N N IAL CEL O - Youngstown State University

Our first
years
1908
The YMCA
in downtown
Youngstown
offers its first
college-level
course in
commercial
law, with an
evening class
of nine men.
1916
The Youngstown Association
School is incorporated. Both college
and high school-level courses
are still held at the YMCA.
1920
The Law School of the
Youngstown Association School
offers bachelor of law degrees for
the first time.
The School of Finance and
Commerce is established.
From a class of nine men in a commercial law course at the YMCA in downtown
Youngstown to hundreds of classes filled with students as diverse as the community it’s
located in, the 100-year history of Youngstown State University has been extraordinary.
With more than 85,000 alumni in a variety of professions and places around the world,
the university’s next 100 years promise to be as remarkable as the first.
This timeline highlights notable events that brought YSU
from nine students, one building and one degree to
13,000 students, 50 buildings and more
than 30 associate, bachelor,
master and doctoral
degrees.
1925
John C. Wick Mansion at the corner of
Wick and Lincoln avenues is purchased
as a classroom facility.
1921
The Youngstown Association
School is renamed the Youngstown
Institute of Technology.
The first liberal arts courses
are offered for teacher
preparation.
1922
The Youngstown Institute of
Technology awards its first
college degrees in law.
The Bonnell Mansion on
Wick Avenue is leased to
house the collegiate division
of the Youngstown Association
School, the Youngstown
Institute of Technology. This
is the first movement to Wick
Avenue and out of the downtown
area.
1924
Youngstown Institute of Technology
is authorized by the State of
Ohio to grant commercial (business)
degrees.
1927
A day school is authorized by the
YMCA Board of Trustees to offer
liberal arts courses.
Red and gold are selected as
school colors.
The athletic program begins
with the creation of the school’s
basketball team.
1928
The Henry Wick Mansion on 416
Wick Avenue is leased for additional
classroom space and later renamed
East Hall.
The institution’s
first yearbook is
published,
Technician 1928.
1930
A music program
begins.
1931
The Board of Trustees
designates
the college division of the YMCA
as Youngstown College.
Youngstown College’s Main Building,
now Jones Hall, is completed.
The Jambar student newspaper
begins publication.
1933
The YoCo basketball
team are called
Penguins for the
first time.
Youngstown
College receives
accreditation from
the Ohio
Department of
Education to
teach education
courses.
1935
Howard W. Jones is appointed
the first president of Youngstown
College.
1936
The college’s official seal is adopted.
1937
The Board of Governors officially
incorporates
Youngstown
College.
1938
Youngstown
College’s football
team and marching
band take to
the field for the
first time.
1941
Buechner Hall, a
privately owned dormitory, opens
its doors to female students.
The Dana Musical
Institute merges with
Youngstown College.
YoCo’s football
coach, Dwight
“Dike” Beede,
invents the
penalty flag.
Pete,YoCo’s first
live penguin mascot, drowns at
Crandall Park. He is later succeeded
by four other penguins, the last
dying in 1972.
1942
Youngstown College begins offering
accelerated degree programs as
the United States enters the Second
World War.
1944
Youngstown College becomes
independent of the YMCA to receive
accreditation from the North Central
Association.
1945
Youngstown College’s colors are
changed to red and white.
1946
The Rayen School of Engineering
is founded with classes held in the
leased Rayen Hall.
Post-war attendance begins to
skyrocket due to benefits offered to
veterans through the GI Bill.
1949
Youngstown Sheet and Tube presents
a 10-ton boulder to the class of 1949.
After paying $500 to have the rock
moved, it is presented to the college
as a gift
and placed
in front of
Jones Hall,
where it
remains.
1950
The George
W. Pollock
house is
donated to
YoCo.
1951
The Ford Homestead on Wick
Avenue is donated to YoCo by
Judge John W. Ford and his sister,
Josephine Ford Agler.
1953
The new Youngstown College Library
opens, which is now Tod Hall.
1955
Youngstown College
is renamed the
Youngstown
University.
1958
The Youngstown
University
celebrates 50 years
of higher education in
the Mahoning Valley.
1959
A new science building opens, now
part of Ward Beecher Science Hall.
1960
The School of Education is founded.
1964
A multi-million dollar campus
expansion plan is made public.
1966
Kilcawley Student
Center opens.
President Jones
retires after 35 years
of service. Dr. Albert
L. Pugsley is
named president.
The Youngstown Education
Foundation, now
the YSU Foundation, is
founded. Howard W. Jones
is named first president.
1967
Youngstown University becomes
Youngstown State University, a public
institution of higher education.
The Kilcawley Rock receives its
first coat of paint.
30 Youngstown State University
Summer 2007 31
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