The Tower has stood witness to Longhorn family memories for nearly a century — from bricks laid by hand to words inscribed in stone that inspired a family across generations. Here are a few Tower stories in honor of Father’s Day.
Julianna Wanek, B.S. ‘12
I have so many memories of the Tower, but my earliest takes me back to those Saturday drives from Brenham to Austin for football games, searching the skyline as we approached the city. We have been season ticket holders since before I was born, so this was a frequent family affair. My grandmother always yelled, “The first person to see the Tower gets a nickel!” All the kids would scramble to be the first to say “I see it!” My dad proudly carried on that tradition when my grandmother was no longer able to attend games with us. To this day, I still look for the Tower every time I drive into Austin. It’s a little trickier to find these days with all the new buildings around the city, but it still represents a beacon guiding me to my home away from home.
Richard Corse, BBA ’81
The history and symbolism of the Tower are, for me, part of a family collective celebrating multiple generations of UT memories.
My wife’s grandfather, James Clayton Dowdy Sr., was a mason and laid brick on the Tower from bottom to top. Her father often touched the bricks his dad had helped place when he passed by the Tower while walking to class.
My uncle, Ben Smykal, was a student and part-time tour guide at the Tower in 1936. Trip after trip, he guided campus visitors up to take in the sweeping views from the top. The trip was not for the faint of heart, as the only way up was in an open-air construction lift along the north side of the Tower. It was more chicken coop than elevator.
The view from the Tower in 1936 was without skyscrapers or urban sprawl, with a student population of fewer than 7,000. The Capitol and the football stadium were among the few recognizable landmarks he recalled when he was invited back to the Tower for the 1999 reopening. As he told an Austin American-Statesman reporter, there was no I-35: “It was just Congress Avenue, then dog leg, dog leg and on to Dallas.”
Shelton Vaughan, J.D. ’94
My parents met in graduate school at UT in the early 1950s. My father, a lawyer and World War II-era veteran, returned to school to study government and earned his master’s at UT. When he saw the words of John 8:32 inscribed on the Tower — “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” — he decided UT was the right school for him. Since then, three of his children, multiple grandchildren and other family members have earned degrees there. I thought fondly of those bold words when I attended law school at UT in the early 1990s.
Thomas Brocato, B.A. ’87
One of my favorite, though bittersweet, memories of the Tower occurred on April 28, 2001. It was my father’s final visit to Austin. He was battling pancreatic cancer and passed away three months later, on July 27. My dad didn’t have the means to attend UT, but he loved the school, and he’s the reason I was able to attend and why I’m a lifelong Longhorn.
My parents lived in Beaumont and had come for the weekend. It was their 44th wedding anniversary. The Bob Bullock Museum opened that day, and we were among its first visitors. After lunch at Iron Works BBQ, we went to campus and were able to go up to the Tower observation deck. The space had been off limits since 1974, making it a truly special occasion.
I remember vividly my dad struggling on the final steps, but he didn’t give up. That remains the only time I’ve been to the top. The next day, he left Austin for the last time. That experience was deeply special to him and stays with me to this day.
The Tower is more than a landmark. It is a keeper of Longhorn family memories, connecting one generation to the next. Through Our Tower: The Next 100 Years, you can join the effort to restore, revitalize and reimagine our Tower for future generations. Make your gift today and be part of a living tribute to family, tradition and the Longhorn legacy.
Do you have a favorite Tower memory? Please share it with us.
