• Oklahoma State University is a land grant institution which was created by the Morrill Act of 1862 (aka Land Grant College Act)
• The university was founded on December 25, 1890, as Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical College – twenty months after the land run of 1889
• The first class was held December 14, 1891
• After two and one-half years of meeting for classes in local homes and churches, 144 students moved into Old Central, the first classroom building, on the southeast corner of campus
• 34,193 students earned degrees from OA&M between 1896 And July 1, 1957, when the school became Oklahoma State University
• Today more than 200,753 students are alumni of Oklahoma A&M/OSU

I was honored to be named the last "Varsity Revue Vicky"!!! Yes, I was in the 1976 Varsity Revue that had the theme of "Headlines." As a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, we combined with Farmhouse to practically "blow away" the competition with our newspaper headline…THE FIRST HEART TRANSPLANT!!!! I think we won everything that year! I was privileged to be the "NEW HEART" that first got rejected because I just couldn't fit in with the red blood cells and white blood cells dancing to the tune of Jesus Christ's Superstar "So you are the Star." I sang a song about being rejected to the tune of "One Less Bell to Answer", (Now that I'm rejected … catch the tune?) But I then saved the day by pumping out white blood cells to fight off bacteria to the tune of "The 1812 Overture"… cannon booms and all! The gentlemen of Farmhouse looked so cute in their tights! I must mention that Rick Lane was the OLD HEART that I replaced and Randy Ross was the transplant patient. That was one of my most favorite memories during my time at OSU!!! Thanks for letting me share this with you and going down memory lane! Susan K. Steele BS '77, MS '81, DO '88 Tulsa, OK. P.S. The Varsity Revue Victor award that year went to Robin Wantland.

In 1965, when girls, especially, did not have cars on campus, my sorority sister (Pat Gallagher) and I were looking for a ride to Varsity Review Chorus Girl tryouts for which we had been chosen to represent ADPi. It was raining, which would have put a real damper on our glamour hair styles that had been appropriately teased and sprayed. Pat's boyfriend had chapter meeting and couldn't take us but bravely offered us his car. Pat ran in with the last minute good fortune and we dashed downstairs to load into our wheels. As we settled in, a quick look pointed out a bit of a problem. It was stick shift! We exchanged looks of horror confirming neither of us had driven stick before. We had no time to fiddle around with details, so she said “I think I can operate the clutch if you can do the gears.” Done! Fortunately, the car was pointed the right way and off we lurched. This was not working as smoothly as we’d hoped. With his poor car dying each time we made a lurch we had not even made it past the ADPi House. People passing by were amazed at how we got his car to jolt and lunge forward like that and only move about a foot each time. By this time, we only had a few minutes to make it to tryouts so I rolled down the window and pleaded for help from an innocent boy rushing down the sidewalk in the rain. With both of us hysterically talking at the same time he finally got the message we wanted him to drive us the two blocks down the street to the auditorium. Though it made no sense to him, he obliged, expertly operated both the clutch and gear shift as smooth as satin, parked the car, said his good-byes, and we scrambled in the back door of the auditorium just in time, with our glamour hair-dos mostly in place. We never knew who our rescuer was. (Later, rehearsals were made by foot!) One of many great memories at OSU. Sandy Turley Bennett

I was an ADPi. We did VR with the Sigma Chis (I think) and we were teeth. During the opening act we had a “patient” (Susan Lane) sitting in a chair like she was at the dentist’s office. Myself and a Sigma Chi did backhand springs across the front of the stage. The guy went too far and his feet landed in Susan's stomach. The dental chair was on wheels so they just wheeled her off the stage. The guy's leg was bleeding but he continued through the entire show. Susan had the wind completely knocked out of her but was fine. Apparently very few people in the audience saw it but we had a good laugh for a while. Ahhh, memories! Dena A. Gawey

During my senior year (first senior year) at OSU I participated in varsity review (Spring of ’89). I was an AXO and we teamed up with Farmhouse that year. Several of my friends were participating and I mentioned that if they needed another person to call me. I really did not anticipate a call since I had no singing or dancing experience. Much to my chagrin someone dropped out at the very next rehearsal and they were desperate. While it took some effort to learn the lyrics and the dance moves, I really enjoyed the complete experience. We ended up winning first place and several other honors. I had never been a part of a "team" that won something in such a big way. It was by far one of my favorite memories from my senior year. I will never forget my father telling me "I didn't know you could do any of that stuff" after he attended a performance. I responded that I didn't know I could do any of it either! My only regret was that I did not purchase the videotaped performance. I would love to prove to my husband that I had my moment in the spotlight! Is there a way to get my hands on a copy of that tape? Gina (Laman) Hunsberger Class of '90

Such fond memories! I remember in 1970 a group of us from Willard Hall did a medley from "Hair." Jan Riggs played piano. Robyn (can't remember her last name) and Nancy Bowles were part of the "cast." (Nancy and Robyn subsequently transferred to OU.) I sang the "Frank Mills" song. What great fun. Ardoth Hassler B.S. 1972

As a transfer sophomore I tried out for and won a spot with my singles act in the Varsity Revue. My talent was an acrobatic dance (way ahead of my time). At the dress rehearsal the director decided that I could not use the whole stage and insisted that I must perform in front of the curtain! Since I was a rather timid person I docilely went along. But my new steady boyfriend really let him know about it. It was definitely scary to have my space changed so much, but it went well. I didn't fall off the stage, thank goodness. Kappa Delta won a spot in the same show after several consecutive years winning the Varsity Revue. We did it again, and took best overall act of the show. I was on the "OSU track team" in our act. Those were two memorable nights. The funny thing was that a guy came to my dressing room after the final performance with a camera. He didn't come right out and say what he wanted and I was very wary. It scared him off. I learned later he was the photographer for the Agivator, wanting to put my picture in the magazine! Rita Matthews Picture is from the 1949 Varsity Revue. Thanks to Special Collections for helping us find some pictures!

Read More