This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE

This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.

An event happened sixty years ago this Saturday that was to have a tremendous effect on the future of this area.

On July 14, 1947 thirty three young men registered for classes in what was then called OVS, Oregon Vocational School.

The site was called a mile-high campus and was located above Klamath Falls. It had been a Marine hospital beginning in 1943, designed to treat returning veterans who had suffered malaria or filariasis in combat areas of the Pacific.

From that date until it was deactivated in March of 1946 about 4,718 Marines had been treated there.

The base was complete with dormitories, dispensary, a large mess hall and such recreational areas as an Olympic sized swimming pool, a gym an d other facilities.

In 1947 the base was purchased by the State of Oregon for a dollar.

When I came here in 1948 it was a bustling area with classes in auto mechanics, auto body repair, commercial cooking, refrigeration and other areas catering to returning veterans. It also had become a factor in such sports as basketball and football.

A number of engineering courses were added in 1953 and in 1960 the college was transferred to the State Board of Higher Education.

The guiding light behind the college was Dr. Winston Purvine who served as President of the college until he retired in 1976.

Fearing that the college might be transferred to Portland, the local community raised money to Purchase a site just north of Klamath Falls and deeded it to the State with the stipulation that the college be moved there.

Then Senator Harry Boivin carried the matter to the state where a 6 million appropriation was made to build a new campus. The design of the buildings was similar to the Air Force Academy structures.

In 1963 the school moved down off its mile high campus to the new Location, a 158 acre site.

The college has had several names….first OVS…..later becoming OTI, Oregon Technical Institute and more recently OIT, Oregon Institute of Technology.

An auditorium was added in 1971 which has become the Student Union building, a learning resource center in 1981 and other buildings since then.

The “Owls” have become a potent factor in sports with a program that includes basketball and a number of others. At one time the school was also prominent in football and even had a stadium named for a local supporter, John Moehl.

Today that beginning when 33 students registered for the small curriculum has now been expanded to a major college that registers over 2500 students.

New activity on the campus is the construction of a medical teaching facility which is in the process of construction and has received partial funding from the state. Martha Dow is currently the President.

So...sixty years ago a former Marine hospital became an instructional center for veterans and now is a major college and certainly a wonderful and highly valued asset for this area.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.

Text Box:
This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.
An event happened sixty years ago this Saturday that was to have a tremendous effect on the future of this area.
On July 14, 1947 thirty three young men registered for classes in what was then called OVS, Oregon Vocational School.
The site was called a mile-high campus and was located above Klamath Falls.   It had been a Marine hospital beginning in 1943, designed to treat returning veterans who had suffered malaria or filariasis in combat areas of the Pacific.
From that date until it was deactivated in March of 1946 about 4,718 Marines had been treated there.
The base was complete with dormitories, dispensary, a large mess hall and such recreational areas as an Olympic sized swimming pool, a gym an d other facilities.
In 1947 the base was purchased by the State of Oregon for a dollar.
When I came here in 1948 it was a bustling area with classes in auto mechanics, auto body repair, commercial cooking, refrigeration and other areas catering to returning veterans.   It also had become a factor in such sports as basketball and football.
A number of engineering courses were added in 1953 and in 1960 the college was transferred to the State Board of Higher Education.
The guiding light behind the college was Dr. Winston Purvine who served as President of the college until he retired in 1976.
Fearing that the college might be transferred to Portland, the local community raised money to Purchase a site just north of Klamath Falls and deeded it to the State with the stipulation that the college be moved there.
Then Senator Harry Boivin carried the matter to the state where a 6 million appropriation was made to build a new campus. The design of the buildings was similar to the Air Force Academy structures.
In 1963 the school moved down off its mile high campus to the new Location, a 158 acre site.
The college has had several names….first OVS…..later becoming OTI, Oregon Technical Institute and more recently OIT, Oregon Institute of Technology.
An auditorium was added in 1971 which has become the Student Union building, a learning resource center in 1981 and other buildings since then.
The “Owls” have become a potent factor in sports with a program that includes basketball and a number of others.   At one time the school was also prominent in football and even had a stadium named for a local supporter, John Moehl.
Today that beginning when 33 students registered for the small curriculum has now been expanded to a major college that registers over 2500 students.
New activity on the campus is the construction of a medical teaching facility which is in the process of construction and has received partial funding from the state.   Martha Dow is currently the President.
So...sixty years ago a former Marine hospital became an instructional center for veterans and now is a major college and certainly a wonderful and highly valued asset for this area.
This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.