bench, which is located in the courtyard of the

Administration Building Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, administ ...

. The logo is further embodied in the Double T

neon sign In the signage industry, neon signs are electric signs lighted by long luminous gas-discharge tubes that contain rarefied neon or other gases. They are the most common use for neon lighting, which was first demonstrated in a modern form in Decem ...

, donated by the class of 1938 and affixed to the east side of Jones AT&T Stadium. At the time of its purchase, this was reputedly the largest neon sign in existence. In August 1987, a second neon Double T was added to the west side of the stadium, funded by Bill McMillan. It was replaced by a stained glass Double T after renovations to the stadium's west side in 2003.

References

External links

''Texas Tech Today'' article
{{DEFAULTSORT:Double T Texas Tech University Symbols introduced in the 1920s PreK through Grade 12 public and private school logos