1954

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1954 in Clemson history

  • Johnstone Hall is erected.
  • Lake Issaqueena is drained for ecological renewal and numerous sand-filled M38A2 100-pound Practice Bombs are seen in the lake bottom, left from the use of the World War II Issaqueena Bombing Range. The exposed bombs are disposed of in 1955. The lake is not completely drained and therefore the possibility of additional practice bombs in deeper portions of the lake exists.
  • The Tiger mascot appears on the Clemson sidelines for the first time. He joins the Country Gentleman, a Clemson representative since 1939.
  • May 17: The United States District Court for the District of Kansas rules that school segregation on the basis of race is illegal, in decision on the case of Brown v. the Board of Education.
  • June 18: The Board of Trustees undertakes a management study with results that will lead to dramatic changes in the college's organization, operation, and outlook.
  • July 10: Future Clemson head football coach Tommy Bowden born in Birmingham, Alabama.
  • July 17: Future Clemson basketball coach Rick Barnes is born in Hickory, North Carolina.
  • September 13: The new dining hall, later named Harcombe Commons, opens for breakfast for the first time. College officials, trustees, and representatives of the architectural and construction firms are on hand for an informal dedication. Following breakfast, Dr. R. F. Poole, president of the college, introduced Charles E. Daniel, of Greenville, who was recently appointed as a state senator. Sen. Daniel speaks to the cadets and visitors, observing that the construction of new facilities including the dormitories and agricultural buildings brings the value of new projects on campus within the past five years to some $15 million. The dining hall is part of a $4.5 million dormitory project. Dr. Poole then expresses pride in the new dorms, and urges cadets to take care of them to preserve them for future students. Dr. Poole introduces Dr. R. M. Cooper, of Wisacky, chairman of the Board of Trustees; Mr. Buck Mickle, of Greenville, project manager; and Mr. Bill Lyles, of Columbia, of the architectural firm of Lyles, Bissett, Carlisle and Wolff. Each makes a short speech of appreciation for being invited to the opening. Three other trustees are present but make no remarks: Dr. Joe B. Douthit, of Pendleton; Dr. W. A. Barnette, of Greenwood; and Mr. T. W. Thornhill, of Charleston. Also present is Mr. J. H. McHugh, who also ate the first meal in the old Clemson Mess Hall that was razed earlier this year. Following the meal, the visitors and college officials make a tour of the kitchen facilities. (The Tiger, "Many Dignitaries Attend Opening Of New Dining Hall Monday Morning", Thursday 16 September 1954, Volume XLVII, Number 2, page 1.)
  • September 14: The Registrar's Office announces that the current enrollment at Clemson College is 2,612 students. Of this number, 829 are new students who entered in June or September, and 1,783 are students who were previously enrolled. (The Tiger, "Registrar's Office List Students Enrollment for '54", Thursday, 16 September 1954, Volume XLVIII, Number 2, page 1.)
  • September 17: Section B, the first portion of Johnstone Hall to be completed, is finished this date. (The Tiger, "Dormitory Section B To Open Next Week", Thursday 16 September 1954, Volume XLVII, Number 2, page 1.)
  • September 17: "Jim Spangenburg, Baptist minister of students at Clemson, who has become a familiar figure on this campus for eight years, has announced that he will leave Clemson this Friday [this date - Ed.] to take a course of graduate training in counseling. Since August of 1946, Mr. Spangenburg has served the students of Clemson and has helped them in many of their problems. It is with great regret that we learn of his departure." (The Tiger, "Spangenburg Leaves Clemson This Week", Thursday, 16 September 1954, Volume XLVIII, Number 2, page 1.)
  • September 17: Tiger Brotherhood, local service fraternity, sponsors the 2nd Annual Campus Fall Frolic fish fry in the Amphitheatre. Tickets are on sale for $1.25, plates served after 6 p.m. "The Fall Frolic will bring together the students and members of the faculty and administration for an old fashioned get-together. Tiger Brotherhood, as a committee of the whole, is seeking to bring the faculty and students into a closer social relationship. All proceeds from the supper will go to the Tiger Brotherhood Campus Service Fund. Among the many projects made possible by this fund in the past were the telephone at the guard room for local calls, free of charge to the students; and the paving in front of the local post office." (The Tiger, "Tiger Brotherhood Sponsors Fish Fry", Thursday 9 September 1954, Volume XLVIII, Number 1, page 1.)
  • September 18: The Tigers blank the Presbyterian Blue Stockings, 33-0, in a Memorial Stadium night game. WLOS-TV, channel 13, begins broadcasting this date, along with WLOS radio (1380 AM, now WKJV), owned by Skyway Broadcasting Company. It has always been an ABC affiliate, and is the second-longest tenured primary ABC affiliate south of Washington, D.C. (behind Lynchburg's WSET-TV, ironically also on channel 13). With an antenna on Mt. Pisgah, the highest transmission tower east of the Mississippi River, the station's signal reached much of the Upstate of South Carolina.
  • September 20: Cadets occupy Section B of Johnstone Hall for the first time. The newly completed section was cleaned, and furniture installed over the weekend. (The Tiger, "Dormitory Section B To Open Next Week", Thursday 16 September 1954, Volume XLVII, Number 2, page 1.)
  • September 25: In a road trip to Georgia, Clemson is defeated, 7-14.
  • October 1: Central Dance Association sponsors the first dances of the fall. The Rat Hop formal dance is held Friday night at 9 p.m. The Rat Queen receives a silver loving cup, presented by Mr. Snoddy of the Clemson Jewelers. Dick Pyler, assistant manager of the Clemson House, presents the Queen and her escort with two tickets to a buffet supper at the C House. Other prizes include a corsage from Clemson Florist, five dollars from Dan's, a box of candy from L. C. Martin Drugs, and a Saturday morning breakfast for two at the YMCA Cafeteria. (The Tiger, "CDA Plans for RAT HOP October 1 & 2", Thursday 9 September 1954, Volume XLVIII, Number 1, page 1.}
  • October 2: The Tigers lose home game to Virginia Tech, 7-18. VPI will have an 8-0-1 season. Annual Dad's Day classic. Central Dance Association sponsors the Rat Hop informal dance at 8 p.m. (The Tiger, "CDA Plans for RAT HOP October 1 & 2", Thursday 9 September 1954, Volume XLVIII, Number 1, page 1.}
  • October 9: Clemson defeats fourteenth-ranked Florida, 14-7, in a game played in Jacksonville.
  • October 21: Clemson is defeated by the University of South Carolina, 8-13, in Columbia.
  • October 30: Clemson meets Wake Forest in Charlotte, North Carolina, winning, 32-20.
  • November 5:For the start of Homecoming, an informal alumni social is held in the lounge at the Clemson House at 7 p.m. Central Dance Association sponsors a Homecoming formal dance on Friday night from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Jungaleers, the Clemson College Dance Band, under the leadership, of Lynn Wyatt, perform at the affair. Selections of the Homecoming queen and the five TAPS beauties are made during the dance, selected from the dates of Clemson students. (The Tiger, "School Plans Active Homecoming Schedule To Honor The Return of Old Graduates", Thursday, 28 October 1954, Volume XLVII, number 7, page 1.)
  • November 6: The new $4.5 million dormitory group (Johnstone Hall - Ed.) and student activity center is open for inspection by alumni and visitors from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. "Returning alumni will find that the student information center serves instead of the old "guard room"; the eye-catching student canteen has replaced the "juice shop"; and visitors can wait in an attractive lounge instead of on the "gangway rail". The ultra-modern kitchen and dining room (seating 4,000) [later named Harcombe Commons - Ed.] will also be open." (The Tiger, "Game, Open House, Highlight Week-End", Thursday, 28 October 1954, Volume XLVII, number 7, page 1.) The Tigers defeat Furman, 27-6, in Memorial Stadium.
  • November 13: In road trip to College Park, the Tigers fall, 0-16, to seventeenth-ranked Terrapins.
  • November 20: Clemson travels to Auburn, loses, 6-27.
  • November 27: To round out a 5-5 season, Clemson wallops The Citadel, 59-0, in Memorial Stadium. Tigers are 1-2 in conference, for fifth place in the ACC.
  • December 4: M-G-M releases cartoon "Dixieland Droopy" in which Droopy directs his 78 rpm record of "Tiger Rag". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NghHFn1SSRY



1953 The 1950's 1955