​Our History​​

​​188​0s

• 1882: Findlay College founded by Churches of God and citizens of Findlay
• 1883: Construction begins on Old Main
  
• 1886: Classes begin with 70 students on Old Main's third floor
• 1888: College Church of God established
  

18​90s

• 1890: Gymnasium added to Old Main basement
• 1892: Orange and black adopted as school colors
  
• 1893: Findlay Business College and Music Conservatory purchased
  

190​​0s

• 1904: Rev. C.I. Brown becomes president
• 1905-06: Steam heating plant installed, Old Main completely rewired
• 1907: Carrothers Home for the President built
  

191​​0s

• 1912: Old Main tower lowered by two stories; chapel remodeled
  
• 1913: Rev. William Harris Guyer becomes president (served until 1926)
  

192​0s

• 1923: Griffith Memorial Arch erected in front of Old Main
• 1925: Physical Culture Hall (later Renninger Gymnasium) constructed
• 1926: Harvey L. Allen becomes first layman president
• 1929: Homer R. Donathan named president; pushes for accreditation
  

1930s

• 1931: Admitted to Ohio College Association
• 1933: Accredited by North Central Association; new Carrothers Home built
• 1938: Fire breaks out in Old Main causing $75,000 in damage
  

1940s

• 1942: Winebrenner Graduate School of Divinity established
• 1943: Carroll A. Morey named acting president during WWII
• 1947: H. Clifford Fox becomes president
• 1948: North Central Association rescinds accreditation
  

1950s

• 1955: Post-WWII construction boom begins; Myers Hall and library expansion completed
• 1957: "The Cave" student union opens in Old Main
• 1959: Ollie J. Wilson becomes president; Lovett Hall built
  

1960s

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• 1961: Brewer Science Hall and Alumni Memorial Union open; graduate school separates to become Winebrenner Theological Seminary
• 1962: North Central Association awards conditional accreditation
• 1963: Egner Fine Arts Center opens
• 1964: Ivan E. Frick becomes president at age 35
• 1966: Fox Residence Hall opens; full accreditation restored
• 1968: Shafer Library dedicated
• 1969: Croy Physical Education Center, Deming Hall, and Henderson Cafeteria open
  

1970s

• 1970: Bare Residence Hall constructed

• 1971: Campus radio station WLFC-AM begins broadcasting
• 1972: Glen R. Rasmussen becomes president
• 1975: Intensive English Language Institute established for international students
• 1976: Equestrian Studies Program begins
• 1979: Weekend college program starts; football team wins NAIA Division II national championship
  

1980s

• 1981: Chapel renovated; bilingual multicultural teacher education program certified
• 1982: Mazza Collection founded; Animal Science Program begins
• 1983: Kenneth E. Zirkle becomes president (served 20 years)
• 1984: Nuclear Medicine Institute acquired; Western Equestrian Farm purchased
• 1989: Phil Gardner Fitness Center opens; All Hazards Training Center established; Findlay College becomes University of Findlay

1990s

• 1990: Griffith Memorial Arch moved and renamed; extensive campus renovations including Alumni Memorial Union
• 1991: Kenneth L. Frost Science Center added
• 1992: Enrollment surpasses 3,000; football team wins NAIA Division II championship
• 1993: James L. Child Jr. Equestrian Complex opens
• 1994: Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion opens as new home for Mazza Museum
• 1995: Wrestling and football teams win national championships
• 1997: Edward and Joyce Brewer Center for Health Sciences opens
• 1998: Cosiano Health Center opens; intergenerational program begins
• 1999: Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex opens; MBA becomes first fully online program
  

2000s

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• 2001: English and western equestrian teams win national titles
• 2002: Front lawn re-landscaped; "Findlay Serves" orientation service project begins
• 2003: Winebrenner Theological Seminary opens adjacent facility; The Village acquired; DeBow Freed becomes president
• 2006: Former Owens Community College campus acquired and renovated
• 2007: 125th anniversary celebration
• 2009: Beckett Animal Science Building opens; men's basketball team wins NCAA Division II championship with perfect 36-0 record

​2010s

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• 2010: Dr. Katherine Rowe Fell becomes first female president; "Give Voice to Your Values" campaign launches
• 2011: Hubbard Press building acquired; Oiler Pointe housing added
• 2012: Davis Street Building science addition opens with green technologies
• 2015: Joins Great Midwest Athletic Conference; Mazza Museum opens world's first paper engineered books gallery
• 2016-2017: Center for Student Life and College of Business opens
• 2017-2018: University purchases Winebrenner Building
• 2018: “Together We Will" campaign launches with $75 million goal
  

​2020s

• 2021: Joseph & Judith Conda STEAM Education Center added to Mazza Museum
• 2022: Beall Oilers Golf Center unveiled; women's golf team wins NCAA DII national championship with perfect spring season
• 2023: Dick Strahm Champions Field unveiled
• 2025: College Park built with pickleball/basketball courts; Billy J. Watterson donates $6 million for Watterson Center for Ethical Leadership
  
• 2026: New president expected