Program of upgrades to the McDonald Observatory 2.7-meter Harlan J. Smith Telescope

The McDonald Observatory 2.7-meter telescope was built in the 1960s and has been scientifically productive for 30 years. A program of upgrades was undertaken to improve the image quality and modernize the control system in order to enhance the telescope's capability for science observations and also to address maintenance issues of growing concern. Retirement and/or replacement of numerous obsolete components was also a key goal because of a growing risk to operation due to the age of the telescope. This paper reports on several phases of this ongoing program, specifically those undertaken in conjunction with renaming the 2.7-meter the Harlan J. Smith Telescope on its 25-year anniversary.