Pacific Lutheran University - Saga Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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l l l ...So It Also Changes the Faces Wi Believing that their vision of a strong Luth- eran church on the western frontier would be best realized by establishing a school as a rallying point, the early Lutheran pioneers founded Pacific Lutheran College. After thorough consideration, they decided upon Parkland as the most suitable location, en- dowed as it was with beautiful scenery and healthful surroundings. The Reverend Bjug A. Harstad had been sent by the Lutheran pastoral conference as- sembled in Decorah, Iowa, October 1890, to assist starting the work in a proper manner. On October 4, 1891, the cornerstone was laid. When this Old Main building was dedicat- ed three years later, October 14, 1894, it was regarded by the visiting Bishop from Iowa as a Miracle Castle. Four areas of study were planned-a normal course, business course, scientific classical course and music. School opened on October 25 with 30 stu- dents. Study was mandatory from 7 to 9 p.m., Tacoma was off limits except by permission of school leaders, and students of both sexes were forbidden to be together after dark. Expenses those first years amounted to 584.50 a year. That was broken down into S25 tuition, S48 board, 58 room, 53 medical fee and 50 cents for the library. This did not include laundry, books and paper. Caught in the 1890's depression, Harstad submitted his resignation in 1895 and struck out for Alaska early the next year to try to strike it rich for his school during the Klon- dike gold rush. Harstad wrote, The school has gotten no money-help from my trip. The reason is that the Lord has not yet seen fit to give us any of the gold in Klondike. While he did not gain anything for the school neither did he cost it anything, for a Lunch House which opened in Bonanza, eight miles from Dawson, had paid Harstad's expenses up and back. The investiture of President O. N. Grains- berg took place October 3, 1895. Cirpnsberg, a native of Norway, migrated in 1867 and at- tended Luther College and Concordia Semi- nary. He had been the pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in San Francisco for 15 years. Grpnsberg was to receive a salary of 5600 plus living quarters in the Old Main. After serving as president for a single year, Grqlnsberg resigned accepting a call as a traveling missionary in California. Grpnsberg was succeeded by Prof. Nils I. Hong, 1898-1919, who piloted the school as an academy and business college through the pioneering period and built the enrollment up to 280 in 1908. In 1919, Hong became an instructor at Lincoln High School where he was made head of the English department. He returned to PLC in 1929 as principal of the High School department and instructor in English. He remained at the school until his retirement. The union of three Lutheran synods in 1917 resulted in the amalgamation of Pacific Luth- eran Academy and Columbia Lutheran Col- lege of Everett in 1920. Both PLA faculty and students were transferred, but the move proved unsatisfactory so there was no school during the1919-1920 year. The Lutheran Pacific District decided in 1920 to incorporate the Pacific Lutheran Col- lege association as a permanent body, and reopened the school on October 4th with six faculty members and 68 students. At that time, the Board of Trustees asked Mr. lohn U. Xavier to become Acting Presi- dent while they searched for someone who could devote his full time to the work. Xavier had assisted Mr. Hong prior to the war and also taught religion and Greek. The Trustees were successful in their search thin It for a president and in 1921 called the Rever- end O. I. Ordal, Pastor of Our Savior's Luth- eran Church in Tacoma, to this position of leadership. Upon his acceptance and instal- lation, Ordal announced that strenuous ef- forts were going to be put forth to develop and expand the collegiate work. The first improvement, made ready for the opening of the school year, was a chemistry labora- tory described as an expensive one. Also un- der the presidency of Ordal, 1921-1928, a state accredited normal school greatly in- creased the prestige of the school. After the arrival of President O.A. Tingel- stad, 1928-1943, all divisions of the institution secured accreditation, the work of Spokane College was consolidated with the Parkland College and the Pacific Lutheran College De- velopment Association with aslogan at least one dollar at least once a year, recruited support from a wide constituency. Tingelstad was the first alumnus of the school to serve as president. In 1943 the Board of Education of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church met to decide whether to close down the institution. The decision was to continue choosing Dr. S. C. Eastvold, a parish pastor in Eau Claire, Wis., to serve as president. During Eastvold's 19 years as president, 1943-1962, the university greatly expanded from a school of 144 students and 19 faculty members in 1943 to a university with more than 2,400 students enrolled and more than 100 on the faculty. The campus itself expanded to 125 acres with more than 45 separate buildings. More than 3000 stu- dents received degrees from Pacific Lutheran during Eastvold's term of office. In 1960, the college adopted university status. Dr. Robert A. L. Mortvedt was elected by the Board of Regents to succeed Eastvold, Son of a Lutheran pastor, Mortvedt assumed office in 1962. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, he received his master of arts and doctor of philosophy from Harvard University. Dr. Mortvedt had previously been executive di- rector ofthe boards of Christian Higher Edu- cation for the Augustana Lutheran Church and the United Lutheran Church in America. Dr. Eugene W. Wiegman took over the reins as the ninth president of Pacific Luther- an University on August 1, 1969. Experienced in education and administration, he was dean at Federal City College, Washington D.C., prior to coming to PLU. Upon assuming the leadership position, Wiegman expressed, l hope my administration will be remembered not for the number of buildings built or the honors we receive but for the graduating students who will be attuned to the problems of our times. After five years of service and deciding not to seek another contract, Wiegman began a one year leave of absence beginning the summer of 1974. Dr. Richard lungkuntz, PLU provost, was appointed temporary president at that time. A 57 million development cam- paign was launched during lungkuntz's term of office. The campaign was intended to pro- vide funds for endowment, scholarship and faculty development as well as general oper- ating projects. William O. Rieke, executive vice chancel- lor for health affairs at the University of Kan- sas Medical Center in Kansas City was chosen in February, 1975, by the Board of Regents presidential selection committee as the new chief executive. Rieke, a 1953 PLU graduate, had previously received the Distinguished Alumnus award. In accepting the presidency, Rieke expressed, lt is important for us at PLU to make the state and community aware of what we have to offer them. PLU can and should move in new directions, allowing oth- ers to assess our quality and strength. Bj u g Harstad 1890-1895,1897-1898 Olaf l. Ordal 1921-1928 Eugene Wiegman 1969-1974

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Th e Yea r 1 8 Administration 72 Faculty and Seniors 92 tEditor's Note: In each academic section, Pag graduating seniors are portrayed in said departments. d d than are picturedg only those students who chose t h ortraits are included.J Athletics 148 Organizations 192 Living Groups 220 That process we are all steeped in, time permeates, with a sense of urgency, everything we do, And as it changes the physical structure of our community...

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Ole Grpinsberg 1895-1897 Oscar A. Tingelstad 1928-1943 Richard jungkuntz 1974-1975 W Nilsl. Hong john U. Xavier 1898-1919 1920-1921 .,p? 'u Seth C. Eastvold Robert A.'L. Mortvedt 1943-1962 William O. Rieke 1975 1962-1969 ein v w 4' +L Q Qi X6 '31 SWL '- of .5 '4 Y, Q Q3 lv 5- 00 QED