1960-1963

1960

Water Resources Research Institute established.

West Hall (residence hall) opened.

OSU Rifle Team won the National Collegiate Championship with a record score of 1159.

Enrollment: 7,899.

Population in Corvallis: 20,669; in Benton County: 39,165; in Oregon: 1,768,687.

1961

First oceanographic research vessel, the 80-foot Acona, acquired. It was the first United States academic vessel designed specifically for oceanographic research.

On March 6, Governor Mark Hatfield signed into law the legislative act which changed the name of the institution to Oregon State University.

James Herbert Jensen, B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D. (August 22, 1961-June 30, 1969), appointed by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education as the tenth president of Oregon State University. Jensen was appointed president of Oregon State University after serving eight years as provost at Iowa State University. President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus 1971-1993.

Oregon Forest Research Center became the OSU Forest Research Laboratory.

Dormitory Service Building and Orchard Court Apartments (married student housing) opened.

Runner Dale Story led OSU to the 1961 NCAA Cross Country Championship.

University Archives established.

OSU Press established.

1962

ROTC changed from two years of mandatory participation for qualified male students to voluntary participation.

Transportation Research Institute established.

The OSU Rifle Team won the National Championship for the second time in three years, with a score of 1,170.

On October 12 a severe windstorm (75 mph sustained winds), which became known as the Columbus Day Storm, moved inland from the Pacific Ocean and caused $50,000 damage to the OSU campus. 55 trees were destroyed, and another 43 were damaged, including the Trysting Tree.

Oregon State University quarterback Terry Baker won the Heisman Trophy, the first west coast player to win the award. Baker was also honored by Sports Illustrated as its Sportsman of the Year.

On December 15, Terry Baker ran 99 yards for the game's only score as OSU defeated Villanova 6-0 in the Liberty Bowl in Philadelphia.

1963

New Kerr Library building completed.

McNary Hall (residence hall) opened.

Led by All-American Mel Counts, the men's basketball team advanced in the NCAA tournament to the Final Four, the second time it reached that level during Coach "Slats" Gill's tenure.

On December 10, 1963, Linus Pauling, OAC alumni Class of 1922, was awarded the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize. (No Peace Prize had been awarded in 1962 and two were awarded in 1963.) Having previously received the Nobel Chemistry Prize, Pauling became the only person in history to receive two unshared Nobel prizes.