Eastern Kentucky University - Milestone Yearbook (Richmond, KY)

Page 29 text:

OPPOSITE PAGE: Crowded parking conditions are not new to campus as this 1958 picture attests. Top: Cheerleaders pose for their annual pic- ture in the old Weaver Gym. Upper left: The Eastem-Westem rivalry is the theme of this 1958 Homecoming float. Lower left: Students study in pursuit of their teaching degrees. Above: President William Francis O ' Donnell, who had the longest tenure of any of Eastern ' s chief executives, poses with his wife.

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War Years Change Campus Life America was facing the prospect of World War II when Dr. William Francis O ' Donnel became president. Five months after his inauguration, the Japanese bombed Pearl Har- bor, and the war was on. The effects of the war on Eastern were immediate: Enrollment declined by 77 per- cent by 1945, at which time fewer than one-fifth of the college ' s students were men. The Milestone discontinued publication for 1944 and 1945, while the Eastern Progress changed its name to the Progress and Engineer, in honor of the many uniformed pre-engineering trainees on campus. College football was can- celled for two years, and basketball was not played at the College during the 1943-44 season. Girls on campus volunteered their services to help the Alumni Office mail out newspapers and write letters to soldiers. And most importantly, 53 former students and one faculty member were killed or listed as missing in action. The effects were also long range. Veteran ' s Village was constructed to house the veterans returning to Eastern on the GI Bill of Rights. The Village later served as housing for married students until Brockton was built in the 1960 ' s. In 1948, Eastern began to of- fer its first non-teaching degrees, and became Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College. The Science Building (dedicated to those students who had lost their lives in the war), Keith Hall, and a music building were built during O ' Donnel ' s term. O ' Donnel was Eastern ' s first president to retire from office when he left in 1960. He was replaced by a former state superintendent of Public In- struction, and the chairman of the Board of Regents, Dr. Robert R. Martin.

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A Vision Come True ■ When Dr. Martin assumed office, Eastern Kentucky State College was still primarily a teacher education institution. Eighty-two percent of the graduates of 1960 received teaching certificates. The institution was relatively small. Although enrollment had doubled since World War II, it still stood at less than 3000 when Dr. Martin took office. But, in his inaugural ad- dress, Dr. Martin informed the audience that Eastern would be going through changes. He challenged them to think big. As we cope with the problem of ever-increasing numbers, we must realize that there is no alternative to becoming more inventive, creative, and imaginative in our use of the human and material resources which were available . . . We must provide here on this campus a place of beauty for gracious and stimulating living. Our building should directly and indirectly con- tribute to the training of the youth who frequent these halls . . . When we have accom- plished these imperatives, then we shall have developed on this campus a spirit so powerful that it will not let us go. We shall have developed for Eastern a ' Vision of Great- ness ' !