HISTORY OF ARKANSAS
TECH UNIVERSITY
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
THE HISTORY OF
ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Arkansas Tech University was founded by Act 100 of the 37th Arkansas General Assembly. The
act was signed into law by Gov. George Donaghey on April 1, 1909. The action created four
agricultural schools to be placed around the state.
It was announced on Feb. 10, 1910, that Russellville would be home to the Second District
Agricultural School. A.K. Short was named the school’s first president and construction began
on the Main Building on April 21, 1910.
The first day of classes at the Second District Agricultural School was Oct. 26, 1910. The
fledgling school had nine faculty members and 186 students.
After four presidents in the first eight years, the Second District Agricultural School hired
Hugh Critz as president in 1918. Critz began transforming the school from a high school
curriculum to a college curriculum. By the fall of 1922, the Second District Agricultural School
was offering college-level classes.
The changing mission of the institution led to a new name for the Russellville campus. Gov.
Thomas J. Terral signed a bill on Feb. 10, 1925 — 15 years to the day after Russellville was
chosen as the home of the Second District Agricultural School — that changed the name to
Arkansas Polytechnic College.
Twenty students earned a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas Polytechnic College in the spring
of 1925, but the four-year curriculum was soon phased out and the campus offered two-year
associate degrees until after World War II. High school classes were offered on the campus
until 1930.
One of the most significant events in Tech history occurred in January 1932 when Joseph W.
Hull took office as the school’s eighth president. Hull served for 35 years and helped usher
the campus forward from humble beginnings to status as a modern college.
In May 1948, the Tech Board of Trustees approved a recommendation that Arkansas
Polytechnic College should become a four-year, degree-granting institution. The third year of
college work was offered for the first time since the 1920s in 1948-49, and the fourth year of
college work was offered in 1949-50.
The first four-year college graduating class of the post-World War II era received degrees in
May 1950, and the four-year college program at Arkansas Polytechnic College was accredited
by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in March 1951.
In 1976, Arkansas Polytechnic College began offering work toward a masters degree. In
accordance with the evolving mission of the College, the name was changed to Arkansas
Tech University on July 1, 1976.
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
That evolving mission was reflected once more on July 1, 2003, when Arkansas Tech University
merged with Arkansas Valley Technical Institute in Ozark.
The addition of the Ozark Campus is just one example of the leadership that Arkansas Tech
has experienced over the past 17 years under the leadership of President Robert C. Brown,
who took office on July 1, 1993. Strategic planning, involving the entire campus community,
led to a 131 percent increase in enrollment between 1997 and 2010. Today, Arkansas Tech
serves 9,814 students on the Russellville and Ozark campuses.
Arkansas Tech has also dramatically enhanced the physical plant during the tenure of
Brown. The University has invested more than $161 million in infrastructure, including the
construction of leading educational facilities, such as Rothwell Hall and the Ross Pendergraft
Library and Technology Center.
Overall, Arkansas Tech University offers more than 100 programs of study, including 25
masters degrees, in the Colleges of Applied Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Business,
Education, Natural and Health Sciences, Professional Studies and Community Outreach and
the Graduate College. All of the academic programs that can be individually accredited have
been accredited or are seeking accreditation.
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
Founded in 1909, Arkansas Tech University is rich in history and is now one of the fastest
growing universities in the state.
April 1, 1909
Gov. George Donaghey signs Act 100 of the Arkansas General Assembly into law and the
Second District Agricultural School is created.
February 10, 1910
The Board of Trustees announced that the Second District Agricultural School would be
located in Russellville.
Winter 1910
A.K. Short named the first president.
April 21, 1910
Construction begins on the Main Building.
October 26, 1910
First day of classes at the Second District Agricultural School. There were nine faculty
members and 186 students.
Fall 1911
George A. Cole named the second president.
Fall 1911
Arkansas Tech fields first football team.
1912
The first edition of The Agricola, the school yearbook, is published.
Spring 1912
Eleven students graduate from the Second District Agricultural School, the first graduating
class in school history.
October 1912
The Second District Aggie Band is organized.
1913
The Girls Domestic Science Building is constructed.
Winter 1916
Charles E. Scott named the third president.
June 1916
Charles G. Lueker named the fourth president.
August 1918
Hugh Critz takes office as the fifth president.
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
March 1920
Transformation of the Aggie Farm from animal to machine power begins when the first
Fordson tractor arrives from Little Rock.
November 17, 1920
The name Wonder Boys first appears as a proper noun in reference to the Arkansas Tech
football team in the Arkansas Gazette after a 13-0 win over what is now Henderson State
University. Up to that point, the men’s teams at Tech had been known as the Aggies. The
name Wonder Boys quickly gained popularity and star quarterback John Tucker came to
be known as “The Original Wonder Boy.” Tucker went to work at Tech in a variety of roles,
including coach, teacher, athletic director, chemistry teacher and director of student
affairs, between 1925 and 1972.
March 1922
The first radio is installed on campus.
Fall 1922
The Second District Agricultural School begins offering college classes.
May 3, 1923
President Critz tenders his resignation to the Board of Trustees. William O. Young named
interim president.
August 1923
The first edition of the Tuba Agriocolae newspaper appears on campus.
February 10, 1925
Gov. Thomas J. Terral signs a bill changing the name of the Second District Agricultural
School to Arkansas Polytechnic College.
March 17, 1925
D.G. Armstrong named the sixth president.
Spring 1925
The first twenty students to graduate from Arkansas Tech with Bachelor of Science
degrees in agriculture go through commencement exercises. Shortly thereafter, the fouryear degree program was phased out and would not return until after World War Two.
July 1, 1926
Dr. James R. Grant named the seventh president.
Fall 1928
Tech institutes a freshman orientation program.
1930
The junior college program at Arkansas Polytechnic College is accredited by the North
Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
June 1930
High school-level academic work ceases on the campus.
January 1932
J.W. Hull named the eighth president.
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
May 23, 1934
The name of the school newspaper is changed from the Tuba Agricolae to the Arka Tech.
January 1935
President Hull and his family move into the newly-constructed President’s Home. Today,
the building serves the campus as the Alumni House.
February 1941
Life Magazine publishes an article about 104 National Guardsmen from Arkansas Tech who
were called up as a group to go into training with the 206th Coast Artillery.
February 1947
Radio station KXRJ makes its debut on the Tech campus.
May 1948
The Board of Trustees approves a recommendation that Arkansas Tech should become a
four-year, degree-granting institution. The third year of college work was offered for the
first time since the 1920s in 1948-49, and the fourth year of college work was offered in
1949-50.
1949
The class offerings at Arkansas Tech are re-organized into eight academic divisions agriculture, business administration, education, engineering, fine arts, languages and
literature, science and mathematics, and social studies - and one vocational division.
May 1950
The first four-year college graduating class of the post-World War II era receives its
degrees.
March 1951
The four-year college program at Arkansas Polytechnic College is accredited by the North
Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
September 1952
The Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) debuts on the Tech campus. Lt. Col.
James V. Sanden was the first professor of military science at Tech.
Fall 1957
The first African-American students to attend Arkansas Tech enroll. Also, Tech tops 1000
in student enrollment for the first time.
1963
George T. Hudgens becomes the first African-American graduate of Arkansas Tech.
1964
Arkansas Tech University founds the Hall of Distinction as a way of honor distinguished
alumni and those who have given outstanding service to the University.
Fall 1965
Arkansas Tech tops the 2000-student mark for the first time.
January 1967
President Hull announces his intention to retire after 35 years of service to Arkansas Tech,
effective June 30, 1967.
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
April 1967
Dr. George L.B. Pratt, director of institutional research at the University of Arkansas, is
selected to become the ninth president of Arkansas Tech, effective July 1, 1967.
June 1967
In one of the final acts of his presidency, J.W. Hull and Arkansas Tech grant a donation
of land that allowed for Highway 7 to be re-routed around campus. President Hull had
proposed such a re-routing as early as 1939. The re-routing project was completed in fall
1972.
January 1972
President Pratt announces his intention to resign effective June 30, 1972. Robert A.
Young Sr. was appointed acting president for the six-month period between Dr. Pratt’s
resignation and the end of the calendar year.
January 1, 1973
Dr. Kenneth Kersh becomes the tenth president of Arkansas Tech.
Spring 1975
Female student-athletes at Arkansas Tech adopt “Golden Suns” as their new nickname.
July 9, 1976
The name of the institution is changed from Arkansas Polytechnic College to Arkansas
Tech University.
April 1977
Cora McHenry becomes the first African-American member of the Arkansas Tech Board
of Trustees.
May 1977
Arkansas Tech awards its first Masters degrees to nine graduates.
Fall 1980
Arkansas Tech tops the 3000-student mark for the first time.
1985
Arkansas Tech University reorganized class offerings into five schools: the School of
Business, the School of Education, the School of Liberal and Fine Arts, the School of
Physical and Life Sciences, and the School of Systems Science. In the years that follow,
Tech adds one more school to the current line-up: the School of Community Education
and Professional Development.
July 1, 1993
Dr. Robert C. Brown becomes the eleventh president of Arkansas Tech University.
1995
Arkansas Tech University begins a strategic planning process that yields a 131 percent
increase in student enrollment from 1997-2008, 41 new programs of study, and a $161
million investment in the campus infrastructure.
Fall 1995
Arkansas Tech University becomes a member of NCAA Division II and the Gulf South
Conference.
HISTORY OF ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
June 1996
In one of the most significant moments in the history of the University, the Donald
W. Reynolds Foundation announces a gift of more than $13 million to Arkansas Tech
University to fund construction of a new library and technology center.
Fall 1998
The Doc Bryan Student Services Building opens, providing the Office of Student Services,
the Registrar’s Office, the Office of Admissions, the Student Accounts Office, the Financial
Aid Office, and Norman Career Services with a new and modern home to improve efficiency
and convenience for students.
Fall 1999
The Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center is dedicated.
Fall 2000
Arkansas Tech tops the 5,000-student mark for the first time in school history.
July 1, 2003
Arkansas Tech University merges with Arkansas Valley Technical Institute (AVTI).
Fall 2003
Arkansas Tech tops the 6,000-student mark for the first time in school history.
Summer 2005
Arkansas Tech University announces the Return to Glory capital campaign, which had a
goal of $4 million and was designed to support enhancements to the University’s athletic
facilities. The campaign exceeded its goal, raising $5 million to help fund renovations to
what is now Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field and construction of the Chartwells Women’s
Sports Complex.
August 2006
Arkansas Tech University announces the purchase of the former Tyson Management
Development Center. The name is changed to Lake Point Conference Center and offers
the University additional educational facilities and community outreach opportunities.
Fall 2006
Arkansas Tech tops the 7,000-student mark for the first time in school history.
Fall 2007
Major General William Harmon (Ret.) and his wife, Suzanne Harmon, are named cochairs of the Arkansas Tech University centennial celebration.
Fall 2008
Arkansas Tech University celebrates the tenth consecutive record enrollment with a 7,498
students.
January 14, 2009
Along with the three other state universities created by Act 100 of 1909, Arkansas Tech
University launches the centennial celebration with a re-enactment of the signing of Act
100 at the State Capitol in Little Rock.
Fall 2009
Arkansas Tech University celebrates eleven consecutive years of record enrollment with
8,814 students.
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HISTORY OF ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Fall 2009
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus tops the 1,000-student mark for the first time in
school history.
September 2009
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus formally dedicates the Student Services and
Conference Center. The 12,547 square foot building houses approximately 20 staff
members, four departments, and meeting and banquet space.
Fall 2010
Arkansas Tech University celebrates a twelfth consecutive record enrollment with 9,814
students.
Fall 2010
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus tops the 1,500-student mark for the first time in
school history.