Daily Skiff

When TCU officials first contacted Sam Deitz nine years ago for the College of Education dean position, he promptly refused.

Eight years later, Deitz will be stepping down from his position this summer.

Deitz has achieved many milestones in his time at TCU, and said he considers the renovation of the Bailey Building his legacy.

Deitz said retirement is a good option considering the combination of achievements his administration has accomplished.

"All administrators after a certain period of time need to go somewhere else or refresh themselves," Dietz said.

When Deitz began his tenure eight years ago, the College of Education building had not been restored or worked on in 50 years, he said. It was poorly built and not handicap accessible, Deitz said.

After meeting with administrators and pushing the renovation to top priority, it took seven years from the administration's first efforts until the new building was opened.

Built in 1914, the Bailey Building is one of the first buildings on campus and originally was the home of the Brite College of the Bible, the original name of the Brite Divinity School, Deitz said. When the Brite school moved across University Drive, the building became the home of the College of Education and was renamed in memorial of TCU supporters Mary and Robert Bailey. The building had not been touched for renovations since 1958, and Deitz was determined to change that.

There were only two restrooms in the Bailey Building before the renovation, said Emily Caswell, an education graduate student.

"The old Bailey building was very outdated and technology was lacking in it," Caswell said.

Deitz said the Bailey Building was funded completely by outsiders, like the ranch management building. He said he gained the funding by seeing and meeting people throughout TCU and Fort Worth.

The Bailey Building is now the most beautiful building on campus, Deitz said.

Ten classrooms and a 150-seat lecture hall have been added, Caswell said. The latest in technology for teaching and laboratories are now available for students and faculty. The space has been tripled, the building includes an elevator and now meets handicap needs, Deitz said.

"I had never really met (Deitz) until the ground breaking ceremony for the new building and I just glanced over and saw him smiling," said Meredith Emory, an education graduate student. "He was so happy about it all."

Deitz's entire family has greatly appreciated the Texas and TCU experience and considers the time spent making the new building possible wonderful, he said.

Deitz said he plans to volunteer time at the United Way, the Fort Worth Museum of History and other local foundations after retirement. Traveling with his wife to visit their three children who live in San Francisco, Denver and Switzerland will be a top priority, he said.

Article Tools