80 Years of Success

1927: Portales is designated as the site for a new “normal school” to serve the more than 40 percent of the state’s high school graduates who live in eastern New Mexico.

1928: The Chamber of Commerce raises $7,000 to buy 43 acres of land for campus on the west side of town. The money is later repaid by the Board of Regents.

1929: Initial state funding of $62,500 is approved for the first campus building.

1930: With less than half of the Administration Building complete, the cornerstone is laid. During the Great Depression, the English Tudor building is vacant for three years, except for cattle taking shelter.

1934: Eastern New Mexico Junior College opens to 145 students for a six-week summer session. Students can enroll in two-year programs in teacher education and business. Donald MacKay serves as first president.

1935: Eastern celebrates its first graduating class of 14 women and three men.

1936: The Administration Building and Quay Hall are completed.

1939: The renamed Eastern New Mexico College adds a fourth year of classes. The campus has four

permanent buildings and an enrollment of 826.

1940: To finance their educations, many struggling students bring cows to college. They sell milk to pay their way through school. Other enterprising students raise chickens, sell eggs and rent horses to local citizens.

1941: ENMC awards 41 Bachelor of Arts degrees to members of its first four-year graduating class.

1942: Floyd Golden becomes Eastern’s second president.

1943: During World War II, enrollment drops to 241.

1945 -46: Enrollment skyrockets as returning veterans continue their educations. Eastern creates housing for 100 married students with surplus buildings from the deactivated Fort Sumner Air Base. The apartments are known as Vetville.

1949: Eastern begins offering master’s degree programs. The Science Building is completed.

1955: The state Legislature approves a name change to Eastern New Mexico University.

1960: Dr. Donald C. Moyer is named Eastern’s president.

1965: Charles Meister becomes the fourth ENMU president.

1967: ENMU opens its Roswell campus. In Portales, the physical education complex and Bernalillo Hall open their doors to students.

1969: The Eastern Men’s Basketball team wins the NAIA championship in Kansas City, Missouri.

1973: The state Legislature funds an educational television station.

1975: Warren Armstrong is named Eastern’s fifth president.

1983: Robert Matheny becomes ENMU’s sixth president.

1984: Eastern celebrates its 50th anniversary. 1989: Thomas A. Bond is named ENMU president.

1991: ENMU opens an instructional center in Ruidoso.

1991: Everett L. Frost begins his term as Eastern’s eighth president.

1999: ENMU becomes a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution.

2001: Steven Gamble is selected as ninth ENMU president.

2006: Science fiction pioneer Jack Williamson, an ENMU professor for 17 years, dies at age 98 in Portales.

2008: Campus bustles with construction as part of $60 million in upgrades to buildings and utilities.

2014: USA Today names ENMU one most affordable colleges in the U.S.