|
|
             |
Veterans Club instrumental in Marshall
gaining university status
The Veterans Club, a campus organization made up of Korean era war veterans, was very active on campus between 1959 and 1961. Little did any of us know, or realize, the significance we would play in Marshall College becoming a university.
The Veterans Club president, Robert “Bobby” Nelson, who later served as mayor of Huntington; the vice president, James Manno; and about 25 club members met about twice a month in the Science Hall Auditorium. Joining them was club sponsor and Marshall faculty member Dr. Howard Mills.Time and memories escape us as to how a motion was made during a meeting to help give a needed boost to persuade the West Virginia Legislature to approve a pending bill to give Marshall university status. During the discussion, it was suggested that a petition of names be collected on campus at basketball games and other activities. Our strategy was to use the petition to influence a favorable response by the Legislature to pass the Senate Bill for the name change. Following the lead of the Veterans Club, a delegation of student government leaders headed by John Karichoff, student body president, and Bobby Nelson, president pro tem, traveled to Charleston during the 1959 school year. “We had made an appointment to see Gov. Cecil Underwood to present him with a petition supporting Marshall College being granted university status,” Nelson said. “We were ushered into the office where we were formally greeted by the governor. He told us he was a former teacher and had high regard for Marshall, then the state's leading teachers college. He said he had heard of efforts by many citizens, not just from Marshall veterans and students, supporting university status. We then presented him with a petition signed by more than 1,500 students, faculty, administrators and staff. He complimented us on our initiative and informed us that it would be up to the legislature to grant the status, but he personally supported it. We thanked him and departed his office. “On our way out, we encountered Herb Little, an Associated Press reporter. We gave him a copy of the petition. He took it, and the next day an article written by Herb appeared in many newspapers across the state, giving added exposure to our effort to make Marshall a university." Later, at the State Capitol, Ron Lyons, Whitesville junior; Dick Hodges, Mt. Hopes sophomore; and Dan Fannin, Barboursville sophomore, were introduced on the Senate floor by Sen. Lyle Smith from Cabell County. Ron Lyons presented the petition, asking the Legislature to elevate Marshal College to university status. In 1961 Marshall College became Marshall University!
Starting in 1961, the Veterans Club
members all received a diploma that said “Marshall University.” The
wonder of it all… how many thousands of students have since received
a Marshall University diploma? After all is said and done, we
veterans say, Go Herd!” We are very proud to have been a part of
this historic change. ----- Ron Lyons is a retired school guidance counselor. Bobby Nelson is an instructor of political science at Marshall.
|
|
     |
