Michigan Technological University - Keweenawan Yearbook (Houghton, MI)

Page 15 text:

MICHIGAN TECH FROM 1924 TO 1954 The year that the first Keweenawan was published Dr. Fred W. McNair was the president of the College—he had held the post since 1893. He had developed the college through his enthusiasm, drive and ability from a “mining school” to a college that had achieved worldwide recognition. The enrollment had more than triplea; six major buildings had been erected and plans for a new metallurgy building had been completed. Disaster struck only a month after the first “Keweenawan’ appeared. On one of his trips in the interest of the College and the profession he represented, Dr. McNair was killed in a train accident. McNair Hall, completed the following year, was named in his memory. Dr. William Otis Hotchkiss became president of the College in 1925. An eminent geologist, he brought a new vision of the place of the College in American education. He saw the wisdom of broadening the College’s scope of education to meet the future demand for engineers in all fields, and as a result of his leader- shio Michigan Tech became a “College of Technology” in 1927. In 1928 the first ROTC engineer battalion was established at the College, and in 1930 the East Engineering Building was completed. And during Dr. Hotchkiss’ wise administration, enrollment was more than doubled. Dr. Hotchkiss left Michigan Tech in 1935 to become president of Rensselaer Polytech. Dr. Grover C. Dillman had achieved an enviable record of accomplishment as Michigan Highway Commissioner and as State Welfare Commissioner. Becoming Michigan Tech’s fifth administrator in 1935, he brought new vigor to the College on its fiftieth birthday. In 1936 Forestry was added to the College’s curricula, and when ECPD accrediting was put into effect in 1937, Michigan Tech was among the top dozen of the 153 engineering colleges then in existence. Throughout Dr. Dill- man’s presidency Michigan Tech has maintained its top-ranking accreditation. During his administration new departments were created in civil engineering, forestry, engineering administration, mineral dressing, Air Force ROTC, forest pro- ducts research, and geological engineering. The past thirty years have been milestones in Michigan Tech’s progress. That progress is a tribute to the abilities and leadership of Presidents, McNair, Hotchkiss, and Dillman—men who have given the most fruitful years of their careers to the educational ideal Michigan Tech represents. a ig DR. F. W. McNAIR DR. W. O. HOTCHKISS DR. G. C. DILLMAN | | | | | a nem rr ENTREE TH PAD MM

Page 14 text:

M. C. M. T. SKI AREA In 1947 Tech took over the huge natural bowl above Ripley and began to groom it into the beautiful ski area it is today. Today there are four electric tows, two of them portable, with a total length of 2700 feet. There are three excellent ski runs with a ver- tical drop of 320 feet. Two jumps are always in great shape. Another feature of the area is the “Huskie Hut” where skiers gather to warm up. The Tech ski area’s popu- larity is evidenced by the 8,000 skiers who enjoyed the. slopes last year. DEE STADIUM Michigan Tech’s Dee Sta- | dium was presented to the | college in 1943 as a gift from | ihe late James R. Dee. In | 1953, after ‘many years of | trying, an artificial ice plant was installed. Dee Stadium’s ice is in almost constant use during the winter months. It is the home of two hockey staiwarts, the Portage Lake Pioneers and the Michigan Tech Huskies. Junior hockey players of the Houghton area and Tech intramural teams along with hundreds of plea- sure skaters, all help to make Dee one of the Copper Coun- try’s favorite winter play- grounds. A few of the additions to the Michigan Tech campus have been left out of the cibove account due to a lack of space in this book. These omissions are: Hubbell School, the Denton House, the Barry House, and Engineers Field. Enough has been included, we think, to impress the reader with the rapid growth of the College’s facilities during the first thirty years of the Keweenawan. Today Michigan Tech’s enrollment is again rising at a rapid rate and a need for even greater expansion is being faced. Future Keweenawans will no doubt record many more additions to our beautiful campus. Some additions are already in the blue-print stage and others are being pla nned. A large research building will be going up in the very near future, and a new male student’s dormitory is being planned as this is being written. A new library is badly needed and will undoubtedly be a reality during the next few years. The next topic of this historical section of the Keweenawan’s thirtieth anniver- sary issue will be some brief sketches of the three men who have so ably led this institution as President during the last thirty years. 10

Page 16 text:

pO Gy Giro) During the past thirty years, Michigan Tech athletics have made tremendous gains. In 1924 Tech competed in only the four major sports and only in hockey did they compete on a large scale. Today Tech participates with many colleges in ten major and minor sports. The completion of Sherman Gymnasium in 1948 and the installation of artificial ice at James R. Dee Stadium in 1953 brought the college’s athletic facilities up to a standard unequalled by many schools their same size. . The following pictures illustrate a few of the highlights in our major sports through the past thirty years. Hockey has been one of Tech’s top sports for many years. About 1926 Tech be- gan to fill their schedule with big time college competition, and they’ve been right in the thick of it ever since. In the past Tech has played with major universities throughout the nation. In 1951, Tech and six other schools formed the Midwest Hockey Conference. This Conference has produced the National champion ever since its conception so it is easy to see the caliber of competition that Tech teams meet annually. Tech hockey teams have produced many of the games stars. From the past come such names as John Croze, Ed. Maki, Villeneuve, and the popular three time captain, “Abbie” Maki. In more recent years All Americans Joe De- bastiani and Bob Monahan, along with speedy Ray Puro, have performed magnificently 1948—Albert “Abbie” Maki, for the Silver and Gold. To- 1952—Joe Debastiani Capt. 1946-’47-'48 day it’s Taylor and McGinn. Everyone’s Favorite | ie