TMI Episcopal
TMI Episcopal | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
James Steptoe Johnston | ||||||
CEEB code | 446255 | |||||
Chairman of the Governors | The Rt. Rev. David M. Reed | |||||
Headmaster | Rev. Scott J. Brown | |||||
Faculty | 46 | |||||
Gender | Co-educational | |||||
Enrollment | 552[1] | |||||
Average class size | 15 students[2] | |||||
Student to teacher ratio | 9:1 | |||||
Campus size | 80 acres (320,000 m2) | |||||
Color(s) | ||||||
Song | For the Splendor of Creation | |||||
Athletics | 19 Interscholastic Sports | |||||
Mascot | Prima the Panther | |||||
Nickname | Panthers | |||||
Accreditations | Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES) | |||||
School fees |
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Website | www |
TMI Episcopal is a
History
TMI was founded in 1893 by
Johnston's earliest name for his school in San Antonio was "The West Texas School for Boys," which was quickly changed to "West Texas Military Academy" (WTMA). In 1926, the name was changed to Texas Military Institute.
At the time of the school's foundation, San Antonio lay on the edge of the American frontier, with forts all along the high ground east of the Rio Grande. Though Bishop Johnston wanted his boys to receive as good an education as boys anywhere in America, he knew that a New England–style prep school would not work in West Texas, so he created a premier academic school with a full-fledged military discipline. The specifically Southern boarding school tradition was not often military.
Bishop Johnston sought to provide young men with a classical liberal and scientific education, enabling them to go on to careers in business, the church, the military, and civil service. WTMA was part of the church school movement of the nineteenth century, along with other schools such as Saint James in Maryland (1842), St. Paul's in New Hampshire (1856), Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Minnesota (1858), St. Mark's School (1865) and Groton School (1884), both in Massachusetts, and St. George's School in Rhode Island (1896).
The first rector and headmaster of WTMA/TMI, the Allan Lucien Burleson, a priest who had previously worked at the Shattuck School as head of school between 1893 and 1900. WTMA was largely funded by donations from wealthy residents of the eastern seaboard, many of whom had been inspired by speeches Johnston had given on the importance of academic and moral education for all young men.[5] When the school first opened, there were just six teachers and twelve students.[6]
One of the great educators in Texas history took over WTMA in 1926. W. W. Bondurant changed the name to "Texas Military Institute." In 1936 Bishop Capers, feeling the pinch created by the Great Depression, sold TMI to Bondurant, who sold the school back to the Episcopal Church in 1952. In 1926, Bondurant had merged the Upper School of San Antonio Academy with TMI. Bondurant was a strong Presbyterian layman, yet the chaplain remained an Episcopal priest and the Book of Common Prayer continued to be used in daily chapel services.[7]
By the 1930s, the school was considered by some to be one of the best schools in America.[8]
Although Bishop Johnston had, in part, intended the school to train young men for seminary and eventual ordination in the Episcopal Church, the school has always been open to students of any religious faith or lack thereof.
The JROTC, or Corps of Cadets, has been optional for girls since their admission in 1972, and for boys since 1974.[9]
From 2005 to 2017, the school presented itself by the name of TMI: The Episcopal School of Texas. However, in December 2017 under the new leadership of its 31st headmaster, the Rev. Scott J. Brown, the school changed its official name to TMI Episcopal.
In the summer of 2009, Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, visited the school and gave a speech on the importance of Episcopal schools to the overall mission of the Church.[10] US presidents are said to have visited the school, as well.
Campus
TMI has moved three times, each time relocating to the edge of an expanding city. The first campus was on Government Hill, next to
The All Saints' Chapel is a 500-seat modern chapel, used for daily service of
Student life
There are currently around 400 students, coming from South Texas and Mexico, as well as many other areas of the United States and from foreign countries.
Corps of Cadets
Approximately one third of TMI students are members of the Corps of Cadets. The TMI Corps of Cadets is under the command of MAJ Joseph Claburn (USA, Ret.), who has been the Commandant of Cadets since the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. MAJ Claburn served as both the Assistant Commandant and Deputy Commandant between 2012 and 2018. Cadre members CW3 Casey Reed (USA, Ret.) serves as the JROTC Army Instructor, and SFC Minnette Sandoval Cornish (USAR) serves as the Assistant Commandant in charge of Middle School Cadets. The high school leadership program is affiliated with the United States Army's
Alumni
Academia and science
- Robert M. Ayres, university administrator
- Light Townsend Cummins, historian (did not graduate)
- Cresson Kearny, inventor
- David Scott, astronaut
- Lewis Sorley, historian
The arts
- Justin Blanchard, actor
- Dan Blocker, actor and producer
- Julian Onderdonk, painter
- "Wammo", DJ and poet[14]
Business and Ranching
- James A. Baker Jr., partner of the law firm Baker Botts; father of James Baker
- Frost National Bankin San Antonio and Cullen/Frost Bankers
The Church
- Robert R. Brown, 9th Bishop of Arkansas, author of "And One Was a Soldier": The Spiritual Pilgrimage of Robert E. Lee (1998)
- Frank Juhan, Bishop of Florida, 1924–1956, and inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame (a Sewanee player)
Government and politics
- gay rights activist and the first man to serve as White House Social Secretary, appointed Feb. 25, 2011 by President Barack Obama[15]
- Court of St. James and to the Republic of El Salvador, Vice-Chairman of the Aspen Institute
- Maury Maverick Jr., attorney, Texas state legislator and longtime columnist for the San Antonio Express-News
- George Berham Parr, the 'Duke of Duval County', South Texas political boss.
- Lamar S. Smith, representing the 21st Congressional District from 1987–present
- Milton H. West, seven-term Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives (1933–48)
- Bob Wheeler, member of Texas House of Representatives[16]
Military
- Horace Clyde Balsley, pilot of the Lafayette Escadrille, recipient of the Croix de guerre and the Médaille militaire
- Lt General Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations1953-58
- Lt General (retired) Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
- General Ralph E. Haines Jr., Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army; commander of United States Army Pacific
- Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers etc., recipient of the Medal of Honor
- Lt General (retired) 10th Mountain Division
- Brigadier General John L. Pierce, holder of various armored commands in the Second World War.
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross
- Lieutenant James Siman, class of 1912
- Captain Tobin Rote, class of 1913
- Major Edgar Tobin, class of 1914, first World War air ace, pioneer of aerial mapping
- Brigadier General David Lee "Tex" Hill, class of 1932, air-ace, member of Flying Tigers
Sport
- Sherry Blakley, NASCAR driver
- Ross Youngs, Hall of Fame professional baseball player
- Pato O'Ward IndyCar driver
Notable faculty members
- Frederick Ahl – Latinist
- Page Morris – Mathematician
- Josef R. Sheetz – Interim Headmaster in 1954
History of the School Name
- 1893 – West Texas Military Academy (WTMA)
- 1926 – Texas Military Institute (WTMA merged with the upper school of San Antonio Academy and the school was renamed Texas Military Institute)
- 2004 – TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas
- 2017 – TMI Episcopal (adopted in November 2017)
See also
References
- ^ Schwennesen, Tricia (September 14, 2023). "Learn more about 14 North San Antonio private schools, 6 charter schools". Community Impact.
- ^ "TMI Episcopal Profile | San Antonio, Texas (TX)". Boarding School Review - College-Prep & Jr. Boarding Schools | BoardingSchoolReview.com. Boarding School Review LLC. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
- ^ "2023-2024 Tuition and Fees". tmi-sa.com. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "TMI produced military leaders". San Antonio Express-News. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- ^ John A. Coulter II, "TMI Bugle Notes". Published Privately: 2002. Page 4
- ^ "TMI Faculty and Staff Directory Search". tmi-sa.org. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- ^ Coulter, Op. Cit.
- ^ Eugene Wigner, Biographical Note on Cresson Kearny's Nuclear War Survival Skills, Oak Ridge, Tennessee: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1979, page 13
- ^ "Accreditation :: San Antonio Christian Schools". Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ (opens as PDF, free subscription required)
- ^ "NAES: News from Our Members|TMI Chapel, Alumnus Win Architecture Award". 2011-07-25. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
- ^ "161 TMI The Episcopal School of Texas San Antonio TX 3" (PDF). schoenstein.com.
- ^ "TMI Faculty and Staff Directory Search". tmi-sa.org. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- ^ "Bio « iamwammo.com". Archived from the original on 2009-07-12. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
- ^ Dunham, Richard. "Obama names San Antonian as social secretary". San Antonio Express News. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
- ^ "Robert Wheeler". Pleasanton Express. April 19, 2017.