Timeline | Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State University was founded on Christmas day, 1890, and has grown to become one of America’s premier land-grant universities. Explore the university’s rich history, marvel at the accomplishments of its people, and discover the impact its teaching, research and outreach have had on our world in this multimedia timeline.

2024

Taylor named eighth wrestling coach

2024

Morgan named dean of OSU Graduate College

2024

Cro appointed College of Arts and Sciences dean

2024

Smith retires after 33 years as Cowboy wrestling coach

2024

Lutz named OSU's 21st men's basketball coach

2024

Huang named CEAT dean

2024

OSU-CHS student discovers new dinosaur species, publishes findings

2023

Horticulture Education Center opens to enhance community programming

2023

OSU Polytech focuses on improving STEM education access, workforce development

2023

Cowboy cross country wins 5th NCAA title, OSU's 53rd overall

2023

The Innovation Foundation at Oklahoma State University launches

2023

Student Farm helps bridge gap of food insecurity

2023

OSU and Southwest Airlines announce Destination 225° Partnership

2023

OSU celebrates ribbon-cutting for LaunchPad Center for Advanced Air Mobility

2023

Lusk named vice president, dean of OSU Agriculture

2023

OSU receives $120 million gift from T. Boone Pickens Foundation

2023

Payne named dean for Spears Business

2023

OSU opens office in Puebla, Mexico, to facilitate student, faculty exchange

2023

US Secretary of Energy announces creation of Great Plains Center of Excellence at OSU

2023

OSU Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute unveils plans for new facility

2023

Spears School of Business launches Center for the Future of Work

2023

School of Global Studies and Partnerships announces new name

2022

Walker tabbed to lead Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute

2022

OSU releases new strategy to become preeminent land-grant university

2022

State of Orange: OSU celebrates inauguration of Dr. Kayse Shrum

2022

OSU freshman enrollment hits all-time high

2022

Freeman named interim vice provost and dean of the College of Professional Studies at OSU-Tulsa

2022

Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents elects Callahan as Board Chair

2022

Mendez appointed provost

2022

OSU Medicine, Family and Children’s Services opens Legacy Plaza West Tower

2022

Remembrance Garden opens

2022

OSU receives First-Gen Forward designation

2022

Hoyt named eighth women’s basketball coach

2022

New Eddie Sutton Foundation created to help combat cancer

2022

OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine celebrates 50th anniversary

2022

OSU celebrates grand opening of Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center

2022

OSU institute announces military partnership for counter-UAS research

2021

Historic donation establishes Hamm Institute for American Energy at OSU

2021

Shrum’s inaugural commencement marks return to Gallagher-Iba Arena

2021

Student Veteran Success Center celebrates grand reopening

2021

University launches new, free streaming platform: Inside OSU

2021

Veterans Hospital in Tulsa celebrates historic groundbreaking

2021

Hargis Leadership Institute aims to encourage students to explore leadership potential

2021

OSUIT celebrates 75th anniversary

2021

OSU announces launch of aerospace research institute

2021

Greenwood School of Music celebrates grand opening

2021

OSU Museum of Art receives highest national recognition from the American Alliance of Museums

2021

Stephens named president of OSU-CHS, OSU-Tulsa

2021

Weiberg starts tenure as OSU athletic director

2021

Shrum named 19th president, first woman in role

2021

O'Brate Stadium becomes Cowboy baseball's new home

2021

OSU-Tulsa President Fry announces retirement

2020

DISCOVERY building donated to OSU

2020

Boone Pickens statue unveiled

2020

Hargis announces retirement

2020

OSU’s fall enrollment grows despite pandemic

2020

OSU cancels Homecoming

2020

Murray name removed from campus buildings

2020

OSU returns to in-person classes in fall 2020

2020

OSU helps test Oklahomans for COVID-19

2020

OSU goes virtual for most of spring and summer 2020

2020

College renamed thanks to transformational gift

2020

Education, Human Sciences combine to form new college

2019

Giving Flight to USRI

2019

The McKnight Center opens new era in the arts

2019

Remembering Boone Pickens

2019

One OSU logo for all

2019

Tackling the opioid crisis

2019

Honoring a Civil Rights pioneer

2018

Patterson Stadium new home for Cowgirl soccer

2018

Cowboy golf wins 11th NCAA title, OSU's 52nd overall

2018

Spears School of Business dedicates new building

2018

Hargis celebrates 10 years as OSU president

2017

Risco named Vet Med dean

2017

Students gain national honors for achievement

2017

OSU wins national community engagement honor

2017

OSU named Diversity Champion

2017

Greenwoods help build music education building

2017

Jones is first African American police chief

2017

Smartphones and campus safety

2016

American Airlines hosts inaugural flight from Stillwater

2016

Gift to fund programming boosts plans for performing arts center

2016

OSU receives excellence award as diversity progress model

2016

OSU opens Charles and Linda Cline Equine Teaching Center

2016

American Airlines to provide daily flights to DFW

2015

Unmanned Systems Research Institute established

2015

Homecoming parade tragedy

2015

American Airlines donates passenger jet for hands-on learning

2015

'O’Colly' gets national recognition

2015

Legacy of engagement

2015

OSU opens Center for Sovereign Nations

2015

Graduation record

2014

OSU-Tulsa hosts ceremony for Signature Gateway

2014

Compressed Natural Gas progress

2014

Postal Plaza Gallery unveils its first formal exhibit

2014

Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center opens

2014

Energy savings tops $30 million

2013

CEAT receives largest single gift in its history

2013

Pete's Pet Posse starts wagging for wellness

2013

KOSU opens new studio in Oklahoma City

2013

Regents hire first chief wellness officer at OSU

2013

OSU achieves then record enrollment

2013

Student Union ranked No. 1

2013

Branding Success campaign raises $1 billion

2013

App development center launched

2013

Wind-powered campus

2012

OSU hosts TED talks

2012

OSU earns diversity award

2012

Holliday named 15th baseball coach

2012

OStateTV launches

2012

Student Union reopens after renovation

2011

Cowboys earn conference championship and Fiesta Bowl win

2011

Coaches and alumni killed in crash

2011

New leader at OSUIT and master plan

2011

Henry Bellmon Research Center dedication

2011

Center for Family Resilience at OSU-Tulsa launched

2011

Student wins Truman and Udall scholarships

2010

Wreath lighting, a tradition begins

2010

OSU's 'Triple Threat' in football

2010

OSU Res Life celebrates 100 years

2010

OSU launches Branding Success Campaign

2009

Renovation work starts on the Student Union

2009

'Cowboys on the Move' reaches one million minute milestone

2009

First fruits of OSU's Master Plan

2008

Helmerich Research Center officially opens

2008

Mitchells donate $57 million to OSU for entrepreneurship and athletics

2008

Pickens offers $100 million challenge for endowed faculty positions

2007

Hargis named 18th president, serves from 2007-21

2007

Old Central renovation begins

2007

Okmulgee campus renamed

2007

Ground broken on Science Research Building

2007

OSU launches energy conservation program

2007

Food processing center adopts name of key supporter

2006

President W. Bush delivers commencement address

2006

Pickens donates largest sum ever received by a university athletic department

2005

Holder named athletic director

2005

Basketball court named in Sutton's honor

2005

Colvin Center earns top honor

2005

Campus Master Plan unveiled

2005

OSU opens ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center

2005

Willham demolition

2005

Gundy named Cowboy football coach

2004

Largest academic gift to date leads to Spears School of Business designation

2004

Vet Med renamed the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences

2004

Major renovation completed at Colvin Center

2003

Largest corporate gift to date

2003

Pickens announces $20 million donation, first of many large sums

2003

Renovation work starts on Boone Pickens Stadium

2002

Gallagher-Iba Arena rated 'rowdiest'

2002

Schmidly named 17th president, serves from 2003-07

2001

Heritage Hall displays OSU's history

2001

Big Orange Bus service launched

2001

Legislators create OSU Center for Health Sciences

2001

Colorado plane crash kills 10 of OSU family

2000

OSU is named Truman Honor Institute

2000

Scholars Hall of Fame established

2000

Agricultural advances for a new century

2000

Students offered new suite-style living

2000

Cowgirl Stadium opens for OSU softball

2000

Gallagher-Iba Arena completes major expansion

1999

New Student Services Center opens

1999

Edmon Low Library celebrates its two millionth volume

1999

OSU-Tulsa established

1998

The Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers opens

1998

OSU named America's Best College Buy

1997

Greteman is OSU's first Rhodes Scholar

1997

Campaign to raise funds for Gallagher-Iba expansion begins

1997

OSU is ranked as one of the nation's most wired colleges

1997

State-of-the-art food and agricultural products center opens for business

1996

First female Spirit Rider rides in stadium

1996

OSU shines bright at 1996 Olympics

1996

Orange Peel debuts

1995

OSU joins Big 12 Conference

1995

Willard becomes the new home of the College of Education

1995

The ‘Daily O'Collegian’ celebrates 100 years

1994

Smith leads Cowboy wrestling to 30th national championship

1994

Halligan named 16th president, serves from 1994-2003

1994

Karsten Creek Golf Club opens, 'the finest collegiate golf facility anywhere'

1993

‘Big Country’ becomes a legend

1992

New name for home economics college

1992

Statue in honor of Locke unveiled

1991

Gen. Schwarzkopf pays a visit

1991

Laser research and the Gulf War

1990

Former President Carter dedicates Wellness Center

1990

Sutton returns to OSU men’s basketball

1990

President H.W. Bush delivers commencement speech

1990

OSU’s Centennial: Gala, capsules, online series

1989

The ‘Daily O'Collegian’ receives honors

1989

Noble Research Center dedicated

1989

OSU goes to Japan

1988

OSU has four top athletes

1988

Sanders wins Heisman Trophy

1988

OSU has first female Spirit Rider

1988

Campbell named 15th president, serves from 1988-93

1988

College of Osteopathic Medicine joins OSU

1988

Gallagher-Iba Arena dedicated

1987

OSU dominates men's golf

1987

Arena and other construction projects are completed

1987

Wellness program starts

1987

OSU baseball has big decade

1987

Foundation made distinct from university operations

1987

Thomas excites fans on football field

1986

OSU Foundation awards $1 million in scholarships

1986

OSU golfer Verplank wins big

1986

OSU and the Teacher in Space program

1986

SUNUP goes on the air

1985

Ventura named All-American

1985

OSU begins satellite classes

1985

Noble Research Center construction begins

1985

OSU hosts state Special Olympics

1984

Scott becomes first woman, Black person to hold VP position

1984

High-tech groundbreaker for research center

1984

The Bartlett Center for the Visual Arts debuts

1983

The Telecom Center becomes operational

1983

OSU's home run king

1983

Klabenes takes reins at tech for 27 years

1983

Flying Aggies named nation’s top club

1982

Reynolds stadium dedicated

1982

Pickens gives $1 million to School of Geology

1982

OSU offers courses at University Center in Tulsa

1981

Seed money for a new research center

1981

First $1 million gift announced

1981

College of Veterinary Medicine gets new hospital and full accreditation

1980

‘Oklahoma Economic Research’ is published

1980

'Come in Hong Kong ... over'

1979

Foundation name changed

1979

New funds for fundraising and the first phone-a-thon

1979

Natural gas compression training starts

1979

An award-winning decade for student services

1978

Men’s golf team earns third national championship

1978

Food services named the best

1977

Family Study Center established

1977

Library named in honor of Low

1977

Boger named 14th president, serves from 1977-88

1976

Savage named first female regent

1976

Student Union turns 25

1976

OSU leads the state in enrollment

1976

OSU shares Big Eight Championship, beats OU

1976

A new student health center completed

1976

New wing and annex for communications dedicated

1976

Men’s golf team earns second national title

1975

President's Distinguished Scholars program established

1975

Bicentennial Trust established

1975

The Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Opens

1975

‘Oklahoma Gardening’ goes on the air

1975

Tornado strikes the campus

1974

OSU becomes Angel Flight HQ

1974

OSU tops in safety

1974

Streakin' on The Strip

1974

President Nixon gives commencement address

1973

Latimer is first Black student body president

1973

Holder hired as new OSU men's golf coach

1973

Old Central houses history

1973

Alpha program launched to welcome new students

1972

Native American students host heritage week

1972

Flags fly over International Mall

1972

'Participative Governance' invited

1971

Former vice president Humphrey visits OSU

1971

Varsity Revue transitions to debut in the Seretean Center

1971

Athletics Expansion Program launched

1971

KOSU and KVRO expand coverage areas

1971

First African American counselor

1971

Seretean Center for the Performing Arts dedicated

1970

The library adds its one-millionth volume

1970

Chi Omega Clock starts ticking

1970

Iba retires

1969

Agricultural Hall dedicated

1969

Performing arts center groundbreaking

1969

Old Library Building demolished

1969

Colvin Center opens

1969

First tenured black professor

1968

First Black Heritage Week on campus

1968

OSU partners with NASA

1968

Afro-American Society chartered

1967

Foundation marks first $1 million in giving

1967

Educational Television Services established

1967

Governor appoints first Black regent

1967

Student protests

1966

Athletic fundraising added to Foundation

1966

O’Toole serves on national council

1966

Kamm named OSU’s 13th president, serves from 1966-77

1966

Higher rise living comes to OSU

1965

Lohmann brings endowed chairs and professorships

1965

First 'Mom's Weekend'

1964

Groundbreaking for new College of Business building

1964

Iba leads Olympic teams to gold

1964

A doctorate in home economics

1964

Wentz Hall completes housing cluster

1963

Men’s golf team wins first national title

1963

Miller starts 20 years of leadership at tech

1962

OSU Interfraternity Council first to repeat Iron Man win

1962

New home for the president

1961

OSU's first foundation is created

1960

Professors first to alter bacteria cell division

1960

National band fraternity and sorority dedicate shrine on OSU campus

1960

Convention brings scientists to OSU

1959

Baseball team wins national championship

1959

Radio station returns to airwaves as KOSU

1959

Enrollment tops 11,000, new buildings needed

1958

The Shadow Lake Eight debuts

1958

Physical Sciences Building completed

1958

Exploratory committee recommends university foundation

1958

Student makes first Pistol Pete appearance

1958

Roderick continues wrestling legacy

1958

First Black fraternity on campus

1958

OSU's first All-American golfer

1958

First Ph.D. in Business College offered

1958

Communications school calls Science Hall home

1957

Bennett Memorial Chapel dedicated

1957

Pistol Pete rides in Homecoming parade

1957

New alma mater hymn written

1957

Traveling science classroom

1957

President Truman visits campus

1957

Name changed to Oklahoma State University of Agriculture and Applied Science

1957

Hazley first Black athlete to letter at OSU

1957

First live television broadcast from campus

1957

OSU installs nuclear reactor

1956

OAMC teaches via television

1956

Professors develop tornado tracking equipment

1956

Bennett's vision for campus takes shape

1955

OAMC is first in campuswide computers

1955

First female veterinarian graduates

1955

Marching band allows women to march with the men

1955

Air Force ROTC band added

1955

Desegregation at OAMC

1954

Lake Carl Blackwell deeded to college

1954

Cross country team earns national championship

1954

Battle becomes first African American to earn doctorate in Oklahoma

1954

The ‘Golden Decade of Aggie Sports’

1954

Ethiopian emperor visits campus

1953

McElroy retires

1953

Faculty Council established

1953

Golfer becomes NCAA champ

1953

Electromagnetic conference draws international participants

1953

Edmon Low Library opens

1952

First classes in Classroom Building

1952

First woman on livestock judging team

1952

Willham becomes 12th president, first alumnus to take the helm, 1952-66

1951

Memorial services for the Bennetts, campus mourns

1951

Bennetts die in plane crash

1951

Home Economics West opens

1951

Buck becomes first baseball All-American

1951

Baseball honors for OSU alumnus Reynolds

1951

School of Veterinary Medicine graduates first class

1951

OAMC promoted on TV

1950

Bennett Hall opens

1950

Student Union opens

1950

Library groundbreaking, construction begins

1950

President Bennett picked to head international program

1949

KVRO goes on the air

1949

Construction starts on Bennett Hall

1949

Stout Hall opens, moving famous research plots

1949

Largest cadet corps

1949

Davis becomes first Black student at Oklahoma A&M College

1949

First tech training grads

1948

Wrestling champs and Olympic coach

1948

Crop judging champs

1948

The Flying Aggies take wing

1948

National livestock judging champs includes Totusek

1948

Lindly is first woman to earn doctorate at OAMC

1948

School of Veterinary Medicine established

1948

Student Union construction starts

1947

Royal Jupiter crowned ‘King Sirloin’

1947

Harris named new golf coach

1947

Jimmie Baker and the Collegians takes OAMC by storm

1946

Postwar Veterans Village becomes popular

1946

New degree programs in philosophy and fashion

1946

School of Technical Training launched in Okmulgee

1945

'Fox Hole University' welcomes end of war

1945

Golden era for sports

1944

Fenimore is first football All-American

1944

Basketball All-American Kurland starts Hall of Fame career

1944

Flying Farmers

1944

A board of regents for OAMC

1943

Fraternity houses designated for non-military students

1943

First female student body president

1943

The 'Soil Rodeo' is born

1943

Airport construction

1942

Supporting the war effort

1942

Future university president visits campus

1942

Wartime redirection

1941

50th anniversary celebration, gala events and time capsule

1941

Division of Engineering gets headstart on war

1940

Low becomes head librarian

1940

Yearbook dedicated to Rogers

1939

Cordell Hall opens

1939

Willard Hall opens

1939

New education doctorate arrives

1939

Engineering Building opens

1938

Construction begins on Gallagher Hall

1937

Radio coverage expands to Oklahoma City market

1937

First basketball All-American

1937

Hotel administration school opens

1937

School of Technical Training established

1937

First national fire training school

1936

Riding out the '30s depression and Dust Bowl

1936

Cowboy Quartet and other student entertainers earn an education

1936

Blast rocks Whitehurst Hall

1936

Reed gains national attention

1934

New pep song

1934

First professor emeritus

1934

Baseball revived at Oklahoma A&M College

1934

Fire service training established

1934

Murray Hall opens

1934

The Varsitonians jazz it up

1933

State Vo-Tech moves to Stillwater

1933

First parking meter

1932

Blue Key installed

1932

Speech correction program

1932

First Olympians

1932

World-record sprinter

1931

Tiger Tavern expands

1931

Fire Chief Pence develops fire training service

1931

Will Rogers on campus

1931

Largest graduating class to date

1930

Bell clapper theft

1930

Movement for new nickname: 'Cowboys'

1930

Growing better cotton and wheat

1930

Infirmary opens

1930

President Bennett's visionary master plan approved

1929

No more paddle line

1929

Livestock judging team wins big

1929

Early leaders in women’s sports

1929

Soil surveys attack the dust and economic depression

1929

Varsity Revue debuts

1929

Student fun

1929

Student employment program

1928

Women's Building renamed

1928

Winning football coach takes the helm

1928

The beginning of a wrestling dynasty

1928

Dean of women admired for achievement

1928

Bennett named 11th president, serves from 1928-51

1926

Knapp proposes razing Old Central

1926

Growth in the ‘Roaring Twenties’ a new stadium, radios and the latest fads

1926

Whitehurst Hall opens

1925

Autos banned on campus

1925

First radio broadcast

1925

Thatcher and Hanner Halls constructed

1924

Missouri Valley Conference membership

1924

Students introduce Aggievator

1924

'O'Collegian' at Old Central

1924

Animal Husbandry Building and Livestock Pavilion opened

1924

Nursery school program

1923

Old Central becomes official designation

1923

Pistol Pete discovered — a mascot is born

1923

Female dean was longtime leader

1923

First female board member

1923

First All-American

1923

Knapp named 10th president, serves from 1923-28

1923

The year of three presidents

1921

Chester Gould before Dick Tracy

1921

New library

1921

'Baby David' project

1921

Home Economics Building

1921

Eskridge named eighth president, serves from 1921-23

1920

Alumni association incorporates

1920

Hamburger hangout

1920

Science Hall opened

1919

Three Times a Dean: Clarence McElroy

1919

The gymnasium is completed

1918

College Boarding Club

1918

Sixteen buildings and growing

1917

The President's home on campus

1917

Serving the country in WWI

1916

Harvest Carnival goes to the tiger

1916

Old Central rings again

1916

First bachelor's degree in business awarded

1916

Reserve Officer Training Corps program initiated

1915

Boh's band

1915

Cantwell named seventh president, serves from 1915-21

1915

The Lahoma Club established

1915

First female engineering graduate

1915

Student association founded

1915

Tiger football and the power plant whistle

1914

Women's Building fire follows Morrill Hall blaze

1914

Lewis wore many hats on campus

1914

First female ag graduate

1914

Farm progress from home to campus

1913

Beanies introduced on campus

1913

School of Education established

1913

Early fundraising events

1913

Class fight and other traditions

1912

Stillwater grows with the campus

1912

New engineering building

1911

First dormitories on campus occupied

1911

The first sororities and fraternities

1911

Extension encampment school

1910

Literary societies and library study

1910

Yearbook dedicated, football field named in honor of Lewis

1910

The college yearbook is born

1910

Extension trains and farmer's institutes

1910

Early degree options

1908

Regents replaced by Board of Agriculture

1908

Gallagher starts making a name for himself

1908

‘Orange and Black’ replaces ‘College Paper’

1908

Connell named sixth president, serves from 1908-14

1907

Morning exercise

1907

First Extension provider overseas

1907

Early growth

1907

The 'father of extension'

1906

Good fun with strict limits

1906

Morrill Hall completed

1905

The first band

1905

Civil Engineering and Gymnasium Building opened

1904

New dairy building and greenhouse

1903

Library Building expanded for offices and auditorium

1903

New brick walkway to town

1902

Room, board and no tuition

1902

First championship team trophy

1902

College Barn an important early mainstay

1901

First football team

1901

Women play basketball

1900

YMCA and YWCA offer student services

1900

Track team was first organized sport

1900

Library Building rises from the prairie

1900

Campus taking shape, Chemistry Building added

1899

'College Paper' replaces 'Mirror'

1899

School colors

1899

Scott named fifth president, serves from 1899-1908

1898

First engineering courses offered

1898

Ag short courses

1898

Holt named first business teacher

1897

First female graduate and alumni meeting

1896

Boardwalk to town

1896

An Early Attempt at a Vet School

1896

First graduation ceremony

1895

Morrow named fourth president, serves from 1895-99

1895

First photographed gathering at the Central Building

1895

College Club established

1895

First female faculty member

1895

First college newspaper 'Mirror' published

1895

Murdaugh named third president, serves during 1895

1894

The College Building (Old Central) dedicated

1894

Alvord named second president, serves from 1894-95

1893

Students join in the land run

1893

Theta Pond was a watering hole for horses

1893

Senior preparatory class

1893

Military instruction required

1893

Everyone in one photo

1892

Students organize literary societies

1892

Four frame buildings

1892

First faculty meeting and Extension efforts

1891

Barker named first president, serves from 1891-94

1891

First enrollees

1891

A college that started in a pasture

1891

Early ag administrator and his research station

1891

Homesteaders transfer land

1891

Stillwater selected as college site

1890

Where it all began