Founding President of Midland College Passes Away
By: Midland College
Updated: September 10, 2010
Dr. Al G. Langford, founding president of Midland College, passed away at the age of 83 on September 10, 2010.
Langford came to the Permian Basin in 1969 as dean of the Midland Campus of the Permian Basin Junior College District. In 1972, after the Texas House of Representatives voted approval for the establishment of an independent Midland College district, Dr. Langford was elected president. He retired from the MC Presidency in 1981.
In 1973, Dr. Langford wrote, “Midland College, like all worthwhile enterprises, is the result of a dream and the product of dedicated efforts to overcome obstacles. . . . Midland College is a ‘community college’ in the finest sense of the term. The community has given us solid support. From the beginning, residents showed an above-normal dedication to the college, and they gave unselfishly of their time and talent to its development.”
During his tenure as MC President, Midland College grew from 660 students taking evening classes at Robert E. Lee High School in 1972, to almost 3,000 students taking day and evening classes at the current MC campus location in 1981. An excerpt from a 1972 Midland Reporter-Telegram editorial reads, “Dr. Langford has been president of MC since its inception, and no one has worked harder for the school and its development.” Lance Langford, Dr. Langford’s son, said that Midland College was one of his father’s proudest accomplishments.
Dr. Langford is survived by his wife, Nancy, their three children, and five grandchildren.
