Alumnus Bud Seretean announces his $500,000 gift, the largest donation to OSU to that date, at a groundbreaking for the performing arts center on June 26, 1969. Construction began soon after on what was renamed the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts.

The OSU Development Foundation (now OSU Foundation) launched the campaign intended to raise $1.2 million for a performing arts center in 1976. It is believed to be the first facilities campaign in the Foundation's history. Comedian Bob Hope appeared on campus, as well as in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, in fundraising events for the center.