West Texas State School

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West Texas State School
Established 1963
Opened 1966
Closed 2010
Current Status Closed
Building Style Cottage Plan
Location Pyote, TX
Alternate Names
  • West Texas Children's Home of Pyote




History

West Texas State School, formerly West Texas Children's Home of Pyote, is located on Interstate Highway 20 at the southwestern edge of Pyote in central Ward County. In 1958 the 697th Air Control and Warning Squadron began operations at the site of the old Pyote Air Base on University of Texas land. When that radar base closed in 1963, the Texas Youth Council began work on a children's home to be founded on the location. The buildings, constructed as housing for the air force and radar bases, were still in good shape. In 1965 the Texas legislature appropriated $200,000 for renovation and purchase of equipment to found the institution. West Texas Children's Home of Pyote opened for dependent and neglected children in 1966. In the early 1980s the home changed from an orphanage to a state school for male status offenders. The name was changed to West Texas State School in 1990. The facility consisted of brick buildings with dormitory space and recreational facilities for 192 students.

The last student at the West Texas State School was transferred out of the institution on Friday May 28, 2010. On Tuesday June 1, 2010, the West Texas State School closed. In August 2010 TYC gave the lands back to University of Texas Lands.

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References