1970-1979

1970
South grandstands of wooden football stadium at Rogers Field burned by arsonist.

1970
Alumni Achievement Award created by Alumni Association.

1970
Racism Workshop held on campus during student unrest period.

1971
$1,000,000 raised in three months to rebuild football stadium.

1971
50,000th student graduated from WSU.

1971
Geologist Roald Fryxell chosen to examine lunar rocks in Houston.

1972
WAMI medical education program started.

1972
Clarence D. Martin Football Stadium dedicated for former governor.

1973
Thompson Hall (formerly Old Administration Building) designed by National Park Service of inclusion in National Register of Historic Places. A year earlier, the hall was the first building in Whitman County added to the official list of state historical sites, now called the Washington Heritage Register

1973
Performing Arts Coliseum opened with first event - 1973 graduation.

1973
Edward R. Murrow Communications Center dedicated.

1974
Football coach Orin E. "Babe" Hollingbery died.

1974
WSU has major exhibit, Waterworld, at Spokane's World Fair - EXPO '74.

1974
WOI (Washington, Oregon, Idaho) regional Veterinary Medicine program started, led by WSU Veterinary College.

1975
100th anniversary of Land-Grant Research Centers.

1975
Ferry Hall torn down; cupola saved and installed as a memorial along what is now Glenn Terrell Friendship Mall.

1975
WSU signs pact with Kingdom of Jordan for providing educational services.


1976
Regent Michael Dederer elected as Board of Regents President for third time.

1976
$1,000,000 grant from Kellogg Foundation created Partnership for Rural Improvement.

1976
U.S. President Ford presented Orville Vogel, WSU and USDA researcher, with National Medal of Science.

1977
Orville Vogel, developer of the world's most productive wheat strains, received Regents 9th Distinguished Alumnus Award.

1977
Kate Webster and Edith William became second and third women appointed to Board of Regents.

1977
WSU won the National Indoor Track Meet.

1977
Steve Puidokas sets Cougar men's career basketball scoring record.

1977
Enrollment 18,160, highest between 1970-1979.

1978
Butch VI, the last live Cougar to serve as mascot, died at age 15.

1978
College of Home Economics celebrated 75th birthday.

1978
Athletic Hall of Fame created at WSU.

1978
ABC television sportscaster Keith Jackson awarded 10th Regents Distinguished Alumnus Award.

1978
Henry Rono set four world track records in distance events.

1979
Jack Thompson's jersey number 14 retired, recognizing 7,818 yards gained passing. One of only two football jerseys ever retired by WSU. Mel Hein was the other.

1978
Weldon B. "Hoot" Gibson, Charles Schroeder and Marshall Neill presented 11th, 12th, and 13th Regents Distinguished Alumnus Awards.

1979
WSU Foundation created on Nov. 8.