University of Oregon - Oregana Yearbook (Eugene, OR)

Page 14 text:

Oregon Gets a New President M6594 uN'TED ON MARCH 4, 1954, O. Meredith Wilson stepped from a plane at the Eugene airport to become the ninth president of the University of Oregon. With his attractive brunette wife and six children, the 44-year-old educator moved into the official presi- dent's residence at 2315 McMorran drive. The new president, who was formerly secretary of the Fund for Advancement of Education with the Ford foundation, replaced Harry K. Newlourn. Wilson was unanimously appointed in 1953 but didn't take over the duties of president until March 15, 1954. A graduate in history of Brigham Young univer- sity, Wilson received his doctorate degree at the University of California in 1943. Wilson also studied at the University of Heidelburg in Ger- many and at the University of London. University President-elect O. MEREDITH WILSON and his 'Family arrived at the Eugene airport Thursday, March 4, 1954, and were met by members of the University administration and newspaper representatives. A get acquainted reception was held in the Student Union that afternoon. Stepping off the plane were President WILSON, his wife and their children-Net, 157 Connie, 'I37 Mary Ann, 125 John, IO, Margaret, 4, and David, 6. 8

Page 13 text:

A Review of The Year UNDER NEWLY APPOINTED PresidenT O. Mere- diTh Wilson, who was inauguraTed aT The firsT of whaT was To become The annual CharTer day, The Universify of Oregon began iTs 78Th academic year. Once again The campus was filled wiTh people scur- rying To 8 o'clock classes, The buildings were occu- pied by lecTuring professors and noTe-Taking sTu- denfs, and The STudenT Union overflowed aT 10 o'clock coffee-Time. New addiTion To The campus was The red-brick building of Eric W. Allen hall, new home of The iournalism school. The scenT of Rose bowl honors was in The fall air, buf faded as The fooTbalI season progressed. How- ever, breaking The five-year winning sfreak of Ore- gon STaTe over Oregon was a fiTTing climax To a good season. Tradifional weekends such as Homecoming, Dad's weekend, Duck Preview, and Junior weekend were highlighTs of The exTra-curricular year. STudenT life wenT on as usual wiTh picnics, pin- nings and pranks. TradiTion held as The Sigma Chis puT Their newly pinned men in The sfocks, as The Phi DelTs gave unscheduled serenades To FifTeenTh sTreeT sororiTies and as The Order of The O dunked fresh- man women in FenTon pool. One new personalify on campus emerged during The year. Jim Dandy, The ATO's aggressive Boxer, became The new leader of campus mascofs. f . - p 4-.veg QL 'A Q .Vg N si T5 Q T yrs , 5' :A A X r 5,3

Page 15 text:

DAVID seriously pondered what President WILSON reading while the rest of the family listened. The house here is the home of the WILSON family, the University's official president's residence. It is located southeast of the campus at 2315 McMorran drive. WHS The delicious sport of marshmallow roasting had avid adherents in President WILSON and his two younger children, MARGARET and DAVID. They tried out the fireplace in their new home by toasting some of the white confections. 9