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Henry Morris Chapel

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In The Beginning

A Vision
Many years ago, God planted a thought in the heart of a good woman, Mrs. R. D. Campbell. In prayer this thought was conceived and nurtured. In love, it was brought to fruition. From her work as a missionary among the Mexican people, she realized the great need for development of a Christian leadership. Yet, so few had an opportunity for even an elementary education. To train some choice young men and women under Christian influences for Christian leadership--that was the great need and goal.

Mrs. Campbell began talking to God and to her friends about this great need. Soon, others caught the vision of this need and its possibilities. Mrs. Henrietta M. King, the daughter of the first Presbyterian missionary of the Rio Grande, offered a site near Kingsville. The Kingsville Chamber of Commerce supplemented her offer and the tract totaling about 700 acres was accepted by the Synod.

The result was the establishment of the Texas-Mexican Industrial Institute in 1912. And about twelve years later, the Presbyterian School for Mexican Girls would be established in Taft in 1924. And in 1956, these two schools would be joined to become Presbyterian Pan American School, a co-educational program to prepare young people for college. Dr. Sherwood Reisner, a graduate of Yale University and Princeton Theological Seminary served as the first headmaster of the school for twenty-four years. The current President of the school is Dr. James H. Matthews, formerly Dean of faculty at Schriener College in Kerrville, Texas.

Texas-Mexican Industrial Institute (Tex-Mex)

Rev. James W. Skinner 1912 - 1931

Rev. Sam Brooks McLane 1932 - 1954

Dr. Berta F. Murray 1955

With just the ground of the 700 acres of cactus and mesquite brush, the "father" of Tex-Mex, Rev. James W. Skinner accepted the challenging task of starting this school. On May 1, 1912 the ground was broken to start work on the first permanent building. With limited resources, his hardheadedness, his great love for Mexican boys and great faith in the great God of love, this Scotsman opened the school on October 1, 1912 with an enrollment of fifty students.

The goal of the school was to provide opportunity and assistance to every Mexican young man seeking to help himself, find himself, and obtain skill and mastery of himself and that it would be realized in a disciplined Christian manhood--"it shall be a living and life-creating organism and not an aggregate of mechanical machinery" and "it shall contribute to the development of efficient Christian manhood".

Tex-Mex proved to be a place where Mexican boys had the opportunity to work out a practical education in the light of an open bible. Since day one, the amount of hard work, studying, and worship that was done by these young men, and the staff of the school have proven to be immeasurable. They are the ones that helped give life to Tex-Mex and kept it going.

In 1932, Dr. McLane succeeded Dr. Skinner as President. During his term as president, Dr. McLane turned away one boy for every boy that was admitted. Some applicants found themselves on a waiting list for at least two years before being accepted. And by 1940, enrollment was at about 100 boys who came from as far away as Dallas to Mexico city.

Through years of struggle and years of priceless blessing, the school had survived. "Truly the blessed hand of God has been upon us."

"For God, America, and Mexico," this had been the slogan of the Texas-Mexican Industrial Institute through the years. It had trained over 2000 Mexican young men.

Presbyterian School for Mexican Girls

Dr. Berta F. Murray
1927 - 1956

"The First Lady of PPAS"

The school was opened in October of 1924 by the Women's Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Synod of Texas. The first graduating class consisted of two members in 1928. There would be over 100 graduates by 1945.

The original building used was a dormitory. Later in 1928 a second dormitory and the administration building would be built. By 1937, a practice house used for senior courses in homemaking was built.

Many of the girls trained at the school began operating a kindergarten in the Mexican quarter of Taft by 1939. And by 1941, a day nursery would be opened.

It was part of Berta Murray's dream or vision that a co-educational school be created. And in 1956, she saw her vision take form (Presbyterian Pan American School). In 1955, she would serve as President of Tex-Mex. after Dr. McLane resigned. And in 1956, she become one of two Vice-presidents of Presbyterian Pan American School.

In 1956, the Texas-Mexican Industrial Institute was merged with the Presbyterian School for Mexican Girls to form a co-educational Pan-American program.

Presbyterian Pan American School
"One in the Spirit" since 1956

Presbyterian Pan American School is living proof that diverse peoples of the world can indeed become "one in the spirit". Presbyterian Pan American School is more than a school. It is a Christian community where students soon realize that a deep unity is possible despite cultural differences.

Presidents of P.P.A.S.

Sherwood H. Reisner 1956 - 1979

David R. Gifford 1980 - 1990

Abraham Torres M. 1991 - 1997

James H. Matthews 1998 - present

Mission
Presbyterian Pan American School is a college preparatory school, grounded in Christian love and service, for young people from the Americas and beyond. Our mission is to challenge these students academically, spiritually, emotionally and physically in order to prepare them for lives that demonstrate Leadership, Inquiry, Faith, and Enterprise (LIFE).

We are a mission agency of the Synod of the Sun, affiliated by covenant agreements with the Synod, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and with the national church in Mexico.

The school is incorporated as a nonprofit institution. It is governed by a 20-member Board of Trustees; 9 are elected by the Synod of the Sun of the Presbyterian Church (USA), 2 by the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico, and the remaining nine by the members of the board.

Funding sources for yearly Operating budget: Tuition (42%), Governing Bodies (20%), Gifts from churches, individuals, alumni, board, foundations (11%), Endowment (13%), Restricted (6%), and Misc. (8%).

Assets include a physical plant valued conservatively at $3.7 million and an endowment of over 4 million. The school allocated more than $500,000 last year for financial aid.

Community
At any one time, the school may have Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Mormons, and Buddhists living on campus. Our goal is to give you factual knowledge of the Bible so that you can wrestle with its meaning for your life, and to provide a solid base of knowledge that will sharpen skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and research to assure success in college.

You will also find that several of the faculty and staff also live on campus (President, Chaplain, Activities Director, Admissions Director, Dean of Girls, Dean of Boys, and school Nurse). Each adult community member encourages student participation in all activities of the campus, from spiritual services to athletic activities. By doing so, each adult member serves as a positive role model for the young members of the community.

Faculty
The faculty members are well-qualified by education, their temperament, and from their teaching experience. They make your subjects come alive by relating them to your own life experiences. Faculty members become more than teachers, they become your friends. Various faculty members are involved in the students lives beyond the classroom as advisers and/or sponsors for various activities on or off campus.

Location (Texas, Kingsville, PPAS) click to see a map
The school is located on an 670-acre campus, most of which was given by Mrs. Henrietta King, wife of Capt. Richard King--founder of the famous King Ranch. The School is five miles south of Kingsville, Texas, 165 miles south of San Antonio, within 120 miles of the Mexican border, and 240 miles north of Monterey Mexico.

    
The beauty of the campus can be seen in its buildings--designed by renowned architect O'Neil Ford--and is enhanced by the lovely oaks, aged mesquites, towering palm trees, and saltillo walkways through out the campus.