1901: An examining committee met to start the application process for teachers who were interested in teaching at Southwestern, the recently established normal school. Only teachers of high character and efficient scholarship would be considered.

1939: Broken plaster and bricks were the only remains of the Southwestern Administration Building that was destroyed by a fire. A large crowd had watched with expressions of despair as the building went up in flames.

1942: For the first time in many years, Southwestern was not going to field a football team. President G.S. Sanders announced abandonment of football for the duration of the war.

1958: Popular instructor Otis M. King died unexpectedly due to a heart seizure. King, 45, had been an associate professor in the biology department since 1950.

1963: Five people joined the Southwestern faculty ranks during the fall semester, including Charles Braucher in pharmacy, Douglas Ashley in music, Harry Nowka and Roger Egerton in business, and Billy McIlvain as assistant librarian.

1974: A new name and possibly some confusion greeted students enrolling for the fall semester. The name of the institution was changed to Southwestern Oklahoma State University effective August 16. The school was previously known as Southwestern State College. The confusion was caused by renovation projects being undertaken at three of the campus buildings.