By Nicole Ceron

Photo by Jonathan Wences
As Eastfield turns 45, the Dallas County Community College District is celebrating its golden anniversary.
Dallas County created the Dallas County Junior College District in 1965. El Centro Community College, the first college, opened in 1966.
Four years later, both Eastfield and Mountain View enrolled their first students.
The district’s name was changed to DCCCD in 1972. The district now has seven colleges.
Thousands of employees attended a district wide 50th anniversary celebration on Aug. 28 at the Mesquite Convention Center.
Colleges submitted time capsules with five items to represent each campus. Eastfield’s items included “The Person-Centered College: Reminisces of the First 30 Years at Eastfield College,” a book by retired professor Jerry Henson.
Clockwise from top left: history faculty member Tim Hughes assists a student during registration. The library circa 1970. Students in line during spring semester registration. Students in the Pit Circa 1978. Eastfield College Vice President Byron McClenney looks over the construction of Eastfield.