Staley McBrayer has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of A&M-Commerce and now he has a building on campus named in his honor.

On May 4, the Instructional Printing Facility received a new name. The building is now the Staley McBrayer Instructional Printing Facility.

A ceremony was held at 10:30 a.m. May 4 in the Main Pressroom of the facility followed by the unveiling of the new lettering on the exterior of the building.

A native of Hopkins County, McBrayer of Fort Worth earned a bachelor’s degree from A&M-Commerce in 1933 and then entered the newspaper business. He is a retired newspaper owner and publisher who is known in the journalism field for establishing the team that developed the Vanguard offset press in the 1950s. This press made it financially possible for suburban newspapers and newspapers in smaller towns to stay in business.

Today, the offset press is used throughout the publishing industry.

Regarding the dedication of the building in McBrayer’s honor, A&M-Commerce President Keith D. McFarland said, "It is a fitting tribute to Staley McBrayer’s far-reaching contributions in the field of printing and his continued devotion and generosity towards the students seeking degrees in journalism and printing. On behalf of all of us on this campus and the Texas A&M University System, congratulations Staley.

"Let this building forever be a reminder of your devotion to education, technology, journalism and especially printing," McFarland told McBrayer who was seated in the audience.

Offering congratulations by letter to McBrayer was Texas Governor George W. Bush. McFarland presented the framed letter to McBrayer in which Bush commended McBrayer for his "many years of service to journalism and your revolutionary advances in newspaper printing. I also salute you for your support of educational programs benefiting young people."

Also speaking at the ceremony was McBrayer who commented, "It is with deep appreciation and gratitude that I receive this recognition that links my name with the southwest’s leading and largest Instructional Printing Facility.

"This multi-million dollar teaching complex, with state-of-the art equipment, and a staff of outstanding printing and electronic graphic professionals is a point of pride for all of us whose lives have been a part of this University for so many years," McBrayer said.

McBrayer noted that graduates of the A&M-Commerce printing program are in demand by employers and many of its alumni are in responsible positions in printing and journalism.

The honoree, who worked on The East Texan as a college student and later the Commerce Journal, expressed his appreciation to McFarland, the A&M-Commerce Faculty Senate, Texas A&M University System Chancellor Howard Graves, and the A&M System Board of Regents for unanimously supporting the name change for the A&M-Commerce building. "I am extremely grateful," McBrayer said.

In his comments, the retired newspaper publisher commended Instructional Printing Facility Director Lyndal Burnett and his staff, introducing them at the ceremony, and having them to stand.

With the acquisition of the Goss Community Web Press from Texas A&M University in College Station a few years ago, A&M-Commerce has made improvements to The East Texan, McBrayer noted. He pointed out that students on The East Texan have won numerous awards and that printing students have gained experience operating the press and publishing the newspaper editions.

McBrayer also recognized the faculty members in the department of journalism and printing and members of the department’s Media Advisory Board.

A&M-Commerce offers the only four-year baccalaureate degree program in printing management in Texas, according to Burnett.

In opening the ceremony, Burnett said that it was appropriate that it be held in the Main Pressroom in the A&M-Commerce building. "In a pressroom similar to this, Mr. Staley McBrayer spent an important part of his life."

McBrayer has supported the journalism and printing department for several years by offering several student scholarships; he is also funding the salary for one of the printing faculty members.

A&M System policy for naming a building requires proof that the career of the individual to be honored had a "significant impact upon our society. In looking at the career of Staley McBrayer, it is undoubtedly evident that his life and his accomplishments have changed not just the state and the nation but the entire world," McFarland said.

Named a Distinguished Alumnus of A&M-Commerce in 1973, McBrayer has won several awards in the journalism field. His most recent recognition was by Editor & Publisher in October 1999 which listed him as one of the "50 Most Influential Newspaper People of the 20th Century."

McBrayer’s story of the development of the offset press is the focus of a book written by Dr. Otha Spencer, A&M-Commerce Professor Emeritus of Journalism and Printing. This book is entitled, Staley McBrayer and the Offset Newspaper Revolution.