Texas Lutheran University was founded in Brenham, Texas in 1891 and moved to Seguin in 1912. The school was named Texas Lutheran College and in 1996 the name was changed to Texas Lutheran University. More than 30 major buildings and athletic fields are located on the 184-acre Seguin campus. Texas Lutheran is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the ELCA. Texas Lutheran University is a community of faith and learning.

TLU’s first junior college coach, John M. (Jack) Doerfler, said he wanted the athletic boys to be strong and tenacious, and so he named them “Bulldogs” in 1926. During the years of 1926 through 1929, our football teams won twenty-three games, lost six and tied one. Not bad for those early Bulldogs! For a while the women’s teams were known as “The Amazons,” then as “The Bullets,” sometimes spelled “Bullettes,” before they became the Bulldogs. Go Bulldogs!

TLU’s mascot is named Lucky. Although TLU does not have an official live mascot, there is no shortage of representatives on campus. The student’s favorite is a “Lucky” carved out of a tree stump, now on display in the Alumni Student Center. It is tradition that at graduation, he is moved outside, and as the students process to graduation they rub his head for good luck.

The original bell from the tower at the Brenham campus; now rung after athletic victories and other special occasions, including Graduation. Faculty, Staff & Students recess to Alumni Park following the Spring Graduation ceremony and ring the bell in celebration of the victory of Graduation. This is the only item that was kept from the original TLU campus prior to moving to Seguin.

The Chapel of the Abiding Presence was dedicated in 1954, and is an icon to the TLU campus. Chapel services are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the school year. Attendance is not required, but many Students, Faculty and Staff make it a priority to worship with their community. The Blessed Fire of 1969 burned the inside of the chapel, and required the inside to be refinished and the pews were removed and moveable seating replaced the pews. It can be rearranged for special services and for various church seasons.

TLU’s Official Class Ring was unveiled during Homecoming 2009. It is a ring that represents everything TLU from academics, athletics, history, spirit and tradition. Rings are distributed once a year at the annual Ring Ceremony which takes place in April.

A historic home on the TLU campus that serves as a place for university and community events. This historic home is a large white farm house that was a part of the Fritz Homestead in the late 1800’s. The Fritzes donated 15 acres of their homestead to Texas Lutheran in 1912 when it relocated from Brenham to Seguin. On April 5, 2001 the home was literally rolled 400 feet to its current location and restoration began. The home was completed in 2005. Today it serves not only as a beautiful facility for the university but a true historical marker of TLU’s Seguin beginnings and a representation of rural life in South Texas in the 1800s.

The statue in front of the O.G. Beck Center (administration building) is an abstract of Martin Luther. It is made of corten steel, meant to rust. There is a building north of Austin on I-35, the Westinghouse building, made of the same rusting steel. Martin Luther was the great reformer of the 16th century, after whom the Lutheran Church is named.

The brand of TLU, which is a free flowing mark without beginning or end, denoting education and a life of leadership and service as an on going process. The three areas of the flame symbolize TLU’s academic, spiritual and social approach to education.

Represents the centrality of the Lutheran tradition in the academic and spiritual life of the University. The “Luther Rose” occupies the center of the seal. The cross, heart and petals of the rose symbolize the innocent death of Christ. The five points of the “Lone Star” represents the university’s Texas location. The Latin motto appears between the star’s points and translates into “The truth of Christ frees humankind.”

“The Spirit Lives Here” Homecoming is sponsored by the Alumni Office and is a weekend full of activities for Alumni, Students, and Friends of the University to come together and celebrate the TLU Spirit. Events include: Bulldog Revue, TLU Salutes, Football game, King & Queen coronation, Golf Tournament, Bulldog 5k, All Reunion Lunch, Milestone Reunions, AlumNite, Alumni Games, Football Reunion.

Held in conjunction with Homecoming each fall on the weekend of a home football game against an ASC opponent. “Families Together, Memories Forever” Family Weekend is sponsored by the Office of First Year & Campus Programs. Events include a Q&A session with TLU administrators, Workshops, and a Family Weekend Breakfast with the TLU President.

Started in 2008 by the Student Government Association to promote school spirit at athletic events. The idea is to fill the stands with a sea of Gold! At designated Gold Rush games fans are encouraged to wear Gold and show their Bulldog Pride!

Vespers is an annual Christmas celebration of music and word performed by the TLU Choir, TLU Women's Choir, Kantorei Chamber Choir and the Symphonic Winds and Percussion. This Christmas celebration began in 1940. Music has been an integral part of the curriculum at Texas Lutheran University throughout its history. Christmas Vespers attracts thousands of people from across the state of Texas and beyond.

A community service project. Day of the Dogs is a time for TLU Faculty, Staff & Students to give back to the Seguin Community, a way to say “Thank You.” This tradition began in February of 2008 during the inauguration of TLU’s 14th President Ann Svennungsen.

This event is the largest celebration on campus hosted by the Student Government Association. It has been a longstanding tradition that takes place the third Saturday before spring graduation. This is an outdoor event with music, games hosted by student organizations and special recognition of outstanding members of our TLU community. It is a celebration not to be missed!