John R. Ragsdale Visitor & Alumni Center
Welcome to the John R. Ragsdale Visitor and Alumni Center!
The Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. as well as one Saturday each month. Campus tours are at designated times throughout the day and visitors are strongly encouraged to call or email our office to make an appointment for a campus tour.
Directions to theVisitor Center can be found on every page of our website, just follow the link.
We are also open on March 28, 2009 and November 21, 2009 for our campus preview day, Saturdays@SAM. Visitors are able to register online for Saturdays@SAM and groups can register by emailing lgorski@shsu.edu or calling 936.294.4482.
The Visitor and Alumni center officially opened on April 27, 2007. On October 20, 2007, the new gateway building for Sam Houston State was dedicated as the John R. Ragsdale Visitor and Alumni Center.
Meet Mr. Ragsdale:
John R. Ragsdale graduated from SHSU with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in general business. After serving in the military, he began a seven-year career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
In 1968, Ragsdale and his business partner opened their first Burger King Restaurant. In 2000, they owned 23 restaurants in and around the Houston area. Mr. Ragsdale also served on the board of directors of Klein Bank.
Mr. Ragsdale has given a generous contribution to three different programs of the university, which will benefit former, current and prospective students. Mr. Ragsdale felt as though SHSU gave him so much and we wanted to give back to the university and the students.
Contact Information:
John R. Ragsdale Visitor and Alumni Center
Email- visitsam@shsu.edu
Phone- Toll Free 1.866.BEARKAT or 936.294.1844