Bolton Hall - Texas A&M campus, College Station, TX
N 30° 36.963 W 096° 20.493
14R E 754847 N 3390064
Bolton Hall originally was the mechanical and electrical engineering building, built in 1912. In 1921, the radio station 5XB located within this building at the time aired the first play-by-play football game. The Dept. of Communication now uses it.
Waymark Code: WMZYZY
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/26/2019
Views: 0
The sign of history reads:
"Built in 1912, Bolton Hall was originally the mechanical and electrical engineering building. It was designed to mirror Nagle Hall, and with Old Main (burned in 1912) formed the heart of the old A&M's academic quadrangle. Considered "fire proof" due to its steel and reinforced concrete construction, it was officially named in 1939 in honor of President Frank C. Bolton, the "Grand Old Man of A&M," known affectionately as "Bear Tracks" Bolton. On November 24, 1921 William A. "Doc" Tolson '23 and Harry M. Saunders '22 produced the first live play-by-play broadcast of a football game in the nation (A&M vs. Texas) from wireless station 5XB located in Bolton Hall."
Bolton Hall is designed to mirror the Nagle Hall building that it faces, forming a bookend set to the Academic Building. These three buildings are some of the oldest buildings remaining on campus. Originally used for teaching mechanical engineering and electrical engineering, it is now used for teaching courses in telecommunication and public speaking; skills useful in many diverse field of interest from law, politics, religion, health services, and more.
The sign of history, located on the proper left side of the front entrance into Bolton Hall, includes a reference to an event that is significant on many levels. It is describes how the first wireless broadcast of the football game played in Kyle Field between on 24 November 1921 between Texas A&M and the University of Texas (t. u.) was broadcast that day by A&M student from the radio station 5XB that was located within Bolton Hall. There is a TX historical marker facing Houston St. near the corner of Kyle Field at Houston St. and Joe Routt Blvd. that gives more details on this famous broadcasting of play-by-play during a live game. (See WMZYRX)
The two man names in this plaque on Bolton Hall and in the TX historical marker who are credited in both the TX historical marker as well as this marker on Bolton Hall, were William A. Tolson and Harry M. Saunders. The information on Bolton Hall's sign of history states Tolson was in the Class of '23 and Saunders was in the Class of '22. Assuming they were bright students and graduated in 4 years, then Tolson would be a Freshman and Saunders a Sophomore in Nov. 1921! Yet these two were the public face (or voice) of this radio experiment. No wonder Texas A&M has become such a successful institution of higher learning when they attract this caliber of student.
Station 5XB's broadcast out of Bolton Hall may not have been the first radio station to air a wireless radio program, but it was the first to broadcast a sporting event's play-by-play. By the end of 1921, the radio stations were required to be licensed and were given new call signs in the manner we know them today, either beginning with K or W followed by three other alphanumerics. X5B became WTAW a few years later and apparently is still on the air today.
Bolton Hall is also still going strong and is as useful and as used as it ever has been. It has been adapted to modern times but the step from electrical engineering to telecommunication is an incremental change. Bolton Hall is still fulfilling its original purpose. This marker was placed by Texas A&M University as part of their 125th year commemoration.
Group that erected the marker: Texas A&M University
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
456 Ross Street
College Station, TX USA
77843
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