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Farrell-Wright Carillon
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April 13, 1980 - Farrell-Wright Carillon dedicated
Late-1990s - Removed
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Namesake
Aileen Farrell Wright
Lee Roy Wright
 
Architect
 
Contractor(s)
 

 
In 1980, Robert L. Wright, a West Columbia High School and later University of Texas graduate who attended Army Specialized Training at Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1942, provided a donation to establish the Farrell-Wright Carillon, in honor of his parents, Aileen Farrell Wright and Lee Roy Wright.

What sounded like bells were in fact tuning-forks, plugged into a three-tiered keyboard console that could be programmed or played live.  The sound was then broadcast across campus via an eight-speaker public address system atop the Marks Administration Building.

The carillon played automatically Monday-Saturday at 10:50 a.m. and 4:50 p.m., and again Sunday afternoons at four o’clock.  50-foot rolls of music, similar to rolls used to play a player piano, were used for special occasions such as the Tree of Lights ceremony, building dedications and holidays.

Following renovations at the administration building it was removed due to age.

 

Sources:
Houstonian, January 31, 1995
T@S: Why the Clock Has IIII and Not IV
 
 
The Buildings of Sam Houston State University documents the changes across the SHSU campus in Huntsville, Texas from its inception in 1879 to the present day and includes information about the people and landmarks that the campus honors.
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