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Can a good timeline of R.G.'s life be created from his book? Maybe from the museum?
The answer is, yes. There is a lot of information about R.G. LeTourneau in Longview, particularly at the Museum located on the LeTourneau University main campus.
Someone should mention that LeTourneau Industries, founded by R.G. LeTourneau, was just up the street, about a block away from the LeTourneau University campus. Eventually, Marathon bought out LeTourneau Industries, but the buildings are still there, as strange-looking as ever. I've spoken with people who have worked in the large silver domes. They tell me that the domes are hot in the Summer and noisy.
I have been told that one of R.G. LeTourneau's biggest inventions involved the self-propelled wheel. Someone should look up the patents he held for it. Anyway, his self-propelled wheels allowed his equipment to change directions sharply.
There are many, many stories that people still tell about the LeTourneaus, even though they died several decades ago. Not all the stories are flattering, particularly when told by people caught on the short end of some decisions. The LeTourneaus were rather conservative Christians, Mrs. LeTourneau especially. Some military vets who attended the college remember her storming through the barracks, ensuring that no one had any alcohol. My pastor said that he was kicked out of the school for having too-long sideburns. I found a '60s-era art book in the college library, but someone had cut out the pictures that would have portrayed female nudity; my guess, based on the school's reputation, was that this was academic censorship.
From what I've heard, ascetism reached its pinnacle under the presidency of R.G. LeTourneau's son, whose name I don't recall just now (Charles or something). I think this was in the '70s or so, about the time that Billy Graham's son was kicked out of the college. LeTourneau's son wasn't too popular, though, and was replaced. I was told that there are no LeTourneau family members serving in any capacity at LeTourneau University, and hadn't for many years.
Now, under President Austin, there is an odd balance between maintaining Christian standards, and not having the government try to shut them down or dis-credit them. Yes, there is a required chapel service. No, the name is only a label, a fact that the Administration freely admitted several times while I was a student. That is, chapel service may or may not be a worship service. All it is certain to be is a time when the entire student body at the main campus meets for announcements. And, in sharp contrast to the school's earlier conservative days, the music at the chapel service will almost certainly be Contemporary Christian Music of one sort or another, or even Christian Rock. Oh, and no one gets kicked out for having long sideburns, anymore.
As important as Christianity was to R.G. LeTourneau, someone should mention that he was a faithful member of a church on High Street, just around the corner from the college and a short distance from LeTourneau Industries. I'll have to come back later and fill in the name of it, because I can't recall it just now, even though I've attended it several times. Several of the professors at LeTourneau University still attend this church.
What I've written here comes from decade-old memories, recalled on insufficient sleep. I hope that someone--preferably me--comes back eventually and fills in the blanks and corrects the details.