WSU in 1963

Posted July 2013, with selections from the 1963 Chinook, the Washington State University yearbook.

Take a look back at Washington State University in 1963 through the lens of the college's yearbook, the Chinook.

You can read all the Chinooks (in PDF format) from 1899-1986 at the WSU Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections website. And if you have stories from WSU life in 1963 (or any other year) send them our way: our.story@wsu.edu

Bryan Hall in 1963

Academics

A growing university, WSU granted degrees across the disciplines, with emphasis on programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, communications, business, and engineering.

College of Agriculture

A number of programs prepared students for careers in agriculture, ranging from forestry to economics and plant pathology and dairy science.

Dairy Science Open House

Dan Coonrad, president of ASCA, the governing council for the College of Agriculture

College of Engineering and Mineral Technology

Camp F.W. Wells for civil engineering students. The camp, located near Naches on White Pass, gave the young engineers a chance to work on surveying and other skills.

College of Economics and Business

The college ran economic and business research, as well as training students in business administration, hotel administration, economics, and secretarial studies.

The Society for the Advancement of Management. Someone forgot to tell the guy with the bowtie about the strict "skinny tie" policy for the photo shoot.

College of Sciences & Arts

Majors in this college covered the humanities, social sciences, and biological and physical sciences. Some of the departments were botany, zoology, mathematics, geology, physics, English, music, journalism, fine arts, anthropology, and police science.

A display at the Police Science open house.

Bootlegging being taught to students? Or Police Science display on Prohibition Era policing?

Hard at work producing a show at KWSC-TV.

Many pages of The Chinook are devoted to photos of professors working at their desks.

Sports

Football

Jim Sutherland's Cougar squad won five, lost two, and tied one in the season. The football team was lead by Dave Mathieson at quarterback, Clarence Williams at halfback, and Hugh Campbell at receiver.

WSU vs. Idaho in a snowy, messy game. The Cougs won 22-14.

Basketball

The WSU men's basketball team had another tough year, chalking up a 5-20 record. The highlight was defeating Idaho, which had beat the Cougs four out of five previous meetings.

Ted Werner scores a bucket over the Colorado players.

Baseball

The 1963 baseball team under Coach Bobo Brayton had a 24-8 record, but only broke even in division games.

Dave Pate hits a line drive.

Track

Under Jack Mooberry's leadership, the Cougar tracksters won three of five meets in division. Nils Siverson was the first WSU pole vaulter to break 15 feet. Other top track stars were Jim Allen, Bill Bridges, and John Valiant.

WSU runner Jan Bentzon winning the 880 against Oregon.

Gymnastics

Coach Jim Sweeney's gymnasts took second place in the Pacific Northwest Open Meet, among other accomplishments.

George Gleason takes on the rings at a meet.

Golf

Coach Bill Zimmerli’s Cougar golf team had an 8-2-2 season in 1963.

Clubs and activities

WSU Leaders

President C. Clement French was president of WSU in 1963.

President French at work.

S. Town Stephenson, Dean of Faculty, presents a tennis trophy.

Student Leaders

Greg Click was president of ASWSU in 1963. Here are a few other campus leaders:

Greg Click - President of ASWSU

Nikki King, senior independent woman on the Board of Control.

Judy Lilleby - President, Spurs Club

Judy Buess - President, Panhellenic Association

Sam Hunt, president of the Independent Board of Representatives. He later became a state representative from Olympia.

Clubs and associations

A large variety of social, academic, cultural, and professional clubs and associations kept students busy outside of class.

Just as photos filled many pages of professors at desks, a lot of space was devoted to student clubs sitting around tables.

The Horticulture Club at their annual cider pressing.

The Hawaii Club hosts a luau.

The African Student Union. In the center back row, wearing a tie, is Sam Mompongo, who later became Commissioner of Education in Zaire.

Read My Recollections of Sam Mompongo by WSU Professor Emeritus Al Harrington.

WSU had several music and performance groups, including the orchestra, university choir, marching band, and concert band.

The WSU Orchestra, conducted by Alfred Boyington.

The Daily Evergreen continued to feed the news to hungry students and faculty.

Duke Cameron, fall editor of The Evergreen.

Walker Roberts, managing editor of the Evergreen in the spring semester.

The Army and Air Force ROTC had a very visible presence on campus and in The Chinook, with 12 pages in the yearbook devoted to photos.

Saluting members of the ROTC during a drill.

Campus life and events

Pullman gave students plenty of social activities and events...and a chance to practice their dancing and kite skills.

Dancing the Watusi.

Preparing to launch the Sigma Chi kite (Sigma Chi-te?)

A real chariot race, or a performance of "Ben Hur."

Performances and plays brought some music and culture to campus.

Folk musicians Peter, Paul and Mary singing in a concert at WSU.

Les Johnson and Ora Lee Ault perform in a musical.

Concert comedienne Anna Russell on campus.

U.S. Sen. Henry "Scoop" Jackson greets a student at WSU.

The WSU students again crowned their royalty for Homecoming and other events.

Barbara Lovell, 1963 Homecoming Queen

Gretchen Veleke, Harvest Ball Queen

Clarence Williams, Sophomore Tolo King

Judy Duckworth, Independent Queen

Registering for classes always took up some time.

But the computer helped.

Commencement

WSU graduated 1,071 seniors in 1963. The commencement speaker was John C. Folger '14, '17 MS, former U.S. ambassador to Belgium.

The Senior Run at commencement.

Sam Reed '63

Graduates included future Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed.

And finally...

A chance to relax down at The Dunes along the Snake River.