The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Gold Star Memorial Residence Hall

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Gold Star Memorial Residence Hall, McMurry University

Institution Name: McMurry University
Original/Historic Place Name: Gold Star Memorial Dormitory
Location on Campus: 1501 Indian Ave.
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1948	original construction Buzard, Richard S.

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: concrete

Walls: brick veneer

Roof: built-up tar; aggregate

Function:

ca. 1948-1980	residence hall (men)
ca. 1980-present (2007)	residence hall (women)

Significance: education
Landmark designation:

none

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
The Gold Star Memorial Residence Hall was one of the buildings on campus constructed to met the post-WWII need for men's housing. Opened in 1948 and renovated several decades later, it stands in good repair and provides serviceable housing for female students.

The building is named in honor of the servicemen and women killed in military service during World War II. This particular edifice honors veterans from the Northwest Texas and the New Mexico Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church (a predecessor of the present United Methodist Church). These two annual conferences were, and are, the official owners of the school. A bronze plaque in the lobby lists the names of those so honored.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

Landscape Master Plan. 1991. Maedgen Administration Building, McMurry University, Abilene, TX.

Pride of Our Western Prairie, McMurray College, 1923-1982. Abilene, TX: McMurry University, 1989.

II. Location of other data:

University: Library, Special Collections, Facilities Management Office