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1986-1991

conroe courier newspaper photoThe beginnings of Lone Star College–Montgomery started long before the campus opened in 1995. George Mitchell, founder of The Woodlands, made attempts to bring higher education to the area in the 1970s and 80s. The next logical step was to work toward joining what was then called North Harris County College (NHCC).

This effort required a successful election by the residents of CISD, not an easy task considering heavy anti-tax sentiment. Community leaders Dan Hauser and John Wiesner led an effort in the mid-1980s, which was defeated in a January 1987 election.

Not to be deterred, several years later, Hauser and Wiesner, joined by a multitude of other supporters, including Kevin Brady and Mary Matteson, retooled their efforts, and on May 5, 1991, a successful election was held.

"My involvement in helping LSC-Montgomery become a reality was a challenge worth all the effort," said Wiesner. "It was against tremendous odds, but in the end we prevailed. Now the non-believers have become supporters of our efforts."

Several months prior to the election, NHCC hired a new chancellor upon the retirement of Dr. Joe Airola, who strongly supported the election efforts. The new chancellor, Dr. John Pickelman, along with the Board of Trustees, committed to build a comprehensive college in the heart of Montgomery County - should the election prove successful. Just prior to the election, a site for the campus was identified just south on the San Jacinto River along soon-to-be-constructed Highway 242.

With CISD now part of the newly-renamed North Harris Montgomery Community College District (NHMCCD), the daunting task of creating a new college could begin.

 

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