How the halls got their names
Hall Namesakes
Allen Hall
Allen Hall was named after Wayne Allen, OSU alum and former chairman and CEO of Phillips Petroleum. Allen received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and master's degrees in industrial engineering and management.
Bennett Hall
Bennett Hall was named after Henry G. Bennett, famed OSU president for 24 years. The hall was known as the world’s largest men’s dormitory. Its first occupants were Air Force recruits who were transferred to Stillwater due to the flu epidemic in Texas. Later, it housed men athletes. In 1970, it became a coed hall.
Booker Hall
In 2005, Booker Hall was named after Tulsa-born, OSU A&M graduate and founder of Aeromet, Ray Booker. Booker received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1957. Through all of his success. Booker remained dedicated to advancing OSU's initiatives, exemplified through his involvement in the OSU Foundation and his lifelong commitment as a member of the Alumni Association. He established the Ray and Linda Booker OSU Flight Center.
Bost Hall
Bost Hall was named after Oklahoma A&M Graduate, Armon H. Bost. Bost graduated in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in economics. His mother, Jessie Thatcher Bost, was the first woman to graduate from Oklahoma A&M. Bost went on to establish the Midwestern Engine and Equipment Company located in Tulsa. Later, he was inducted into both the OSU Alumni Hall of Fame and the Spears School of Business Hall of Fame.
Carreker East and West Halls
The Carreker East and Carreker West were named after OSU graduate James Carreker. Carreker earned a bachelor's degree in marketing with a minor in mathematics and later obtained a master's degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance. He was inducted into he OSU Alumni Hall of Fame in 2010.
Davis Hall
In 2001, Davis Hall was named after OSU's first African-American student, Nancy Randolph Davis. In 1999, Davis was honored with the OSU Distinguished Alumni Award.
Drummond Hall (now closed)
Drummond Hall was built in 1966 and named after Fred "Gent" Drummond. Gent was a distinguished graduate of OSU, as he went on to be a leading businessman and rancher in Osage County. Throughout his life, Gent was president of OSU’s Alumni Association and charter member of the Board of Regents. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2004, and named Oklahoma Cattleman of the Year in 2014. He and his wife, Janet, are the longest consecutive donors to the University.
Friend Hall
Friend Hall is named after Jonathan Friend, a faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Friend is an alumnus of Oklahoma A&M and was presented the Outstanding Teacher Award in the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1979. During his teaching career, Friend taugh every veterinary student who graduated from 1951 through 1989.
Griffith Community Center
The Griffith Community Center was named after Jim Griffith, a 1975 OSU alum and founder and CEO of the OnCue Express. Jim graduated from OSU in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Jim is the grandson of legendary wrestling coach Art Griffith, who was in charge when Oklahoma A&M’s teams won nine national titles and completed 10 undefeated seasons in 13 years.
Iba Hall
Iba Hall was originally opened as an athletic hall in 1970. It was named after devoted coach and teacher, Henry P. Iba. Iba is thought to be one of the toughest coaches in NCAA history, as he won 767 games—the second-most in college basketball history at the time of his retirement. As OSU's athletic director, he built a program that won 19 national championships in five sports (basketball, wrestling, baseball, golf, cross-country) over the years. Today, Iba Hall not only houses resident but also the Department of Housing and Residential Life.
Kamm Hall
Kamm Hall is named after Dr. Robert B. Kamm, who served as the 13th president of OSU from 1966 to 1977. In 1988, Kamm received the Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Service Award for outstanding citizenship and leadership, Oklahoma State's highest honor. He was inducted into three halls of fame, including the Oklahoma Hall of Fame (1972), the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame (1987) and the College of Education Hall of Fame (2000).
Kerr Hall (now closed)
Drummond Hall's imposing duplicate, Kerr Hall, was built in 1966. It was dedicated to the first Oklahoma-born governor, Robert S. Kerr. In 1956, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Morsani Hall
Morsani Hall was named after Frank and Carol Morsani, who both hold honorary doctorates from OSU and are recipients of the 2005 Henry G. Bennett Award. Moreover, Frank was inducted into the OSU College of Education Hall of Fame in 2000. They established several scholarships for students, and in 2007, Frank and Carol announced a $5 million planned gift to the College of Education that established the Frank and Carol Morsani Center for Ethics and Creative Leadership.
Parker Hall
Built in 1962, Parker Hall was named after the Comanche Nation leader Quanah Parker. In 1968, residents were allowed to submit names and vote for whom the hall should be named. When the election results were tallied, Quanah Parker won by a landslide. A few weeks later the Regents sent a large portrait of Quanah Parker, and it was hung in the lobby. Read more about the naming of the hall at The Story of Quanah Parker.
Patchin Hall
Patchin Hall was named after Zelma Patchin, OSU Dean of Women in 1951. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 1997.
Pattillo Community Center
Pattillo Community Center was named for Naomi O. "Oleta" Pattillo, an innovative and long-serving OSU food services director. Her career at OSU spanned from 1949 to 1983.
Peterson Hall
Peterson Hall was named after Duane Peterson, a faculty members in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Peterson was named OSU Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1971 and Outstanding Teacher in the College of Veterinary Medicine four times.
Scott Hall
Scott Hall was built in 1962 after Dr. Angelo Cyrus Scott, after former OSU president and scholar well-versed in philosophy, literature and law. Today, it is an office space for OSU staff.
Smith Hall
Smith Hall was named for Eloise and Sherman E. Smith, distinguished OSU alumni. A Bristow native and Oklahoma oilman, he retired as chairman and CEO of SerDrilco. They are the founders of the Sherman E. Smith Family Foundation.
Stinchcomb Hall
Stinchcomb Hall is named after OSU alumnus, Glenn Stinchcomb. Stinchcomb graduated with a bachelor's degree in management and later obtained a master's degree in accounting. He received the OSU Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award in 1988 and just one year later was inducted into the Spears School of Business Hall of Fame.
Stout Hall
In 1949, Stout Hall was built. Named after Julia E. Stout, the Dean of Women from 1928 to 1951. Originally an undergraduate women’s hall, it was converted to a men’s hall in the 1970s, and then converted to upperclassmen coed housing. Today, it home to the students in the Honors College.
Thatcher Hall
Thatcher Hall was opened in 1925 as a women-only residence hall. It is named after Jessie Thatcher Bost, the first female graduate of OSU. She served as president of the Oklahoma A&M College Alumni Association. Today, Thatcher Hall is home to the ROTC.
Wentz Hall
Wentz Hall was built as the first and only ten-story building on campus. The hall was dedicated to philanthropist, civic worker, politician, and sportsman, Louise Haines Wentz. Wentz Hall is part of the Scott-Parker-Wentz Triplex.
Zink Hall
Zink Hall is named after an OSU mechanical engineering graduate and founder of Zecco Inc., Jack Zink. He has received 35 patents for his inventions, and later became the campaign chair for CEAT, He helped the college raise over $21 million for scholarships, professorships and faculty chairs.