Though plans for opening a college in West Texas had been in the legislature for some time, it had long been thought that any
such institution should be a branch of Texas A&M.
However, in 1923 the decision was made to create a new college system entirely so as to
serve the unique needs of the region. On 10 February of that year, Governor Pat Neff signed the
legislation creating Texas Technological College and the site committee began searching for a location. In August, the first
ballot resulted in the selection of Lubbock and construction began on what is now considered Old Campus. Texas Technological
College opened for classes in 1925 with an enrollment of 914 students.In the 1960s it was decided that the phrase "technological college" was insufficient
to define the scope of the institution, having expanded the curriculum to far more than just technical subjects. Several name
changes were proposed, with Texas State University apparently having the most support from students and faculty. However, the
board of directors preferred the name Texas Tech University, possibly due to a desire to preserve the "Double T" emblem. Despite
rallies and student-led ballot initiatives (one student group, despairing at the board's refusal to listen to the student body,
proposed "The University of Moscow at Lubbock"), in 1969 the board voted unanimously in favor of the change to Texas Tech University.