Lemuel Arthur "L. A." Pittenger (September 27, 1873 – July 12, 1953)[1] is best known as being the 4th president of Ball Teachers College later known as Ball State University, as well as having Ball State University's student center named after him.
From 1905 to 1907 he was a professor at the Indiana Normal School, which later became Ball State University. Pittenger and Frank C. Ball attempted to persuade Taylor University to relocate their campus to Muncie, in a rescue attempt of the failing Indiana Normal School. Once the Indiana Normal School went under, Pittenger returned to Indiana University for advanced schooling. From 1913 to 1920 he was the head of the English department at Ohio Normal School at Kent (now Kent State University). In 1920, Pittenger became ill and returned to Selma. Two years later Erle Clippinger also became ill and had to temporarily cease teaching at the Indiana State Normal School. Linnaeus Hines, who was then the president of the Indiana State Normal School system, requested personally that Pittenger take Clippinger's place at the Indiana State Normal School, and Pittenger accepted.[2]
Ball Teachers Collegeedit
Pittenger began working at Ball Teachers College in 1922, and quickly became the most important person on campus during the 1920s and 1930s due to his partnership with Frank C. Ball. At this time, Pittenger was elected into the Indiana House of Representatives (1922, 1924 and 1926). He became the chairman to the powerful Ways and Means Committee, and eventually persuaded the Indiana General Assembly to separate the Ball Teachers College's budget from that of the Indiana State Normal School.[3]
Presidency (1927–1942)edit
Beneficence Memorial, BSU
Pittenger assumed the presidency of Ball Teachers College after the death of President Benjamin J. Burris in 1927. During Pittenger's presidency, the Indiana General Assembly separated the Ball Teachers College from the Indiana State Normal School and changed the name to Ball State Teachers College. Pittenger resigned in December 1942 due to illness.[4]
Effect on Ball State Universityedit
Fine Arts Building, BSU
Ball Teachers College was renamed Ball State Teachers College in 1930 and was added to the list of accredited colleges and universities.
Campus Additions During Presidency
Athletic Fields (1928)
Included a quarter-mile track, and jumping pits for men and women; baseball, football, soccer, hockey, and speedball fields; horseshoe, croquet, and tennis courts and an archery range
In 1952, Ball State constructed a student center on the south side of University Avenue, across the street from the Administration building and named it after Pittenger. The student center was built in the Collegiate Gothic Architectural style and had several extreme renovations and additions. The building includes meeting rooms, a hotel, food court, bowling alley and a barber shop. The building also hosts Late Nite, a drug prevention program for students at Ball State which has several unique activities for students to participate in on Saturday Nights.
pittenger, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 2008, lea. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources L A Pittenger news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Lemuel Arthur L A Pittenger September 27 1873 July 12 1953 1 is best known as being the 4th president of Ball Teachers College later known as Ball State University as well as having Ball State University s student center named after him L A PittengerPresident ofBall State UniversityIn office 1927 1942Preceded byBenjamin J BurrisSucceeded byWinfred E WagonerPersonal detailsBorn 1873 09 27 September 27 1873DeSoto IndianaDiedJuly 12 1953 1953 07 12 aged 79 SpouseBertha Orr Contents 1 Early life 2 Indiana State Normal School 3 Ball Teachers College 3 1 Presidency 1927 1942 3 1 1 Effect on Ball State University 4 L A Pittenger Student Center 5 See also 6 ReferencesEarly life editPittenger grew up in Selma Indiana on his family s farm Later he obtained his undergraduate degree from Indiana University Indiana State Normal School editFrom 1905 to 1907 he was a professor at the Indiana Normal School which later became Ball State University Pittenger and Frank C Ball attempted to persuade Taylor University to relocate their campus to Muncie in a rescue attempt of the failing Indiana Normal School Once the Indiana Normal School went under Pittenger returned to Indiana University for advanced schooling From 1913 to 1920 he was the head of the English department at Ohio Normal School at Kent now Kent State University In 1920 Pittenger became ill and returned to Selma Two years later Erle Clippinger also became ill and had to temporarily cease teaching at the Indiana State Normal School Linnaeus Hines who was then the president of the Indiana State Normal School system requested personally that Pittenger take Clippinger s place at the Indiana State Normal School and Pittenger accepted 2 Ball Teachers College editPittenger began working at Ball Teachers College in 1922 and quickly became the most important person on campus during the 1920s and 1930s due to his partnership with Frank C Ball At this time Pittenger was elected into the Indiana House of Representatives 1922 1924 and 1926 He became the chairman to the powerful Ways and Means Committee and eventually persuaded the Indiana General Assembly to separate the Ball Teachers College s budget from that of the Indiana State Normal School 3 Presidency 1927 1942 edit nbsp Beneficence Memorial BSUPittenger assumed the presidency of Ball Teachers College after the death of President Benjamin J Burris in 1927 During Pittenger s presidency the Indiana General Assembly separated the Ball Teachers College from the Indiana State Normal School and changed the name to Ball State Teachers College Pittenger resigned in December 1942 due to illness 4 Effect on Ball State University edit nbsp Fine Arts Building BSUBall Teachers College was renamed Ball State Teachers College in 1930 and was added to the list of accredited colleges and universities Campus Additions During Presidency Athletic Fields 1928 Included a quarter mile track and jumping pits for men and women baseball football soccer hockey and speedball fields horseshoe croquet and tennis courts and an archery range Burris Laboratory School 1928 Fine Arts Building and Museum of Art 1936 Beneficence Memorial 1937 Elliot Hall 1938 L A Pittenger Student Center editIn 1952 Ball State constructed a student center on the south side of University Avenue across the street from the Administration building and named it after Pittenger The student center was built in the Collegiate Gothic Architectural style and had several extreme renovations and additions The building includes meeting rooms a hotel food court bowling alley and a barber shop The building also hosts Late Nite a drug prevention program for students at Ball State which has several unique activities for students to participate in on Saturday Nights See also editList of Ball State University PresidentsReferences edit Cattell James Mckeen Ryan Will Carson Walters Raymond 1953 School amp Society Ball State University an Interpretive History Google Books Retrieved June 9 2009 Ball State University an Interpretive History Google Books Retrieved June 9 2009 Dr Pittenger Resigns as President The Ball State News December 18 1942 Retrieved 12 April 2012 Preceded byBenjamin J Burris President of Ball State University1927 1942 Succeeded byWinfred E Wagoner Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title L A Pittenger amp oldid 1095416346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
