J.W. Jones

Who was J.W. Jones?

John W. Jones was president of Northwest Missouri State Teacher's College from 1945 to 1964. Jones was its first Ph.D president. He came to Northwest as dean of faculty in 1938.

During his presidency he oversaw a number of important building improvements and events:

Structures:

Bearcat Arena opened in 1959

Colden Hall

Bearcat Stadium improvements

J.W. Jones Student Union

Expansion of seven dormitories

Expansion of the Wells Library

Expansion of the Industrial Arts Building

DeLuce Fine Arts Building

Martin-Pederson Armory dedicated in 1955 by Harry S. Truman

Events:

A gas tank by the Wabash Railroad tracks behind Residence Hall explodes injuring around 20 and killing Roberta Steel on August 28, 1951

First graduate level courses in 1955

Faculty rank system and tenure

Renaming of the school to Northwest Missouri State College in 1955

Statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Administration Building is shot by a night watchman on May 17, 1959

Horace Mann High School on the campus closed in 1960

KDLX signed on the air in 1960

Women's basketball reinstitute in 1962

National Guard is called out during food riots in April 1964