John R. Emens

John R. Emens
President of Ball State University
In office 1945–1968
Preceded by	Winfred E. Wagoner
Succeeded by	John J. Pruis
Personal details
Born	October 10, 1901 Prattville, Michigan
Died	October 25, 1976(1976-10-25) (aged 75)[1] Muncie, Indiana
Spouse(s)	Aline B. Emens
Alma mater	University of Michigan

John R. Emens was born on a small farm close to Prattville, Michigan. He was born on October 10, 1901. At the beginning of his career he started out as a principal at Defer Junior High School in Gross Pointe Farms, Michigan in 1920. Three years later he became the principal at east Detroit High School.^[2] Shortly after in 1926 he received his bachelor's degree at Eastern Michigan University. The next year he attended the University of Michigan and obtained his masters degree and then became an instructor there. In 1928 accepted a position at Plymouth High school as a Principal and athletic coach. After a short two years there he went to Jackson High School to be their assistant principle and director of vocational and educational guidance. He stayed there for five years. In 1935 he became the Director of teacher education and certification at Michigan State. The next year he earned his doctorate from there and also accepted the position as Assistant of Public Instruction. He held three different jobs during the years from 1938 to 1945, Associate Professor of Secondary Education at Wayne State University, Deputy Superintendent of Michigan schools, and Director of Personnel for the Detroit Public schools. On August 1, 1945 he was inaugurated as President of Ball State University. Becoming the sixth president of this university. He envisioned a "campus of the future" that had an auditorium "large enough to house most college functions as well as major symphonies, Broadway productions, ballets, and other forms of entertainment for Muncie and east central Indiana audiences."^[3] During his time as president he started many new colleges at Ball State University:

• Architecture
• Business
• Fine Arts
• Education
• Science
• Humanities

Also during his presidency many new buildings were constructed. These include:

• Residence Halls
• Practical Arts Buildings
• Physical Science-Mathematics Building
• Nursing Education Building
• Athletic Stadium
• L.A. Pittenger Student Center

He even has a building that is named after him on Ball State University's Campus. This building is called Emens Auditorium. Planning for this building started at the beginning of his tenure but wasn't built until almost 15 years later in 1961. Ball State's enrollment grew exponentially during his tenure, from around 1,000 in 1945 when he first started as president to over 13,000 in 1968 when he retired.^[4] Just after his first year alone enrollment had already doubled. After he retired he continued to live in Muncie. During his retirement he continued to give back to the community. He was a fundraiser for the Muncie Civic Theater from 1974 to 1976. He also helped form form an investment club called The Stock Watchers of Muncie. John R. Emens died on October 25, 1976 in Muncie.

Ball State University

Emens was selected the 6th President of Ball State University at the age of 44 in 1945.^[5] That this point in time World War II was coming towards an end, and during Emens time as president Ball State saw tremendous growth in population. In 1945 enrollment was 1,010 and by 1968 had reached 13,000. During Emens Tenure, many different kinds of needs started to arise and thus created a need for a long range plan for the institution. This plan let was carried out for the next 18 years and the campus expanded dramatically with the construction of almost 20 new buildings. On February 5, 1965, Ball State Teachers College was thus renamed Ball State University due to the tremendous growth of the campus and the additions of many different departments including the College of Architecture and Planning

Effect on Ball State University

LaFollette Complex, BSU

Scheumann Stadium, BSU

• John R. & Aline B. Emens Scholarship Program
• Campus Additions during Presidency
  • Applied Technology Building (1948)
  • College of Business Building (1950)
  • L.A. Pittenger Student Center (1952)
  • Woodworth Complex (1956)
  • Wagoner Complex (1957)
  • Arts and Communications Building (1957)
  • Hargeaves Music Building (1958)
  • Dehority Complex (1960)
  • Noyer Complex (1962)
  • Irving Gymnasium (1962)
  • Emens Auditorium (1964)
  • Studebaker Complex (1964–1965)
  • Cooper Science Building (1967)
  • LaFollette Complex (1967)
  • Scheumann Stadium (1967)
  • Teachers College (1968)
  • Lewellen Pool (1968)

Awards and honors

• Honorary Doctor of Laws from Washburn University

See also

• List of Ball State University Presidents

References

External links

• John R. Emens Recognition Night film, February 8, 1968
• Images of John R. Emens from the Ball State University Digital Media Repository