ENMU Through the Years
1910s
1912
New Mexico became the 47th state, and the state constitution of 1912 lined out that there would be a normal school placed in the Eastern part of the state in one of the counties of Union, Quay, Curry, Roosevelt, Chavez, and Eddy.
1920s
1927
The Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce voted to ask the legislature of New Mexico to place the Normal School in Portales, which was the natural site since it was the center of the six-county area that was designated for the normal school in the constitution
1927
Portales is designated as the site for a new "normal school" to serve more than 40 percent of the state’s high school graduates who live in eastern New Mexico.
1928
The chamber of commerce raises $7,000 to buy 43 acres of land on the west side of town for a campus. The Board of Regents later repays the money.
1929
Future ENMU President Floyd Golden helped lobby the New Mexico Legislature to approve $62,500 to start construction on the Administration Building.
1930s
1930
On Oct. 2, 1930, construction was started on the administration building. The cornerstone was laid on Dec. 19, 1930, by the Masonic Grand Lodge of NM with 2000 people in attendance. During the Great Depression, the English Tudor building was vacant for three years, except for cattle taking shelter.
1933
In 1933, Golden was able to help lobby the legislature to allocate $57,129.30 from a land use fund to a building fund so the administration building could be completed and the University could be opened.
1933
On Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 23, 1933, 7000 people gathered for a program to celebrate the opening of the Administration Building on the Eastern New Mexico Normal School campus.
1934
On June 2, 1934, Eastern New Mexico Normal School held registration and signed up 165 students for their 6-week summer session. On June 4, 1934, Eastern New Mexico Normal School officially hosted its first classes. Donald MacKay served as the first president.
1934
On Tuesday, Oct. 2, 1934, the student body got together and, after some debate, decided on the Greyhound as the official mascot, the school colors as green and silver, and the student newspaper being named The Chase.
1934
The school held a presidential inauguration ceremony for MacKay on Saturday, Oct. 6, 1934. After the ceremony, they hosted their first football game at 2 p.m. vs New Mexico A&M Freshmen.
1935
In March of 1935, the excellent music program that has grown into a regionally recognized program hosted its first event, the opera H.M.S. Pinafore.
1935
ENMJC celebrates its first graduating class of 14 women and three men.
1936
The Administration Building and Quay Hall are completed.
1936
In April 1936, the school hosted its first college Rodeo at the H Bar Ranch in Portales.
1939
On July 25, 1939, Eastern New Mexico Junior College added a third year and officially changed its name to Eastern New Mexico College.
1940s
1940
Many struggling students bring cows to college to finance their education. They sell milk to pay their way through school. Other enterprising students raise chickens, sell eggs, and rent horses to local citizens.
1940
In September of 1940, the College officially added a fourth year of studies.
1941
ENMC awards 41 Bachelor of Arts degrees to its first four-year graduating class members.
1942
Floyd Golden becomes Eastern’s second president.
1943
During World War II, enrollment dropped to 241.
1945-1946
Enrollment skyrockets as returning veterans continue their education. Eastern creates housing for 100 married students with surplus buildings from the deactivated Fort Sumner Air Base. The apartments are known as Vetville.
1947
ENMC becomes the youngest school accredited as a four-year institution. Cheering students and the college band greeted the president’s train at 3 a.m. when he returned from the North Central Association meeting in Chicago.
1948
ENMC adds a gymnasium, cafeteria, and Lea Hall.
1949
ENMC begins offering master’s degree programs. The Science Building is completed.
1950s
1953
The North Central Association accredits graduate programs at ENMC.
1955
The state Legislature approved a name change to Eastern New Mexico University.
1958
ENMU opens its Roswell campus.
1959
ENMU celebrates its 25th anniversary.
1960s
1960
Dr. Donald C. Moyer is named ENMU’s third president.
1961
ENMU offers an education specialist degree as a post-master’s option for educators.
1962
The Liberal Arts Building and De Baca Hall open.
1964
ENMU opens the Campus Union Building and Eddy Hall.
1965
Charles Meister becomes the fourth ENMU president.
1966
Lincoln Hall, a seven-story dormitory, is completed.
1967
The physical education complex and Bernalillo Hall open their doors to students.
1967
ENMU Women’s Rodeo wins their first national championship.
1968
Greyhound Stadium and Blackwater Draw Museum north of Portales are completed. The Education Building and Home Economics wing of the Technology Building opened the following year.
1969
The ENMU men’s basketball team wins the NAIA championship in Kansas City, Missouri.
1969
ENMU Men’s Rodeo wins their first national championship.
1970s
1973
The state Legislature funds an educational television station.
1973
The ENMU men’s cross-country team won the NAIA national championship in Salina, Kansas.
1974
The ENMU men’s track and field teams won the NAIA championship in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
1974
The ENMU men’s cross-country team wins the NAIA national championship in Salina, Kansas.
1975
Warren Armstrong is named ENMU’s fifth president.
1976
The ENMU men’s track and field team won the NAIA championship in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
1979
The College of Business building is completed and dedicated.
1980s
1981
ENMU Women's Rodeo wins the national championship.
1982
The campus fountain is completed.
1983
Robert Matheny becomes ENMU’s sixth president and the only ENMU graduate to serve as president.
1984
1984 ENMU Women's Rodeo wins the National Championship.
1984
ENMU celebrates its 50th anniversary.
1984
ENMU athletics transitions from the NAIA to NCAA Division 2.
1989
Thomas A. Bond is named ENMU’s seventh president.
1990s
1991
ENMU opens an instructional center in Ruidoso.
1991
Everett L. Frost becomes ENMU’s eighth president.
1991
Eastern New Mexico Football wins their first Lone Star Conference Championship, going 7-3-1 overall and 5-1 in conference.
1997-1999
ENMU receives a prestigious Pew Leadership Award for renewal of undergraduate education.
1999
ENMU becomes a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution.
2000s
2000
Eastern is one of only 20 institutions selected to participate in the American Association of Colleges and Universities Greater Expectations.
2001
Steven Gamble is selected as the ninth ENMU president.
2001
ENMU receives a $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for Title V programs to develop Hispanic-serving institutions.
2006
ENMU opens its new Communication Center to house the KENW Broadcast Center and academic programs in Communicative Arts and Sciences.
2006
Science fiction pioneer Jack Williamson, an ENMU professor for 17 years, dies at age 98 in Portales.
2007
ENMU receives full 10-year accreditation following the Higher Learning Commission team’s visit to campus.
2008
Campus bustles with construction as part of $60 million in upgrades to buildings and utilities.
2008
A renovated and expanded Science Building—almost one-third larger—reopens for classes and labs.
2008
ENMU’s social work program wins accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education.
2009
ENMU celebrates 75 years of student success.
2010s
2010
Music building renovation providing updated rehearsal and performance halls reopens on campus.
2011
Art and Anthropology building renovated and reopened.
2015
Jack Williamson Liberal Arts Building renovated and reopened.
2016
The $15.5 million Greyhound Stadium reopens on campus, bringing football back on campus for the first time since 1967.
2017
J.S. Elwell is named the tenth president of Eastern New Mexico University.
2017
ENMU records the highest enrollment in school history with 6,027 students enrolled for fall semester.
2017
ENMU receives full 10-year accreditation following the Higher Learning Commission team’s visit to campus.
2018
The Golden Student Success Center opens on campus.
2020s
2020
Campus closes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All classes converted to an online-only delivery method for the 2020-21 school year.
2020
Patrice Caldwell is named the eleventh president of Eastern New Mexico University, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
2021
ENMU reopens to in-person classes as ENMU emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
2023
James Johnston is named the twelfth president of Eastern New Mexico University.
2023
The Education Building is renamed the Gay Su Pinnell Education Building after the ENMU alumnus.
2024
Roosevelt Science Center renovation is completed and reopened on campus.
2024
Eastern New Mexico University celebrates its 90th anniversary.
