| Tarkio College | |
|---|---|
Tarkio College, circa 1910 |
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| Active | 1883–1992 |
| Type | Private |
| Religious affiliation | United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America |
| Location | Tarkio, Missouri |
| Sports | basketball |
Tarkio College was a college that operated in Tarkio, Missouri, from 1883 to 1992. The institution was supported by the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America[1]. It closed after filing for bankruptcy protection in 1991.[2]
Samuel C. Marshall was the first president and William E. Walker served as the last president.[2]
The Tarkio College mascot was the owl. The school colors were purple and white, and the college's motto, often attributed to its founder, gentleman farmer David Rankin, was "Set Fire, Tarkio!"[2]
Tarkio College won the 1940 NAIA Division I Men's basketball championship, defeating San Diego State 52-31[2].
Brewer and Shipley named their most famous album, Tarkio, after this college in 1970, featuring the song "One Toke Over the Line".
One of the school's most famous structures was the Mule Barn Theatre, an octagon-shaped structure used originally to house mules. It was on the National Register of Historic Places but was destroyed in a 1989 fire.[3]
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After the college closed, student transcript records were transferred to Northwest Missouri State University, where they can be requested through the Registrar's Office at 800 University Drive, Maryville, MO 64468[4].
After Tarkio College closed, the library books were purchased by and moved to Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There were also several attempts to find alternative uses for the property, including early discussions about the possible founding of a new institution, Tarkio Valley College. Initially, Youth Services International, Inc. operated Tarkio Academy, a residential and community-based educational program for juveniles between 1995-2004.[7]. North Central Missouri College and Linn State College then announced an exploration of options for a new jointly operated technical college in early 2006. This was soon followed by reports that the property would become the Midwest Institute of Energy, a private college[8]. The institute missed its original planned opening and as of early 2009 had not opened.