Middle Tennessee State University

Timeline

1965  Name changes to Middle Tennessee State University; Cope Administration Building completed; Golf team wins NCAA National Championship
 
1967   New science building completed and named for George Davis; University Center built
 
1968  New classroom building built on site of first library; Clifford N. Stark Agriculture Center completed
 
1969  Melvin G. Scarlett becomes fifth president, serves until 1978
 
1970   MTSU grants Doctor of Arts degrees
 
1971 Enrollment passes 10,000 in Fall
 
1972      Charles M. Murphy Athletic Center opens
 
1973   May graduation is last outdoor commencement
 
1974  Center for Historic Preservation, first Center of Excellence, established; Elvis Presley packs Murphy Center for two concerts
 
1975     Elvis returns three more times!  Learning Resources Center completed
 
1976  First athletes inducted into Blue Raider Hall of Fame: Horace Jones, Bubber Murphy, and Teddy Morris
 
1977 Old Main named for Howard Kirksey
 
1978   Mike McDonald is first Black president of Associated Student Body
 
1979 Sam H. Ingram becomes sixth president, serves until 1989; Band of Blue Club forms
 
1980  Margaret and Neil Wright Music Building dedicated
 
1982  Men's basketball team wins OVC tournament; Japan Center of Tennessee established
 
1985  Governor's School for the Arts created; Center for Popular Music opens; Jones Chair in Free Enterprise, first Chair of Excellence, established; Boots Donnelly ('65, '67) is OVC Coach of the Year
 
1986 MTSU celebrates the Diamond Anniversary: "Our Year to Shine!" Alumnus James M. Buchanan ('40) receives Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences
 
1987   Director of Alumni Relations Joe Nunley ('47) retires after 25 years
 
1988  Terry Weeks ('72, '74) is National Teacher of the Year
 
1990  Alumni Center opens; Wallace Prescott becomes seventh president; MTSU Foundation launches first capital campaign ($7 million goal); Mass Communication Building opens
 
1991   James E. Walker becomes eighth president; University's six schools become colleges
 
1993    Mid-Stater expands to MTSU Magazine; TRAM allows students to register for classes by telephone
 
1994 MTSU receives $20-million Miller bequest, largest gift ever received by public college or university in Tennessee
 
1995 Student Recreation Center, built entirely with student funds, opens
 
1996   85th Anniversary Celebration
 
1997    Foundation launches $30-million New Century/New Visions campaign
 
1998   New athletic logo and mascot "Lightning" unveiled; National Alumni Association launches affinity credit card program; Business and Aerospace Building opens; new football stadium opens with 30,000 attendance; MTSU breaks ground for Greek Row; Steve Smith Clubhouse and Baseball Training Facility opens; "Boots" Donnelly resigns as head football coach after 20 years; Andy McCollum named new football coach
 
1999  New University Library opens; Scarlett Commons student apartment complex (named for President Scarlett) opens; Football program moves to I-A
 

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