Fifty Years Back: Washington State University in 1962

Posted May 2012, with selections from the 1962 Chinook, the Washington State University yearbook.

WSU campus, 1961

Fifty years ago, Washington State University bustled with academic pursuits, sports, and campus life. Take a look back at the University of 1962 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 1962 (or any other year) send them our way: our.story@wsu.edu

Campus

Bryan Hall in 1961

As a land grant college, WSU celebrated the centennial of the Morrill Land-Grant signed into law in 1862. In the fall of 1961, the 7,828 enrollment set a record. The university boasted colleges of Agriculture, Economics and Business, Education, Engineering and Mineral Technology, Home Economics, Pharmacy, Physical Education and Recreation, Sciences and Arts, and Veterinary Medicine. Campus also hosted the state’s Extension Service on campus.

To accommodate the growth, the $4 million Johnson Hall, named after former dean of the College of Agriculture E.C. Johnson, was built from 1959 to 1961. The plant sciences building was designed primarily for research, but students in Agronomy, Agriculture, Horticulture, Mathematics, and Military also used the new facilities.

Chemistry students and researchers had new laboratory facilities as the $2.5 million addition to Fulmer Hall was completed. The Chinook says, “Walking past Fulmer on a nice spring day, one has no difficulty identifying it as the chemistry building. The aroma which fills the air makes it clear.”

Fulmer Hall in 1962

Rotunda Dining Hall, officially the Stanton J. Hall Rotunda, named for a former WSU Regent, opened for breakfast November 27, 1961. It served residents of Gannon, Goldsworthy, Kruegel, McAllister, and Pioneer Halls, with approximately 1,300 men served each meal that year, and tens of thousands more over its many years of service.

Bird's-eye view of the new Rotunda dining hall

The Senior Class

Seniors of 1962 showed off the styles of the time, from buttoned-down suits and slick, short hair to funky white cat’s-eye glasses and sweaters.

Dwight Damon - Class of '62

Irene Kievat - Class of '62

Joyce Cowin - Class of '62

Kris Buros - Class of '62

Marilyn Holert - Class of '62

Jerry Dragoo - Class of '62

Elizabeth Day - Class of '62

Dick Barry was president of the senior class, and apparently was endorsed by Bullwinkle the Moose.

Dick Barry - President, Senior class of 1962

Dick Barry senior president campaign sign

The 1962 commencement featured broadcaster Edward R. Murrow as speaker. Murrow also received the Distinguished Alumnus award at the ceremony.

The 1962 Commencement

Edward R. Murrow, Commencement speaker

Regent William N. Goodwin awarded Edward R. Murrow the Distinguished Alumnus award at the 1962 Commencement.

Academics

WSU’s academic offerings spread across the disciplines, bolstered by its traditional strengths in agriculture, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and engineering.

College of Agriculture

Fifteen different departmental programs prepared students for careers in agricultural sciences, ranging from forestry to economics and plant pathology and dairy science.

Dairy Science Open House

Horticulture Club members in midst of annual cider pressing.

Dr. Orville Vogel, WSU plant breeder stationed at WSU, compares recently released Gaines wheat with an older variety.

Scientists observing results of baking test made with flour from several wheat varieties.

Karl Felgenhauer (who also received “Aggie of theYear”) led the Associated Students of the College of Agriculture, which served its students through the publication Agriculturist and coordinated the clubs, such as Alpha Zeta, Horticulture, and Ag Economics.

Aggie of the Year Karl Felgenhauer and his wife

College of Engineering and Mineral Technology

Part of the Institute of Technology—which also included industrial research, mining experiments station, and technical extension—the college taught students in architectural engineering; mining and metallurgy; mechanical, civil, electrical, and chemical engineering.

A computer being explained to interested students at the Engineering Open House.

College of Home Economics

The Chinook described the college as providing “a broad education in natural science, social science, and humanities, as well as in home economics...” to improve conditions in “child care, health housing, nutrition and personal and community relations.”

Jane E. Werden - Dean, College of Home Economics

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 hotel administration’s fraternal club, Sigma Iota, held an annual Bell Hop dance and selected Willis V. Hansen as Bellman of the Year.

Eugene Clark - Dean, School of Economics and Business

College of Education

Women graduating from the college outnumbered men significantly in 1962, with the exception of the Industrial Arts department, which had no senior women at all.

Zeno B. Katterle - Dean, College of Education

College of Pharmacy

The college taught professional pharmacists and prepared students for research and teaching careers.

Pharmacy students manufacture an ointment in bulk with a roller-mill.

Determination of the effects of drugs on an isolated muscle.

Allen I. White - Dean, College of Pharmacy

College of Physical Education and Recreation

Phys Ed, separate from the College of Education, offered up to master’s and PhD degrees in the field.

Men and women had separate physical education programs.

Golden Romney - Dean, College of P.E. and Recreation

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.

Clues to be found in a shattered window? A scene from the police science open house.

Curious student succumbs to lie detector test.

WSU students presenting the news over KWSC television station.

Albert W. Thompson - Dean, College of Sciences and Arts

Nelson A. Ault - Chairman, English

H. L. Eastlick - Chairman, Zoology

A. Keith Monaghan - Chairman, Fine Arts

Harold W. Dodgen - Director, Nuclear Reactor Project

Wallis Beasley - Chairman, Sociology and Anthropology

James H. Elder - Chairman, Psychology

George Hudson - Director, Museums and Collections

Donald F. McCall - Chairman, Police Science

Hilda B. Roberts - Chairman, Pre-Nursing

College of Veterinary Medicine

Vet Med trained veterinarians and researched pathology and animal health.

Ernest C. Stone - Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine

Guy R. Spencer - Department Chairman, Veterinary Pathology

Jon A. McCurdy - Department Chairman, Veterinary Anatomy

Richard L. Ott - Department Chairman, Veterinary Clinical Medicine and Surgery

Life

Of course students were at WSU to study, but they didn’t forgo the joys of life outside the classroom.

Informal dances, concerts, and events, from the Harvest Ball to Homecoming, kept students hopping. Students chose royalty for many of the big events, as well as for their living groups.

The Campus All Stars playing "Jersey Bounce."

Wayne Bliesner of the Tromb Kats at November's Watch Night.

The Four Freshmen appearing with George Shearing at a CUB concert, 1962.

Harvest Ball Queen Chris Stine and date enjoy dance.

Miss Chris Stine - Harvest Ball Queen

Miss Kathy Krogue - Homecoming Queen

Miss Carmen Snitily - Phi Sig Moonlight Girl

Miss Christie Jockimsen - Sally Sunshine

Miss Dee Campbell - Independent Queen

Miss Julie Anderson - Sweetheart of Sigma Chi

Miss Mary Davis - Junior Prom Queen

Miss Sue Kelly - Lambda Chi Alpha Crescent Girl

Mr. Wayne Crinklaw - Sophomore Tolo King

Plays and other performances provided entertainment for the campus.

A Raisin in the Sun: Marty Kelby, James Curtis

The Importance of Being Earnest: John Monahan, Carol Giboney, Dave Brown

The Damask Cheek: Phil Walkowski

Orcheses dance club performs. Members: Ronnie Alexander, Kathy Bamford, Connie Beer, Jane Bevington, Sylvia Crecilius, Elsie Gill, Cheryl Howard, Marsha Jensen, Cheryl Koch, Kathy Quinn, Judy Rinta, Sandy Six, Dee Weissenborn, Ganet Van Winkle.

The students and faculty also hosted open houses for the community, other students, and kids, to show the latest research and machines.

Clubs and organizations joined students with like interests in activities and service.

At the junior class blood drive. "Pit-a-pat-pat, pit-a-pat-pat. I'm really not scared, but my blood pressure is."

Hui Hauoli O'Hawaii (student club). Row 1: Janice Peterson, Susi Meade, Mary Ann Jaburek, Gene Canque, Dee Miller, Linda Storms, Marion Morimoto, Joyce Hart, Shirley Kodani. Row 2: Sac hi Yanagisawa, Joanne Schultz, Jeanette Okinaka, Judy Machiguchi, Louise Greenfield, Pat Hiranaka, Bernie Tenn, Lisa Mackenzie, Fanny Maruyama. Row 3: Dr. E. W. Greenfield, Moke Manarpaac, Fred Kondo, Dennis Ah Mau, Harry Spiegelberg, Ralph Sosaki, Stanley Ogi.

International students, particularly from Pakistan with its strong connection to WSU, showed the world to students and the campus community.

Air Force and Army ROTC had a strong presence on campus in 1962. The 905th detachment of Air Force ROTC at WSU was rated as one of the best in the country. The Army ROTC had classroom studies and drills on campus.

Colonel Brindle, inspecting officer, and President French at the Army ROTC Review.

Colonel Bryson Bailey - Air Science Department Chairman

Colonel Johnnie Brink - Department Chairman, Military Science

Richard Durant - Fall Wing Commander of the Air Force ROTC

Students produced and managed their publications, the Chinook and theDaily Evergreen.

Marilyn Holert - Editor of The Chinook

Larry Drury - Daily Evergreen editor, Fall Semester

Daily Evergreen news editors, spring semester: Mike Wilson, Carol Jensen, Walker Roberts.

The 1962 Chinook devoted several pages to married students and their lives.

David, Mike, Mark, and Linda Williams

Of course, the CUB provided Cougs some places to hang out or even study, if the mood took them.

Coffee time means Evergreen time at the CUB Labs.

Studying at the CUB

Sports

“The intercollegiate athletic program at WSU touches practically every one of the institution’s students—athlete or not! Although several hundred students actually take part in the intercollegiate athletic program as members of one of the 10 Cougar teams in Varsity competition, or on one of 8 Freshman squads, this number is small compared with the thousands of students involved in activities that have come to be the spirit of the athletic program as the teams are its heart.”

Grey “W”

Cougar athletes, initiates of the Grey “W” club, displayed “ill-fitting skirts and hairy legs” as tradition demanded of them.

The Grey "W" initiates for 1962 - fully enjoying themselves.

Football

“Jim Sutherland's Cougars came just five points away from a successful season in 1961…” with a 3-7 record.

At the Apple Cup, “in a magnificent football game in Seattle played before a sellout crowd of nearly 50,000 and televised to millions more throughout the west, the Cougars missed by less than a single touchdown of scoring one of the season’s great upsets.”

WSU vs. Idaho: Hugh Campbell (86) throws a block for Ken Graham (33) as the tricky sophomore outraces Idaho's Mike Bauman (61).

WSU Marching Band forms their letters during High School Band Day.

WSU vs. Missouri: Halfback John Browne (44) is brought down by the Missouri Tiger safety man after a nine yard scant around left end.

WSU vs. Oregon: WSU quarterback Dave Mathieson (10) looks for a downfield target as an Oregon rusher fights off Harold Haddock (39).

Basketball

Coach Marv Harshman’s team had a tough season, going to an 8-18 record on disappointing shooting.

The 1961-62 WSU basketball team. Bottom row: Joe Zaspel, Mike Drew, Larry Sloan, Byron Vadset, Ernie Woods, Terry Ball, Jim Walton and Dick Halleen. Top row: Bill McKenzie, Allan Thompson, Jim Knostman, Larry Carlson, Charlie Sells, Neil Dirom, Jim Lemery, Dwight Damon and Marv Harshman.

Terry Ball contributes two points on a fast-break in a winning effort against Fresno State.

Gymnastics

“1962 was a banner year for Coach J. Hubert Dunn’s Washington State Gymnastics team. The Cougars’ third place finish in the Western Intercollegiate Gymnastics association meet at Sacramento was the highest ever scored by a Northwest team in this tournament.”

Dick Van Hersett, western champion in tumbling and seventh in the nation last year, is shown here tumbling.

Swimming

The Cougars finished third in the Far West meet, and senior Gary Chase was voted most outstanding swimmer. Chase and Chris Marker went to the NCAA finals.

Baseball

Under the leadership of Coach Bobo Brayton, WSU finished third in the Northern Division race and posted an overall record of 18 wins, 12 losses and one tie. In Conference play, the Cougars were 8-5.

Coach Brayton observes team.

Baseball fans.

"Bobo" blasts the umpires.

The Cougars go on offense, and Dave Pate beats out the throw to first.

Golf

Coach Jack Friel’s Cougar golf team broke even with a 6-6 record in 1962.

WSU golf team member Mike Jones in the top of his back swing.

Track

Cougar track and field athletes, led by Coach Jack Mooberry, enjoyed a record-setting season in 1962 while winning four of six meets against Northwest opposition. Canadian senior and team captain Don Bertoia broke WSU’s record in the mile with a time of 4:07.7 and tied the school 880 mark at 1:51.3. Wayne Wilson set a new standard in pole vault with a leap of 14’ 7 ½” against Oregon State.

WSU track - Herm McKee edges out Husky Mike Thraul in the low hurdles. Third was the Cougar's Ron Matheison (center).

Tennis

Cougar tennis players compiled an 8-6 record in 1962 under the direction of Coach Bob Agnew.

Leaders

WSU was led by President C. Clement French. He was aided by Dean of Faculty S. Town Stephenson, Dean of the Graduate School D. S. Farner, Dean of Students J. C. Clevenger (Clevenger Lounge) and the other leaders of campus.

C. Clement French - President of WSU

S. Town Stephenson - Dean of Faculty

D. S. Farner - Dean of Graduate School

J. C. Clevenger - Dean of Students

Among students, Tim Manring was president of the Associated Students of WSU. Lu Ann Haugen served as president of the Association of Women Students. Living groups (fraternities, sororities, dorms, and independents) had their own leadership, a few of whom are shown below.