Murray State College facts for kids
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Former names
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Murray State School of Agriculture |
|---|---|
| Type | Public community college |
| Established | 1908 |
| President | Tim Faltyn |
| Students | 2,200 |
| Location |
,
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U.S.
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| Campus | Rural |
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Sporting affiliations
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NJCAA Division I |
| Mascot | Aggies |
Murray State College is a public two-year college in southcentral Oklahoma. Its main campus is located in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. The college is named after William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray, a former Oklahoma Governor.
Murray State College also has a smaller campus in Ardmore, Oklahoma. It is one of four colleges that work together at the University Center of Southern Oklahoma. The other three are Oklahoma State University, Southeastern State University, and East Central University.
Contents
College History
Murray State College started in 1908 in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. It was first called the Murray State School of Agriculture. This school was created by a law passed by Oklahoma's first state lawmakers.
Naming the College
The college was named after William H. Murray, often called "Alfalfa Bill." He was an important person in Oklahoma's early history. He helped write the rules for the new state of Oklahoma, which joined the United States in 1907. Later, he became the ninth governor of Oklahoma in 1930.
Early Students and Growth
About 100 students first attended the college. Many of them were from the Chickasaw and Choctaw Native American nations. In 1916, "Alfalfa Bill" Murray helped get money from the government to build dorms for Native American students.
On March 17, 1924, Oklahoma lawmakers allowed the school to offer more advanced classes. It became a community college and gave out its first associate degrees that same year. An associate degree is a two-year college degree.
Changes Over Time
"Alfalfa Bill" Murray's nephew, Clive Murray, became the college president in 1931 and served for 30 years. The school's name changed a few times to show its growth. In 1955, it became Murray State Agricultural College. In 1967, it was renamed Murray State College of Agriculture and Applied Science.
In 1972, the college got its own special group of leaders to manage it. At this time, its name officially became Murray State College. It's important not to confuse it with Murray State University in Kentucky.
What You Can Study
Murray State College offers different types of two-year degrees. These include:
- Associate of Arts (AA) degrees, which are often for students who plan to transfer to a four-year university.
- Associate of Science (AS) degrees, also often for students who plan to transfer, especially for science-related fields.
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees, which prepare students for specific jobs right after graduation.
Famous Alumni
Many people who went to Murray State College have become successful. Some of them include:
- Bill Anoatubby, who is the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation.
- R. Perry Beaver, who was a leader (principal chief) of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
- Johnston Murray, who was an attorney and also served as the 14th Governor of Oklahoma.
- U. L. Washington, who played professional baseball in Major League Baseball.
See also
- List of colleges and universities in Oklahoma
