On June 5, 1969, during a ceremony held in front of the Alamo, Governor Preston Smith signed into law House Bill 42 of the 61st Texas Legislature, thus creating The University Of Texas at San Antonio. It was reported to be the first time in the history of the state a governor had signed a bill outside of Austin. Emceeing the historic event, Chamber of Commerce president John Steen told the crowd that the signing of the bill marks "if not the greatest day in the history of this 251-year-old city, then at least the greatest in the history of its higher education."