Eureka College history

When Johns Hopkins University opened in 1876, it was divided administratively into an undergraduate college and a graduate school.

Frank Frantz, attended in 1880's, Rough Rider and the final Governor of Oklahoma Territory.

Following his graduation on June 10, 1932, with a joint major in economics and sociology, Reagan returned for visits on twelve recorded occasions.

Emik Avakian, inventor and owner of numerous patents, graduated 1948.

The building was dedicated on September 28, 1967, by California governor and Eureka College alumnus Ronald Reagan '32, who was later elected President of the United States.

The Reagan Physical Education Center (also known as the Reagan Gym) was dedicated in 1970 by brothers Neil Reagan '33 and Ronald Reagan '32 and named in their honor.

In 1994, Eureka College established a museum named after Reagan to hold and interpret many items which he donated to the college during his lifetime, under the leadership of founding curator Doctor Brian Sajko.

In 2000, Eureka College dedicated the Reagan Peace Garden with a gift from central Illinois philanthropists Anne and David Vaughan to commemorate his important commencement speech at Eureka College in which Reagan called for nuclear arms reductions between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Starting in fall 2006, teams will compete as part of the St Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

In 2008, Eureka College's president, J. David Arnold, launched a new effort known at "Reagan Forward" to build on the Reagan legacy with the unanimous backing of the board of trustees.

On October 26, 2010, the College announced that it will build a new residence hall and renovate several existing residence halls, in what college officials are calling the most comprehensive and costly facilities project in college history.