The Van Cliburn Concert Hall was filled on Thursday as TCU marked the investiture of Daniel Pullin as its first modern president.  

Chancellor Victor Boschini, in his 21st year at TCU, assured the audience Pullin was up to the challenge of leading the university. 

He thanked Pullin for his “leadership yesterday in Neeley, leadership today at Texas Christian University and leadership tomorrow.”

“You bear the responsibility to carry forward TCU’s strong legacy of leadership and build on this firm foundation,” added Boschini.  

The seats were packed full of board members, faculty and staff from all over the university, and most importantly, family. Boschini specifically addressed Pullin’s kids.

“The greatest benefit to being the children of the president are the free tickets to any game,” he said with a smile. 

The hall, rich with history in itself, bore witness to a remarkable occasion. It held the Schieffer Symposium and Birthday Party just a couple of days prior, which recognized the 10-year anniversary of the naming of the Bob Schieffer College of Communications. 

The hall is also recognized as an architectural marvel as its seating capacity is 715 but has the acoustics and sound of halls double or triple its size.

So, it is no wonder why it was the perfect location for an occasion such as the investiture of a new university president, which TCU hasn’t had since Dr. D. Ray Lindley in 1959. He assumed the presidential role from then-President McGruder Ellis Sadler.

Sadler, after the appointment of Lindley to president, became the chancellor for the next six years until retiring in 1965. Dr. James M. Moudy assumed the role of chancellor and absorbed all powers of the president following Sadler’s retirement. 

Next to the University Mace and newly-created Flame of Knowledge, forged from the same tree as the mace, President Pullin received his purple velvet sash complete with silver cording and lining.

Adorned to the sash was the Presidential Brooch with the image of the iconic Frog Fountain inlaid in silver. 

Pullin took the time to give some short remarks.

“I am honored and humbled to be conferred as the president of Texas Christian University,” he said. “I am proud to be president, and I think today’s celebration pays tribute to TCU’s remarkable legacy of leadership and our excitedly connected community.”   

Pullin discussed his plan for the future and left a message for the audience. 

“What I’m really excited about is not the now, but the next, and the next depends on all of us,” he said. “Dream big, be bold, lead on.”