college work and a complete preparatory school. In 1897, the first graduating class—two men and three women—received their Normal School diplomas. In 1904, Territorial Normal became Central State Normal School. Statehood was still three years away. On December 29, 1919, the State Board of Education passed a resolution making Central a four-year teachers’ college conferring bachelor's degrees. From 1901 until 1961, Central housed a laboratory school in which local elementary schoolchildren were schooled by Central's faculty and soon-to-be teaching graduates. Two years later, the Class of 1921 had nine members, the first graduates to receive the four-year degrees. Two decades later, in 1939, the Oklahoma Legislature authorized the institution to grant both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. With the expanded offerings came a new name, Central State College. According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the school was routinely affected by state politics. Presidents and sometimes faculty members, were changed with changes in state governors. In 1950, President Max W. Chambers banned solicitations of campaign donations from faculty members. This resulted in more stability of the school administration. On March 11, 1941, Central State became part of a coordinated state system of post-secondary education overseen by the Oklahoma Regents for Higher Education, and joined institutions with similar missions as a regional institution. In 1954, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education gave Central permission to offer the Master of Teaching Degree, which became the Master of Education in 1969. In 1971, the college was authorized to grant the Master of Arts in English and the Master of Business Administration degrees. On April 13, 1971, the state legislature officially changed the institution's name to Central State University. Old North Tower was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. On May 18, 1990, during the university's Centennial Year, legislation was passed changing the name to the University of Central Oklahoma, though many of the students still refer to the University as "Central", and many alumni as "Central State." Presidents Since 1891, the University of Central Oklahoma has had 20 presidents and two acting presidents. Richard Thatcher (1891–1893) George W. Winans (1893–1894) E.R. Williams (1894–1895) Edmund D. Murdaugh (1895–1901) Frederick H. Umholtz (1901–1906) Thomas W. Butcher (1906–1908) James A. McLaughlin (1908–1911) Charles Evans (1911–1916) Grant B. Grumbine (1916–1917) James W. Graves (1917–1919) John G. Michell (1919–1931) Malcom A. Beeson (1931–1935) Cliff R. Otto, Acting (1935)