UTA’s award-winning student newspaper The Shorthorn celebrated its first century of existence in April, an event marked by a gathering of former editors and staff members stretching back decades, plus the publication of “100 Front Pages,” a book featuring a front page from each of the 100 years.

Note: In 1919, UTA was Grubb’s Vocational College, so the first edition of what would become The Shorthorn was actually The Grubonian, published Valentine’s Day. When students nominated new names, the winner was The Shorthorn – no connection with UT being involved since in that era Grubbs was part of the A&M system.

The first (and only) issue of The Grubonian was typewritten on two pages and contained mostly jokes. Here’s a sample:
Mr. Bangham in zoology class: “How long can an animal live without brains?”

Miss Sibley: “How old are you?”

Originally conceived as a monthly literary magazine edited by Jewel Kingrea, The Shorthorn quickly adopted a more traditional newspaper look and feel. By 1922 it was a weekly. Since then it has consistently been among the nation’s most award-winning student newspapers, its writers and photographers serving on newspapers and magazines, writing books, and staffing radio and TV stations – even on occasion winning a Pulitizer Prize.

This article was written by Arlington author and historian O.K. Carter, who serves on the Landmark Preservation Commission.