From left: Eugene McDermott, J. Erik Jonsson and Cecil H. Green.

The University of Texas at Dallas campus community will honor the legacy and vision of the University’s three founders with festivities Friday, Oct. 29.

Founders Day marks 57 years since the Founders Building was dedicated in 1964. The tradition is an opportunity to reflect on the beginnings of UT Dallas and celebrate the institution’s growth and success since Eugene McDermott, J. Erik Jonsson and Cecil H. Green conceived the idea for the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest.

McDermott, Jonsson and Green observed promising young Texans leaving the state to pursue education while the trio’s company, Texas Instruments Inc., struggled to import out-of-state talent to work at its Dallas-based headquarters. Hoping to create better higher education opportunities in North Texas, they established the center to train and retain bright minds from the region.

Founders Day Photos

Student holding up a blue t-shirt that reads McDermott and Jonsson and Green

Share your Founders Day photos on social media using #UTDFoundersDay.

The private research institution, which was originally only a few small buildings surrounded by a stretch of cotton fields, changed its name to the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies in 1967 and joined the UT System in 1969 as The University of Texas at Dallas.

“UT Dallas has transformed into a world-class research university with top-ranked programs in business, engineering, science and audiology and a reputation for academic excellence,” said Kyle Edgington PhD’13, vice president for development and alumni relations. “On Founders Day, we pay tribute to the legacies of McDermott, Green and Jonsson and honor their extraordinary vision.”

Founders Day activities will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Margaret McDermott Mall underneath the Trellis.

UT Dallas students, faculty and staff are invited to commemorate the day by taking photos at an on-site photo booth. The snapshots will be used to make a celebratory collage.

The event also will include T-shirt giveaways, food, music and trivia games with prizes.

For more information about this year’s and past years’ celebrations, including the Founders Day 2020 photo mosaic and video tributes from Comets, visit the Founders Day website.