University History & Traditions

UNIVERSITY HISTORY & TRADITIONS University Origin The University Seal The University of Toledo was founded by The University of Toledo’s Seal was Jesup Wakeman Scott on October 12, 1872 placed in the middle of Centennial Mall and as a private arts and trades school, known as dedicated on October 23, 1995 by the Student Toledo University of Arts and Trades, offering Alumni Council, with the support of various painting and architectural drawing as its campus and community organizations. A only subjects. Scott, the editor for the Toledo tradition that was formally started by Omicron Blade newspaper from 1844 to 1847, was Delta Kappa, as part of their ritual, is that no a public-spirited Toledoan who felt the city Rockets past, present, or future who cross this should have a university to train young people path on their educational journey shall ever for responsible positions in the growing com- step on the seal. This is every Rocket’s sign of munity. Scott’s dream led him to endow 160 respect and gratitude for our great university. acres of land which later became the Scott It is a UT myth, and believed to be true, that if Park Campus. Scott died in 1874 and the you step on the seal in Centennial Mall you school was forced to close in 1878 due to a will fail your next exam. lack of funds. On January 8, 1884, the assets of the university were turned over to the city Toledo Edison Memorial Fountain of Toledo and the school reopened that year The Toledo Edison Memorial Fountain, a as the Manual Training School, later changing gift to the University of Toledo by the Toledo its name to Toledo University. In 1922, the uni- The Bell Tower was completed in 1931. Edison Co. for the Centennial of Light (1879- versity moved into an automobile mechanics 1979), is located on the north side of the training facility on Scott’s land that had been four corners of this architectural gem are Student Union and was built when Centennial constructed during World War I. After the four gargoyles which overlook and guard the Mall was constructed in 1980. The fountain, Toledo voters passed a bond levy in 1928, the University of Toledo. designed by Toledoan Phyllis Nordin, was main campus was moved north to the land The 156-step, 206-foot Bell Tower sits turned into a flower bed for four years be- located on Bancroft Street, with University Hall atop of University Hall. Completed in 1931, cause the rusted pipes of the fountain would being the first building constructed in 1931. University Hall was the first building built on have cost $50,000 to repair. After a fundraising On July 1, 1967, the University was given the Bancroft Campus. It took 400 men nearly effort by Student Government President Kevin the status of a state-funded university by the one full year to complete University Hall and Hopkins, Toledo Edison, and many others, the Ohio General Assembly and became known the second building built on campus, the flower bed was restored back into a fountain as the University of Toledo. On July 1, 2006 the Field House. The Collegiate Gothic structural in 1997. University merged with the Medical University design for University Hall set the standard for of Ohio, making UT one of only four institutions all other buildings to be constructed on the in the state with a medical school and a law University of Toledo’s Bancroft Campus. school. Centennial Mall Bell Tower and University Hall During the Blizzard of 1978, the land President Henry J. Doermann, the father in mid-campus, which used to be a faculty of the Bell Tower and the university’s struc- parking lot and Army barracks, was com- tural design, wanted all of the buildings on pletely covered by snow. Graduate students Bancroft Campus to be of a Collegiate Gothic in the university’s geography department architectural design to reflect the best design conducted a study and photographed the elements of the universities of Europe. Presi- paths on the snow made by students walk- dent Doermann felt such architecture would ing to class. The design of the sidewalks in provide an atmosphere to inspire students. He Centennial Mall was then constructed using also dreamed of a central tower that could be the layout of those paths. spotted from anywhere on campus. President There are 290 trees located in the 9.7 Doermann went against the objections of acres of Mall area. This shrine of trees is many Toledoans who felt the design was too known as the Circle of Champions. Centen- extravagant and a waste of money. He knew nial Mall was completed in 1980 and provides how much this Tower would mean to the UT the campus with an environmentally friendly community; therefore, he set out and accom- look, which contributes to UT’s ranking as plished his lofty goal of building the beautiful one of the “100 most beautifully landscaped high structure that resides at the north center places in the country,” according to the Ameri- part of Bancroft Campus. Residing on the top can Society of Landscape Architects. Only 22 college campuses are on the list. There are almost 300 trees located in the 9.7 acres of the Centennial Mall area. 2014-15 TOLEDO MEN’S BASKETBALL 186 UTROCKETS.COM /UTROCKETS @TOLEDOROCKETS @UTROCKETS UNIVERSITY HISTORY & TRADITIONS ATHLETIC TRADITIONS Nickname Origin The Rocket Fight Song When the University of Toledo played In 1961, the University of Toledo procured then-powerful Carnegie Tech in football in “U of Toledo” a genuine Nike-Ajax missile from the U.S. 1923, Pittsburgh sports writers were surprised Chorus Army missile program. Simply known as “The U of Toledo, we’ll fight for you to learn that UT did not have a nickname. Rocket,” it was placed behind the crossbar of (Fight! Fight! Fight!) Pittsburgh writers pressed James Neal, a UT U of Toledo, we love the Gold and Blue the north end goalpost, where the Larimer student working in the press box, to come up (Let’s go Blue!) Athletic Complex resides today. During the with a nickname. Men of the Varsity, the enemy must yield, renovation in 1989-90, the Rocket was moved Despite UT’s 32-12 loss, the student We’ll fight just like our ancestors to its present day position on the northeast and march right down the field! labeled the team “Skyrockets,” obviously corner of the Glass Bowl, just outside of the T-O-L-E-D-O, Toledo! impressed by his alma mater’s flashy wall. The one-ton Rocket carries two sets of performance against a superior team. The Verse (no longer used) fins and a propellant boost capable of guiding The Indians roamed the Maumee River land sportswriters shortened the name to “Rockets,” the missile to supersonic velocity. In 2004, the Till along came Anthony Wayne. which has been used since. Old England was the ruler of the Lakes, rocket was refurbished and painted midnight Many other suggestions for UT’s nickname Till Perry gained his fame. blue and gold. have been considered through the years, in- They were fighters and victorious Legend has it that the rocket’s trajectory is cluding a Spanish theme of Toreadors or Bulls, And they drove back every foe. pointed toward Bowling Green State University, Gave their legends and traditions in honor of Toledo’s sister relationship with the 25 miles south. If the Rocket were to be lit, it To the school we honor so. city’s namesake in Spain. Others included is said, it would blast off and land directly on Commodores, Turtles, Bancroft Highwaymen Alma Mater the 50-yard line of the Falcons’ Doyt Perry and Jeeps. “Fair Toledo” football stadium. Toledo teams were referred to as the Blue In tower shadows voices now raising, and Gold, Munies (for municipal university) To alma mater Golden and Blue, The Spirit Rock and Dwyer’s Boys (after head football coach Fair Toledo praise to thee, In 1968, Nicholson Concrete and Supply James Dwyer) in sports stories prior to 1923. Portal of learning ever be, Co. donated an eight-ton rock to the Univer- Hallowed halls we shall revere, Vow to keep thy memory dear. sity of Toledo as a symbol of the spirit of its School Colors student body. The Spirit Rock was originally Midnight Blue & Gold were selected as the located on the grass between the William S. school’s official colors by the Varsity ‘T’ club, The Alma Mater Carlson Library and the Student Union. The at its organizational meeting on December 1, “Fair Toledo” was selected from eight large rock marked the final resting place of 1919. Ten of the 14 football lettermen met to entries which were submitted in the UT Alma the old Bancroft High image of UT. The original form the club, and also chose Ed Stader as Mater Song Contest, sponsored jointly by the their first president. Student Senate and the Alumni Association in 1959. The competition was held to replace The Fight Song “Golden and Blue,” set to “Amici,” a tune used “U of Toledo” was written in 1932 by Dave by various universities. Connelly, UT athletic director and baseball While driving to work, Gilbert Mohr heard coach through much of the 1930s and 1940s. Jim Uebelhart announce the contest on the Connelly loved to sing, but had never studied radio in January of that year. An amateur music. He wrote the words for “U of Toledo” songwriter, Mohr began humming different and sang the melody to a family friend, Bernie tunes, and later with his wife, Jean Strout, Jones.

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