Cotulla Early College High School (CECHS) is set to begin in Fall 2026, offering students the chance to earn up to 60 hours of college credit and graduate with an Associate Degree at no cost to families. With the launch of the new CECHS website, the community can now explore the program, learn about dual credit courses, tutoring, leadership opportunities, and all the ways the school will help students succeed.
Along with the website launch, CECHS is proud to bring back a piece of Cotulla history, the original bucking horse logo created by Wayne Franklin, a local artist, longtime teacher at Cotulla ISD, and silversmith. Franklin spent 32 years teaching in Cotulla, inspiring generations of students to explore creativity and craftsmanship.
Franklin first drew the cowboy for a district track meet program. The design quickly became a community favorite, appearing on signs, posters, uniforms, and even the town’s water tower. Today, the logo returns as the official mark for both Cotulla Early College High School and the newly launched Cotulla ISD Education Foundation.
“I drew that cowboy to show someone in control,” Franklin said. “He’s wearing a hat, and you see all four legs and his tail down, I wanted to project somebody in control.”
Over the years, Franklin’s design became the go-to image for school clubs and events. He even created a giant version for the water tower using butcher paper and an old projector, tracing the cowboy at full scale so the town could see it from afar.
*Early sketches and cutouts of Mr. Franklin's design*
“I went and got butcher paper from the classroom and had some of my students help me. We taped all the sheets together and made this huge sheet about as big as that wall right there. The farther back you moved the projector, the bigger the image got. We backed it up until we got the size they needed, and then we traced it and drew out this gigantic version of the bucking horse so they could get it up on the water tower.”
Beyond his artwork, Franklin taught art, silversmithing and jewelry-making classes at Cotulla High School, he encouraged students to pursue their passions:
“Don’t get discouraged. Don’t be scared. Just do it,” he says. “You’d be surprised what you can accomplish if you are brave.”
Cotulla Early College High School carries that same spirit. CECHS supports first-generation college students and historically underserved populations. Students will benefit from dual credit courses, tutoring, academic coaching, and leadership opportunities.
Visit the new CECHS website today to learn more about programs, admissions, and how students can take the first step toward their college degrees!