Texas Tech Seal

The seal for Texas Tech was first developed in 1924 by the campus' mastermind William Ward Watkin. Included in the seal are the symbols of a lamp, representing "school", a key meaning "home", a book symbolizing "church", and a star representing "state". The beloved symbol of Tech has often been refered to as "the Oreo" throughout the years by students and staff. The 12 foot red granite seal stands proudly at the entrance of Texas Tech University.

Information provided by: Texas Tech University

Masked Rider

The masked rider has been a symbol of Texas Tech for over 6 decades! Originally known as ghost riders, the mascot has been a source of school spirit and loyalty dating back to before the school was recognized as a state university. George Tate and Arch Lamb began the tradition with stealing a horse from the Tech's dairy barn in 1936. Tate described being the masked rider as "just like a phantom. I didn't want to stay either because I wasn't supposed to have the horse. It was top secret. We never spoke of it. Even my roommate- I'm sure he knew it was me, but he never mentioned it." You can still see the masked rider at football games as well as in the statue dedicated to the long standing symbol of Texas Tech's pride.

Information provided by: Texas Tech University

Preston Earnest Smith

Preston Earnest Smith graduated from Texas Technological College, now known as Texas Tech, in the mid 1940's. After his graduation, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1944, and lieutenant governor in 1962, 1968 and from 1969 through 1973. He is considered one of Texas Tech's legends because of his outstanding achievements and loyalty to his Alma mater. He is truly someone students can look up to and aspire to become.

Information provided by: Texas Tech University

Will Rogers and Soapsuds

The statue of Will Rogers riding his noble steed Soapsuds sits near the main entrance of Texas Tech University. The 3,200 pound memorial was dedicated on February 16, 1950 by one of Rogers lifelong friends, Amon G. Carter. The original plan was to have Rogers riding off into the sunset but was unsuccessful because Soapsuds rear end was facing downtown Lubbock. To solve this dilemma, the horse was rotated 23 degrees so that it is facing Texas A&M, Tech's longest running rival. The base of the beloved statue bears the inscription, "Lovable Old Will Rogers on his favorite horse, 'Soapsuds', riding into the Western sunset."

Information provided by: Texas Tech University

Horn Hall

Horn Hall is currently home to hundreds of female Texas Tech students. However, it is widely unknown that these students also share this housing with the ghost of a little boy. There is a storage room on the third floor near a flight of stairs where the boy took a fatal tumble while chasing his ball. Although the identity of the boy is unknown, it is rumored that he was the son of house mother visiting an older sibling. When it is silent in the dead of night, you can hear him bouncing his ball down the halls of the third floor. It is also said that if you knock three times on the storage room door, he will answer back with three short knocks.

Information provided by: Lubbock Ghost Investigation Society

Biology Building

Finals week can be a stressful time for students and faculty alike. On December 4, 1967 a desperate student was caught trying to steal an exam by a cleaning woman on the third-floor laboratory. The student panicked and attacked the woman. After almost decapitating the woman, the student made of with the master set of keys. He was caught months later while trying to sneak into professor Kent Rylander's office while trying steal another exam. The custodian still shows up around finals time roaming the halls with a lit candle. Supposedly, there is still a large bloodstain on the third floor where she met her demise.

Information provided by: Lubbock Ghost Investigation Society

Carol of Lights

The Carol of Lights is a Texas Tech tradition since its start in 1959. The holiday ceremony involves the Tech choir singing out many holiday favorites and ends with a spectacular show of lights engulfing hundreds of students as well as the 13 building surrounding Memorial Circle. Among the students that attend, there is also a ghost searching for his girlfriend. Apparently one year just before the end of the semester, he received a letter from his girlfriend ending their relationship. Stricken with grief, the student hurled himself off of the roof of the Biology building. If you ever attend Carol of Lights and see a tall black man wearing a long coat standing next to you one minute and gone the next, you have seen the ghost of the heartbroken student forever searching for his love.

Information provided by: Lubbock Ghost Investigation Society

Tunnels Under Tech

Boys sneaking into the girls dormitory has been a tradition as old as college itself. Back when Texas Tech was a new university, faculty avoided the crowds by using underground tunnels to get from one building to another. On occasion, students would sneak into these tunnels to get access into buildings without being detected. One such student took advantage of these tunnels to sneak into the girls dormitory. The house mother eventually caught him and asked the custodians to weld a gate so that he could not get in. The student decided to try his luck one more time, but on this last fateful night he ran into the gate and was unable to retrace his steps. He eventually became lost in the maze of tunnels. His body was discovered several days later by the Texas Tech police force. According to rumor, you can still hear him yelling out for help in the tunnels and sometimes even feel him brush past you in the dark looking for is way out.

Information provoded by: Lubbock Ghost Investigation Society

Chemistry Building

It is said that Texas Tech campus is full of ghosts of past students and employers. Once such ghost is named Brian. In 1983 during finals week, Brian hanged himself in the old mechanist shop, now used as an instrument room. It is said that during finals you can still hear him roaming the halls and working away attempting to finish the research that he was conducting.

Information provided by: Lubbock Ghost Investigation Society

Student Health Building

According to legend, there is a nurse that haunts the student health building, also known as Thompson Hall. Before the buildings demise in late 2008, it was said that you could hear footsteps on the upper floors when the building is unoccupied, feel her presence on the elevator and even see doors slam shut with no one on the other side. Although the identity and cause of death of the nurse is unknown, you could see her on some nights gazing out of the fourth floor window above the main entrance.

Information provided by: Lone Star Paranormal Investigations