The Oklahoma State University Development Foundation is officially created on January 7, 1961, to encourage donors to provide scholarships.

Robert D. Erwin was hired as the first director; he is pictured (right) checking alumni records with Murl Rogers, executive secretary of the OSU Alumni Association.

The next month, independent oilman William T. Payne became the first national chairman of the Alumni Giving Program. He is later named the Foundation's first president (precursor to chairman of the board).

The first annual OSU Board of Governors meeting took place on Nov. 18. The founding Governors are told the first alumni development fund campaign brought in $21,202.