Hilltopper Heritage

Building History - Cravens Graduate Center

Namesake - Born in St. Bernard, Ohio on December 5, 1930, Raymond L. Cravens obtained his A.B. in 1952 and his M.A. in 1955 from Western. During his college career he worked as business manager for The College Heights Herald where he was also a staff cartoonist. He earned his Ph.D. from University of Kentucky in 1958. Upon graduation he began teaching political science in Western’s history department and continued up the ladder into administration being named Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1959. He served as Dean of Public Service & International Programs from 1977 to 1980 when he went back to teaching full time. The 1962 Talisman was dedicated to him and the Kentucky Junior Chamber of Commerce named him one of its “Outstanding Young Men in Kentucky” for 1963.

History - “The 9 story building will house graduate library facilities, office of the dean of graduate college, areas for card catalogs and circulation counters, lobby areas and additional auxiliary and storage space.” [“Permit Sought For WKU Center,” Park City Daily News, August 27, 1969] The building was built of reinforced concrete and brick. It is connected at the fourth floor with the Margie Helm Library and was built on the site of the college swimming pool.

Additions -2004-elevators replaced

See also - Recitation Hall, Cedar House, Gordon Wilson and Helm

Sources -

Board of Regents Meetings - 1968 September 21
1969 April 23 & July 8
1971 July 28

College Heights Herald - 1971 February 2, p. 5; July 13, p. 3; August 31, p. 9; December 7, p. 1
1973 January 19, p. 5; January 26, p. 11; January 30, p. 7; October 5, p. 5
1975 June 26, p. 12
1983 January 11, p. 13
1988 November 3, p. 12
1990 November 15, p. 1

Park City Daily News - 1969 August 27
2003 July 7
2004 November 4
2005 July 26

Researched and written by Jenna Hawkins, 2008