6 • U NIV E R S IT Y O F A R K A N S A S - F O R T S M I TH : TH E F I R S T 85 Y EAR S
Timeline
1928 The college opens on September 13 with enrollment of 34 students. J.W. Ramsey, superintendent of Fort Smith Public Schools, also serves as first president of Fort Smith Junior College. 1929 School colors (blue and white) and mascot (Numa the lion) are adopted. The first yearbook, The Pioneer, is published. 1930 The first class of nine students graduates, and Luella Krehbiel joins the faculty of the high school and junior college. 1931 Enrollment reaches 108. 1932 Sidney Blakely edits the Numa, the new University of Arkansas - Fort Smith yearbook. Luella Krehbiel founds the Theta Phi Kappa honor society. Fort Smith Junior College has its last fall of intercollegiate football. 1934 Tuition rate is $50 per semester for 10 hours or more. The National Youth Administration begins to provide school-related jobs for students. FSJC joins the American Association of Junior Colleges. 1935 Student extracurricular activities include borrowing a truck for a swimming outing at Lake Fort Smith. 1936 Lillian Wilkerson writes the Alma Mater lyrics for FSJC. 1937 Junior college students begin to meet in classes under the new football stadium. 1938 Junior college students attend an International Relations Club conference in San Antonio. 1939 Junior college student and A Cappella Choir president Pierce McKennon joins the Royal Canadian Air Force as war breaks out in Europe.