East Central University

The university was founded as East Central State Normal School in 1909, two years after Oklahoma was admitted as the 46th U.S. state. It was one of the six newly created state funded normal schools that were designed to provide four years of "preparatory" (or high school) study, followed by two years of college work towards teacher certification. The school's establishment was the product of the intense lobbying efforts of the 25,000 Club, a local booster group. The club raised funds for faculty salaries so classes could begin that fall in local churches and public school classrooms. Expanding beyond education degrees, in 1939 the school became "East Central State College". Fifteen years later, the regional colleges were allowed to offer graduate degrees. By 1974, the state legislature renamed the state colleges, and it became "East Central Oklahoma State University"—a name it retained until 1985 when it gained its present name. ==Academics==

ECU serves around 4,000 students and is perhaps best known for its Environmental Health Science Program, one of only 30 programs nationally accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council. East Central is divided into 5 academic units (three colleges and two schools) with 70 degree programs. They are: • College of Education and Psychology • College of Health and Sciences • School of Nursing • College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences • School of Fine Arts • The Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business • School of Graduate Studies ==Other campuses==

East Central is no longer one of four participating institutions offering courses at the Ardmore Higher Education Center. There are Distance Education sites located in Shawnee, OK, through the Gordon Cooper Technology Center and McAlester, OK through the Eastern Oklahoma State College. == Student life ==

East Central hosts nearly eighty student organizations. Among them are fraternities and sororities. ==Athletics==

. East Central's athletic teams (the "Tigers") have competed in the NCAA Division II Great American Conference (GAC) since 2011, after competing in the Lone Star Conference of the NCAA from 1997 to 2011. The university hosts 13 sports, 6 men's athletic programs and 7 programs for women. The school's football team won the NAIA national football championship in 1993. Athletics offices are located within the Kerr Activities Center. ==Notable alumni==

Politics ECU has had several graduates move to political office, including five of alumni who were elected to the position of governor. • Bill Anoatubby, Chickasaw Nation Governor • Charles W. Blackwell (Class of 1964), first Ambassador of the Chickasaw Nation to the United States from 1995 until 2013. • Lyle Boren, former U.S. Congressman • Cindy Byrd, Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector • Rudolph Hargrave, Former Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court • Frank W. Davis (Oklahoma politician) (Class of 1958), late member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives • Robert S. Kerr, former Governor of the State of Oklahoma, and U.S. Senator • Ernest McFarland, former Arizona Governor • George Nigh, former Governor of the State of Oklahoma • Dustin Rowe, current Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court Professional sports Several ECU grads have excelled in the area of professional sports: • Harry Brecheen, baseball player • Armonty Bryant, football player • Brad Calip, football player • Mark Gastineau, football player • Todd Graham, football coach • Dewey McClain, football player • David Moore, football player • Trinity Benson, football player • Caleb Holley, football player receiver • Gil Morgan, golfer • Jerry Walker, baseball player • Lloyd Waner, baseball player • Paul Waner, baseball player Other notable alumni • Wade Burleson, author, historian, and teacher • Hallie Brown Ford, philanthropist • Aaron Gwyn, professor • Lillard Hill, broadcast journalist • Kenneth Hite, game designer • Jennifer McLoud-Mann, mathematician • Leon Polk Smith, Artist • Harland Stonecipher, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. Founder, Chairman & CEO • B. Kevin Turner, Former COO of Microsoft, CEO of Sam's Club and CIO of Walmart • La Vern E. Weber, United States Army Lieutenant General and Chief of the National Guard Bureau ==Notes==