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University Press’ 50 Years of Publishing

In September 1975, when a motorist pulled into a gas station, an attendant would fill the driver’s car up for 53 cents per gallon, check the engine oil level and squeegee the windshield. 

As “Rhinestone Cowboy,” the No. 1 song in the land, played on the car’s AM radio, a new book chronicling 250 years of American Southwest conflict between Native Americans and European settlers waited to be read on the passenger’s seat. 

The book, “Storms Brewed in Other Men's Worlds,” by historian Elizabeth A. H. John represented an achievement in the literary world and the Texas academic publishing world. It was the first book published by Texas A&M University Press.

A half-century and almost two thousand books later, Texas A&M’s Press is a widely respected publisher, producing a treasure trove of storytelling and scholarship that showcases the wide-ranging expertise of both Texas A&M faculty members as well as scholars and authors from around the globe.

As the Press ramped up its operations to publish between 30-50 books a year, state and national organizations have showered it with over 600 major scholarly awards for books that cover history, borderlands studies, military history, natural sciences, archaeology, sports history, art and architecture, and much, much more. 

From archaeological expeditions in the Mexican jungle to stories of valor about Aggie Medal of Honor recipients, the Press’ numerous books deliver captivating narratives and serious works of scholarship.

A university press can devote care and attention to topics and research often overlooked by commercial publishers. 

“We’re very proud of our publishing heritage,” said Jay Dew, director of the Texas A&M University Press. “Our books cover important subjects for a wide variety of audiences.”

The Press has also kept pace with technological advances, becoming an early adopter of e-books, which some industry observers thought could mark the end of ink and paper books.  

“Our mission is to get our books in people’s hands however they want to read them,” said Dew. 

The origin of Texas A&M’s press began with Jack K. Williams, who served as Texas A&M’s president from 1970-1977. He and fellow Aggie administrators had seen the University of Texas Press, under the direction of legendary publisher Frank Wardlaw, grow from a small operation into a campus mainstay.

Williams and major Texas A&M benefactor John H. Lindsey ’44 wanted to see a similar success story in College Station, so they lured Wardlaw to Aggieland and asked him to replicate his success here.

Strengthened with support from the university and philanthropists such as Lindsey and Joe Hiram Moore ’38, Wardlaw’s efforts birthed what would become today’s successful operation.

As the Press enters its second half-century of operations, Dew and his dedicated team of editors, designers, marketers, business operations and warehouse staff remain driven to publish and preserve information that matters. 

“There is real value in a book,” he said. “Books, publishers, libraries are tangible storehouses of human knowledge.” 

Those details will live on in the pages of the Press’ many past publications and the ones yet to come.

“In a world that is increasingly fragmented and even hostile toward intellectual pursuits, university presses are more important than ever … not only in strengthening their parent institutions but by fully equipping the constituencies they serve,” said Dew. “Sound research, accurate information and meaningful dialogue ensure that readers are ready to face whatever comes next.”