1940-1949

1940
Enrollment 5,109, highest between 1920-1940.

1940
WSC library collection reached 400,000 volumes.

1940
School of Business Administration created, separating from College of Sciences and Arts.

1941
Coach Jack Friel's men's basketball team was runner-up for NCAA title, losing in the championship game to Wisconsin 39-34, in Kansas City.

1941
Federal government recruited faculty members for U.S. Defense service.

1941
Plans approved for Engineering Lab Building, and Veterinary Medicine Classroom and Laboratory Building.

1941
Land purchased by ASSCW for Student Union Building.

1941
President Emeritus Bryan and Dean Emeritus H.V. Carpenter died.

1942
First contract with government for training enlisted men in aviation, Japanese language, signal corps, radio and gunnery.

1942
Department of Nursing Education established.

1943
Cougar football suspended for duration of World War II.

1944
Research led to the development of "Cougar Gold Cheese," produced by WSU Creamery.

1944
Butch the Cougar was official mascot for battleship U.S.S. Washington during World War II.

1944
President Holland announced his retirement.

1944
Dean Drucker donated the Minnie Barstow Drucker Collection to WSC valued at $50,000.

1945
Establishment of Institutes of Technology and Agriculture.

1945
Football program resumed under Coach Phil Sarboe, a 1932 WSC graduate.

1946
Wilson Compton (Ph.D. from Princeton University, Vice President and Manager of American Forest Products Industries, Inc.) assumed WSC presidency on January 1.

1946
Temporary housing brought in for faculty and students to accommodate GI bulge, following World War II. Influx of military veterans after World War II.

1946
Alumnus Edward R. Murrow receives WCS honorary doctor of laws degree.

1947
Plans completed for hospital addition to serve WSC and community.

1947
Regents approved new athletic code separating student activities and intercollegiate athletics.

1948
Title of graduate manager abolished. Student Activities and Athletics separated under two administrators.

1948
Enrollment 7,890, highest between 1941-1961.

1948
Contract award to build Todd Hall.

1949
Contract award to build Holland Library.

1949
Camp Easter Seal established on Lake Coeur d'Alene by Professor Roger Larson.

1949
Alumni Association board meeting minutes reflect initial coordinated fund-raising effort by WSC.

1949
The State Legislature gave the WSC Board of Regents the power to develop a police department.