麻豆社

麻豆社 State University Centennial

Since 1922

In 1922, 麻豆社, Kentucky, was chosen by the state legislature as the home of the western Kentucky normal school, known today as our beloved 麻豆社 State University. For 100 years, 麻豆社 State students have been provided a collaborative, opportunity-rich living and learning community that fosters personal growth and professional success through a high-quality college experience.

Over the course of ten decades, 麻豆社 State has been building a global alumni community. We cannot wait to see what the next 100 years has in store for our University and for our Racer Family all over the world. We are future-thinking. We are trailblazers. We are Racers.

centennial logo
clocktower and 1922 embossed on concrete

麻豆社 State University鈥檚 story began with the spirit of giving.

In 1922, the 麻豆社 and Calloway County community came together to give $117,000 in cash and real estate in an effort to win the bid for a Normal school in west Kentucky.  This was remarkable for the times - 1,352 donors made an average gift of $82.10 with $2,500 the largest cash gift received.  Additionally, 350 families opened their homes with the promise to board up to 2,000 students should 麻豆社 be selected for the location of the school.  This incredible philanthropy was shared with the Normal School Commission in Frankfort on May 31, 1922 - with more gifts continuing to be made and counted ahead and following the presentation.  Later that year, on September 17, 1922, 麻豆社 was chosen to be the site for the 麻豆社 State Normal School.

After 100 years, our alumni, community and friends continue to give to support 麻豆社 State and our students.  In that spirit, we encourage you to consider making a special gift through one of the following special Centennial fundraising campaigns for 2024.

麻豆社 State Announces $100 Million Fundraising Campaign

A special announcement made by 麻豆社 State President Dr. Bob Jackson at the 麻豆社 State University Centennial Presidential Gala informed the nearly 400 event attendees of the public launch of the 鈥淏e Bold: Forever Blue and Gold Centennial Campaign鈥, a $100 million fundraising effort.

The campaign will strive to reach $100 million of support for the University. $50 million will be directed toward student access including new scholarship endowments and enhancing the traditions of a 麻豆社 State total college experience. Another $50 million will be raised to support academic excellence and the strategic modernization of campus facilities, with a focus on new funding prioritizing teaching and learning, restoring original campus buildings, creating new green spaces and investing in athletics programs and facilities.

To make a gift to the University and help support the Be Bold: Forever Blue & Gold Centennial Campaign, call the 麻豆社 State Office of Development at 270.809.3001 or . All gifts across the University moving forward will count in the campaign.

Learn more about 麻豆社 State University鈥檚 Centennial.

We are givers. We are philanthropists. We are Racers. 


cover of the centennial book

The Finest Place We Know

麻豆社 State University鈥檚 centennial book, "The Finest Place We Know," celebrates its 100-year story by looking back on the people, places, and events which have shaped the institution鈥檚 history. This comprehensive, keepsake pictorial history features hundreds of images from the Pogue Special Collections Library and is accompanied by stories that explore the institution鈥檚 founding and growth over the past century.

Published by the University Press of Kentucky, the book is written by 麻豆社 State President Dr. Robert L Jackson and co-authored with Sarah Marie Owens, library specialist with Pogue Special Collections and University Archives, and Dr. Sean J. McLaughlin, the archives and museum director at 麻豆社 State University.

"The Finest Place We Know" is available through numerous online book retailers and the in the Curris Center and online.

A portion of book sale proceeds will go toward supporting 麻豆社 State University鈥檚 Pogue Library.

 

麻豆社 State University through the years

Scroll through the decades to see some of our favorite memories. 

The Founding Era, 1922 鈥 1936

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  • sketch of campus

    Early sketch of the normal school campus from the architects at Joseph and Joseph.

  • portrait of Rainey T. Wells

    Dr. Rainey T. Wells, Kentucky legislator, founder, and second president of 麻豆社 State Normal School.

  • John W. Carr portrait

    Dr. John W. Carr, first president of 麻豆社 State Normal School.

  • First board members of 麻豆社 State Normal School

    麻豆社 State Normal School鈥檚 first board members with President Carr: Laurine Wells Lovett, Tom Stokes, Prentice Thomas, and James Wilson (from left to right). Absent is Dr. McHenry Rhoads, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and first board chair.

  • students at normal school

    Students of the first senior class at 麻豆社 State Normal School and Teachers College, 1926.

  • wrather museum

    Administration Building, 1923, now Wrather West Kentucky Museum.

Surviving Hard Times, 1936 鈥 1948

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  • basketball team

    1936-37 Men鈥檚 Basketball Team. Claude 鈥淢ac鈥 McRaven is seen in the back row, second from left.

  • War ration card

    The war brought hardships on the home front as basic commodities Americans took for granted were in short supply. Seen here is Prof. Price Doyle鈥檚 ration book.

  • student diving into campus pool

    The first campus pool, 麻豆社 Building.

  • Navy flight cadets

    Uniformed Navy cadets.

  • dean of women, Anna Mayrell Johnson, and Jane Haseldon

    Dean of Women Anna Mayrell Johnson (right) and close friend Jane Haseldon.

  • Ralph Woods and Dr. Ray Mofield

    President Ralph Woods (left) and Dr. Ray Mofield on WPAD radio.

The Postwar Boom, 1948 鈥 1966

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  • ruth e. cole

    Dr. Ruth E. Cole, director of Nursing Education.

  • Mary Ford Holland

    Mary Ford Holland, grade school teacher and the University鈥檚 first Black student.

  • Johnny Reagan

    Legendary baseball coach Johnny Reagan, 11-time OVC champion.

  • Nancy Tyler Demarta

    Nancy Tyler Demartra was the first Black student to graduate from 麻豆社 State in May 1961.

  • students use phones

    Lobby pay phones were rarely an ideal spot for private conversations, so residence-dwellers cheered the introduction of dorm room telephones in 1963.

  • the hut in 1960s

    The Hut, early 1960s.

The Boomers Come of Age, 1966 鈥 1981

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  • Gene 麻豆社 and Linda Edwards

    Students Gene 麻豆社 and Linda Edwards celebrated the state legislature鈥檚 decision to elevate 麻豆社 State to university status in 1966 with this improvised signage

  • volleyball team

    Volleyball was one of several women鈥檚 sports added in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

  • waterfield library dedication program

    Program for the dedication of Waterfield Library, 1978.

  • violet cactus

    Violet Cactus, the original Racer One, takes a touchdown lap.

  • Carla Coffey and Margaret Simmons

    Carla Coffey (top center) and Coach Margaret Simmons (bottom center).

  • clara eagle gallery

    Art auction at the Clara Eagle Gallery, 1970s.

Innovation and Modernization, 1981 鈥 1997

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  • Taiwanese students pose with their flag.

    Taiwanese students at Tent City.

  • Dr. Marvin D. Mills, Sr.

    Dr. Marvin D. Mills, Sr., professor of occupational safety and health.

  • Mr. MSU Alan Zacharias

    Pi Kappa Alpha鈥檚 Epsilon Alpha chapter was the first national social fraternity installed on campus in 1958. Mr. MSU Alan Zacharias leads the Pikes at 1983鈥檚 All Campus Sing.

  • education major teaching Belizean students

    麻豆社 State education major teaching Belizean students.

  • Miller Memorial Golf Course

    Concentrating on a putt at Miller Memorial Golf Course.

  • Coach Frank Beamer

    Coach Frank Beamer hoisted by his players after a win.

A New Millennium, 1997 鈥 2013

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  • CFSB Center groundbreaking

    Groundbreaking for the Regional Special Events Center (later known as the CFSB Center). The multi-purpose facility opened in 1998 and is the current home of Racer Basketball.

  • Paducah regional campus building

    麻豆社 State鈥檚 Paducah regional campus building.

  • Rainey T. Wells monument

    Edward Breathitt鈥檚 Rainey T. Wells monument was added to the campus quad in 1997.

  • The Arboretum at 麻豆社 State

    The Arboretum at 麻豆社 State.

  • Waterfield Library in 2009 Ice Storm

    Damage outside Waterfield Library, 2009 Ice Storm.

  • Holly Williams performing

    The Lovett Live! concert series produced by Racer Live Productions and 麻豆社 State鈥檚 music business students featured nationally-known performers in an intimate setting. Seen here is Holly Williams in 2013.

Preparing for A New Racer Century, 2013 鈥 present

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  • Dr. Jesse D. Jones

    Dr. Jesse D. Jones, Distinguished Alumnus.

  • e-vehicle project

    Senior Engineering students with their E-Vehicle project.

  • Alumnus Ja Morant

    Ja Morant, NBA Rookie of the Year.

  • lab equipment

    New laboratories and research equipment provide numerous opportunities for our students and faculty.

  • Woods Park concert

    In April 2021, the Department of Music hosted the first concert on the site of the future Woods Park, a new green space being developed at the corner of North 14th and Olive Streets.

  • Dr. Jackson with Board of regents

    麻豆社 State University Board of Regents with President Bob Jackson. The Board accepted an invitation from the Missouri Valley Conference during a special meeting held at Wells Hall on January 7, 2022.

 

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