240px|right|thumb|Old Main at Kilgore College

Kilgore College (KC) is a public community college in Kilgore, Texas. It has an annual enrollment in excess of 5,000 students and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. The college was established in 1935 at the height of the East Texas oil boom, and as such, is home to the East Texas Oil Museum which houses a large collection of memorabilia documenting this period of Texas history. It is also famous for having the first ever dance-drill team, the Kilgore College Rangerettes, which began in 1940 under the direction of Gussie Nell Davis.

History

The East Texas oil boom that started near Kilgore in late 1930 generated large amounts of revenue that made it possible to establish a community college. W.L. Dodson, superintendent of the local Kilgore school district, brought B. E. Masters, then president of Amarillo Junior College, to Kilgore in the spring of 1935 to assist in creating the college. The college was established in August of that year, with Dodson named as the first president, and Masters as the first dean. College classes began that fall with 11 faculty members and 229 students temporarily using the Kilgore public school facilities.

  • Men's Basketball - NJCAA national champions 1956, 1958
  • Women's Basketball - NJCAA national champions 1988, 1990, 1993
  • Softball

The Rangers compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Region XIV, as a member of the Southwest Junior College Football Conference for football, and the Southwest Junior College Conference for all other sports.

Texas Shakespeare Festival

In June 1986, the Texas Shakespeare Festival opened its inaugural season at Kilgore College, and will celebrate its 41st year in summer 2026. The college provides financial support and facilities for the festival, which is a vital cultural asset for all of East Texas.

College service area

As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of KC includes territory within the following school districts:

  • Big Sandy Independent School District
  • Carlisle Independent School District
  • Gilmer Independent School District
  • Gladewater Independent School District
  • Hallsville Independent School District
  • Henderson Independent School District
  • Kilgore Independent School District
  • Laneville Independent School District
  • Leverett's Chapel Independent School District
  • Longview Independent School District
  • Mount Enterprise Independent School District
  • New Diana Independent School District
  • Overton Independent School District
  • Pine Tree Independent School District
  • Sabine Independent School District
  • Spring Hill Independent School District
  • Tatum Independent School District (except the part of the district that is located in Panola County)
  • Union Grove Independent School District
  • West Rusk Independent School District
  • White Oak Independent School District

Notable alumni

  • Lyle Alzado, professional football player
  • Rodney Carrington, comedian
  • Ricardo Colclough, professional football player
  • Ricky Collins, professional football player
  • Jorge Diaz, professional football player
  • Francisco Elson, professional basketball player
  • Kevin Everett, professional football player
  • Thomas Herrion, professional football player
  • John Hill, Texas Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
  • Lane Johnson, professional football player
  • Derrick Lewis, professional football player and mixed martial artist
  • Dwayne Stovall, Cleveland, Texas business man and 2014 Republican primary candidate for the United States Senate against incumbent John Cornyn.
  • Marcus Thornton, professional basketball player
  • Marvin White, professional football player
  • Demorrio Williams, professional football player
  • Jason Williams, professional basketball player
  • Darren Woodard, professional football player
  • LeJuandro 'Kai' Zeiglar, professional football player

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Image:Kilgore College welcoming sign IMG 5915.JPG|Welcome Sign

Image:Kilgore College May 2016 06 (Old Main Building).jpg|Old Main

Image:Kilgore College Student Center IMG_5914.JPG|Student Center

Image:Randolph C.Watson Library, Kilgore College IMG_5904.JPG|Randolph C. Watson Library

Image:Masters Gymnasium at Kilgore College IMG_5910.JPG|Masters Gymnasium

Image:Kilgore College May 2016 12 (Gussie Nell Davis Rangerette Residence).jpg|Gussie Nell Davis Rangerette Residence

Image:East Texas Oil Museum building, Kilgore, TX IMG_5900.JPG|East Texas Oil Museum (established 1979) is located on the Kilgore College campus.

Image:Kilgore College Longview IMG 4002.JPG|Kilgore College operates a branch campus in nearby Longview.

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References

  • Rangerettes official website