Gray, members of the board, attorney J. B. Morris, legislators and other Southeast Texas citizens helped formulate and execute a plan to secure legislative approval. Early in the legislative session of 1947, a bill to make Lamar a state-supported senior college was introduced in the Texas House by Rep. 
Jack Brooks, a former Lamar student. Most observers estimated the bill stood only a 50-50 chance of passing both houses of the Legislature. Critics questioned why Lamar instead of any one of other 13 other junior college in the state should be raised in status. Supporters emphasized that the Sabine area was the only area not served by a four-year college, that the area was the home of a great industrial, petro-chemical concentration and that the four-year college would emphasize engineering and science.
Supporters of the Lamar bill had planned and executed well; the measure secured the approval of the Texas Legislature. But the victory proved short-lived. The bill contained an appropriation of $1 million for new construction, but could go to the governor for signature only if the comptroller certified that sufficient revenue would be available.
The comptroller did not certify the availability of revenue, and the bill died. For those who had achieved the precedent-shattering victory, the setback was only temporary. Planners returned to the Legislature the following year, finding success in both house. The power of Lt. Gov. Allan Shivers proved sufficient to force approval in the Senate.
On June 14, 1949, Gov. Beauford Jester signed the bill that provided for the creation of Lamar State College of Technology; the transfer of all lands, buildings, and equipment of Lamar College to the new college; and an appropriation of $1 million for new construction. The new college would emphasize engineering, technology, and science, but left to the board of regents the authority to establish other educational programs deemed proper.
The board approved President Gray's recommendations that the college continue to offer its two-year pre-professional, general education and technical-vocational programs and add four-year programs in engineering, science, home economics, health and physical education, and business administration. On Sept. 1, 1951, Lamar State College of Technology opened its doors. In October, Gray announced his resignation to accept a position as executive vice president of First National Bank of Beaumont. G. A. Wimberly was named acting president until a permanent successor could be selected.
In April 1952, the board announced that Dr. F. L. McDonald would assume the presidency of Lamar on June 1, a position he would fill for almost 15 years. During those years, the technical college of 2,500 students became an outstanding regional college of more than 10,000 students. A campus of 58 acres more than doubled, 25 new academic buildings were added to the five that existed in 1952. Lamar's rapid growth is partially explained by the college population explosion that swamped many universities and colleges during the late 1950s and the 1960s, but Lamar's growth exceeded the average. During much of the period, Lamar was the fastest-growing senior college in Texas. One explanation of Lamar's exceptional growth was in the broadening of its appeal to the relatively untapped reservoir of the Southeast Texas' college-age population. In 1954, the board approved an expansion in focus to a general-purpose, regional college offering baccalaureate degrees in most of the traditional disciplines.
Integration was a major event during President McDonald's tenure. In 1956, a federal court order opened the doors of Lamar to the black, college-age population of Texas. Other developments included the building of dormitories, expansion of the athletic program and the offering of graduate studies.
