Olney Central College
Vision without action is simply a dream. These individuals had the tireless work ethic to put their vision into action.
Chris Simpson, OCC President
ABOVE LEFT: Retired Illinois Eastern Community Colleges CEO Terry Bruce gives the keynote address during OCC’s 60th Anniversary Celebration. ABOVE RIGHT: The OCC community and area residents join together in celebrating the college’s founding in 1963.
Efforts to form a Class II Junior College in Olney began in the late 1950s when a citizens’ committee for education was formed under the direction of Frank Bower, president of the East Richland Community Unit 1 Board of Education. Later a second committee, chaired by F. Ross Anderson, was created to study the need for a junior college in Olney. At the time, the state was considering plans for a system of junior colleges. The group found residents receptive to the idea, but with little money or the facilities to house a college, the prospect of forming That changed on March 10, 1961, when the Pure Oil Company donated its former office building and adja - cent property to the East Richland school district to house the college. Pure Oil officials made the announcement during a luncheon with 75 prominent citizens. Among those attending were Purdy and Bower. The donation made OCC the first two-year college in Illinois founded with its own campus. one was several years away. Pure Oil Building Donation On June 13, 1962, the superintendent of public instruc- tion approved a public referendum to determine if the
voters of the East Richland school district supported a Class II Junior College. In a special election on September 15, 1962, they voted 2,578 to 585 to establish the college. An educational tax rate of 17 cents and a building maintenance tax rate of 7 cents were approved. Preparations for the college continued throughout the fall of 1962. The Pure Oil Building underwent renova - tions and college officials entered into an agreement to start up operations with Eastern Illinois University. OCC became the first junior college in America founded on a working arrangement with an established university. Olney Community College opened its doors on September 3, 1963 with 154 students. More than 1,000 people attended a dedication ceremony on October 6, 1963. The event included the installation of Purdy as the first president of OCC and G. Robert Darnes as college dean. OCC experienced rapid growth and by the fall of 1965 had 303 students. During this time, efforts began to make OCC a Class I Area College. Committees were formed to promote the effort and more than 200 meetings were conducted by the college board and administration. Judge Larry Arnold served as the attorney for the school system throughout the process.
Forward Together 11
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