LeMoyne–Owen College facts for kids
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Former names
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LeMoyne College Owen College |
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| Motto | "Gubernatio. Opportunitas. Inclino." |
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Motto in English
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"Leadership. Opportunity. Change." |
| Type | Private, HBCU |
| Established | 1968 LeMoyne College – 1871 Owen College – 1947 |
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Religious affiliation
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United Church of Christ |
| Endowment | $52 million (2020) |
| President | Christopher B. Davis (interim) |
| Students | 609 (Fall 2022) |
| Location |
,
,
United States
35°07′18″N 90°02′06″W / 35.12175°N 90.03495°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Purple and Gold |
| Nickname | LOC |
| Mascot | The Magicians |
LeMoyne–Owen College (often called LOC or "LeMoyne-Owen") is a private college in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a historically black college (HBCU), which means it was founded to educate African American students. The college is connected with the United Church of Christ.
LeMoyne–Owen College was formed in 1968. It was created when two older colleges, LeMoyne College and Owen College, joined together. These schools were originally started by church groups from the northern United States during and after the American Civil War.
Contents
The Story of LeMoyne–Owen College
LeMoyne–Owen College has a long and interesting history. It began with two separate schools that later merged.
How LeMoyne College Started
The story of LeMoyne College began in 1862. This was during the American Civil War. The American Missionary Association (AMA) sent a teacher named Lucinda Humphrey to Camp Shiloh (Tennessee). Her job was to open a school for formerly enslaved people and free Black people. The AMA was a group of Black and white ministers who started many schools like this.
The school was first called Lincoln Chapel. It opened after the Union army took control of Memphis. In 1863, the school moved into the city of Memphis. Sadly, in 1866, it was destroyed during riots that happened after soldiers left the city.
Rebuilding and New Beginnings
The school was quickly rebuilt. In 1867, it reopened with 150 students and six teachers. In 1870, a doctor named Francis Julius LeMoyne from Pennsylvania gave $20,000 to the AMA. This money was used to build a new school for future teachers. Dr. LeMoyne was a famous abolitionist, meaning he worked to end slavery.
In 1871, the new school building opened on Orleans Street. It was named LeMoyne Normal and Commercial School. A "normal school" trained teachers. A terrible yellow fever sickness hit Memphis in 1873, affecting many people at the school.
Under the leadership of Andrew J. Steele, the third principal, the school grew for 30 years. In 1914, the school moved to its current location on Walker Avenue. The first building there, Steele Hall, was built that same year. LeMoyne became a junior college in 1924. By 1930, it offered a four-year program. In 1934, the State of Tennessee officially recognized LeMoyne as a four-year college.
The Story of Owen College
Owen College started as a junior college in 1947. The Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention bought land for it on Vance Avenue. After building the campus, S. A. Owen Junior College opened in 1954.
The Colleges Merge
In 1968, LeMoyne College and Owen College decided to combine. This created LeMoyne–Owen College, a private, historically black college connected to churches.
Overcoming Challenges and Growing Stronger
In 2007, LeMoyne-Owen College faced some money and management problems. Its accreditation, which is like a school's official approval, was put on probation. But the community stepped in to help! The City of Memphis, the United Negro College Fund, and other groups pledged millions of dollars. This support helped the college stay open and get its accreditation back.
In 2014, the college's special fund (called an endowment) grew to $20 million. Then, in July 2020, LeMoyne-Owen College received its largest gift ever. The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis pledged $40 million! This huge gift helped the college a lot, allowing it to do even more for its students.
College Sports and Achievements
LeMoyne–Owen College has many athletic teams. They compete at the Division II level in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
The college offers sports for men like baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and tennis. For women, there's softball, basketball, cross country, volleyball, and tennis. Men's volleyball will be added in 2025. The school's mascot is the Magicians!
A National Championship Win
In 1975, the LeMoyne–Owen College men's basketball team won the NCAA Men's Division III Basketball Championship. At that time, the school was in Division III. LeMoyne-Owen is the only historically black college (HBCU) to win a national championship at that level!
Golfing Success
LeMoyne–Owen College golfer Dominique Worthen achieved amazing things in one week. He was the first player in SIAC history to win the SIAC Player of the Year award. He also made the All-Conference Team and won the SIAC Conference Championship MVP award. In 2015, Dominique also won the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship.
Famous People Who Attended LeMoyne–Owen College
Many successful people have graduated from LeMoyne–Owen College. Here are a few:
| Name | Lifespan | Year | What they are known for | Referencing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lloyd Barbee | 1925-2002 | 1949 | A lawmaker and civil rights leader in Wisconsin. | |
| Marion Barry | 1936-2014 | 1958 | A former mayor of Washington, DC. | |
| Henry Clifford Boles | 1910-1979 | 1927 | A well-known architect. | |
| Annie Marie Watkins Garraway | 1940- | 1958 | A mathematician who worked with telecommunications and electronic data. She is also a generous giver to good causes. | |
| W. W. Herenton | 1940- | A former mayor of Memphis, Tennessee from 1992 to 2009. | ||
| Benjamin Hooks | 1925-2010 | 1943 | A former leader of the NAACP, a major civil rights organization. | |
| Myron Lowery | A former temporary mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. | |||
| Bert Maynard Roddy | 1886-1963 | 1910 | A Memphis businessman and civil rights organizer. | |
| Andrea Lewis Miller | The 12th president of LeMoyne–Owen College. | |||
| Ira Latimer | 1906-1985 | Taught at LeMoyne before becoming a lawyer and civil rights activist in Chicago. | ||
| Larry Robinson | The current President of Florida A&M University. |
Leaders of LeMoyne–Owen College
Here is a list of some of the college's presidents:
- Johnnie B. Watson
- Andrea Lewis Miller (2015–2019) – She was the first female president and the second former student to lead the college.
- Carol Johnson-Dean (2019–2021) – She served as an interim president.
- Vernell Bennett-Fairs
See also
