University of Houston - Houstonian Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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The Recreation Building was erected in 1942 under 'fthe Big Top. University coeds sold War bonds during the war years. Scrap drives occupy afternoon hours of coeds Who, in the evening, act as hostesses at parties for service men. I I I I In 1941, the second annual Frontier Fiesta was held in spite of heavy rains that caused postponements several times. The main attraction of Fiesta that year was a skit hy students on the college days of faculty members. After the fateful December day in 1941 known as Pearl Harbor, and the United States' entrance into World War II, the University, along with the rest of the country, turned its attention to the bringing about of' peace. Construction of the Student Recreation Building began in 1942. Because the building was needed for special defense programs, officials determined to avoid delay that might come as a result of rainy weather. A large circus tent 270 feet long and 40 feet wide was put up over the working area to insure earliest possible completion. On May 1, less than 60 days from the digging of the first shovel of dirt, the first class of boys in the United States Naval Reserve Elementary Electricity and Radio Materiel School moved into the building, established sleeping quarters and were served meals in the cafeteria. The first Blood Bank in Houston which later grew into the Houston and Harris County Blood Bank was begun at the University. War-conscious University students sold war bonds, sponsored scrap drives, and coeds even sold their nylon stock- ings to aid the war effort. The Co-ed-ettes, an organization of University girls, gave parties for service men and worked closely with the U.S.O. A big step was taken in '42 with the opening of the Univer- sity Downtown School.

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Through donations from the late oilman, lVlr. Hugh Roy Cullen and Mrs. Cullen, and a city-wide campaign for building funds, money was raised to build the first building on the newly-acquired campus in 1938. Theme of the fund-raising drive that saw University students canvassing from door-to- door, was HThe greater University of Houston for a greater Houstonf, Enrollment was approximately 2,142 students. June, 1939 found students at the University occupying the new campus on St. Bernard Street. The Roy Gustav Cullen Building, a memorial to the late son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Roy Cullen, was opened for classes. The same year, the second building on the campus, the Science Building, was completed, and the Graduate School was opened. Over-all enrollment was 2,737 students. The year 1940 was an eventful one in the history of the U. of H. The Industrial Building was built from funds donated by a group of Houston industrialists supplemented by cani- paign funds. The first Navy Vocational School and the campus Vocational School Were opened in October. With the world in turmoil over War and threats of war, and with threats to the safety of the United States becoming more evident every day, the United States began an extensive pro- gram of national defense. The University of Houston con- tributed to the furthering of this national defense program by training private pilots in association with the Civil Aeronautics Authority. On the lighter side of college life, the first Frontier Fiesta Was held in 710. The western extravaganza Was born in the minds of five U. of H. students who wanted to do something DR. EDISON E. OBERHOLTZER to stimulate school pride and spirit. The first Fiesta ran for three nights and students played to a total audience of 5,000. t Mg,-:na -Q.1m -- --.mg-.w-1 An aerial view of the campus as it looked in 1939. The first campus building, the Roy Gustav Cullen Building, was completed in '39,

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By 1943, students at the University Were turning from philosophy, aesthetics, literature, and music appreciation to the more practical-for-wartime pursuits of map-making, trig- onometry, radio communications and navigation. Women were trained in industrial classes to fill the jobs of men who were called into the service. At least l,000 of the University's students, ex-students and faculty members answered the call to arms. Eighty-six of these were reported killed or missing in action. Ingenuity was necessary in the Hman power shortagew War days. Senior coeds found this to be true when the senior dance was planned prior to graduation. Ninety per cent of the grad- uating class were girls. The boys who would ordinarily have escorted them to the dance were busy fighting a war. A date bureau was set up with girls registering in Dean of Men L. S. lVlitchell's office. lnformation on the girls was relayed to a nearby military establishment and dates were gotten for the dance. lngenuity of this kind Was not limited to students, however. One faculty member, unperturbed by the tire situation, rode his horse to the University every day from his home four miles away. An Advisory Board of fifteen members was created for the University by the Board of Education in '43, With 1944 came an enlargement of campus acreage. The Anderson Foundation purchased 90 acres and lVlr. and lVlrs. Cullen purchased 50 ac1'es to add to the campus, making the total campus size 262 acres. This is Cougar Den as it looked when it was new. - V'1r1tx Varieties an all student talent show was Above are nominees for Varsity Venus The econd girl from the left is the U H s Elsa Roshorough popular xx llll all