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Mount Olive, NC 28365
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University Archives: Origins of the University of Mount Olive

Grounds

Mount Allen Junior College (1952-1953)

Mount Allen Junior College

Original Size Image - Mount Allen Junior College (1952-1953)

Mount Olive Junior College (1954-1969)

Mount Olive Junior College

Original Size Image - Mount Olive Junior College (1954-1969)

Mount Olive College (1970-2013)

Mount Olive College

Original Size Image - Mount Olive College (1970-2013)

History

Mount Allen Junior College was established by the North Carolina Convention of Free Will Baptists in September, 1951, to provide a program of Christian higher education. The College received its charter for a junior college in November of 1951. The first year of operation in 1952-53 was at Cragmont Assembly, the Free Will Baptist summer retreat grounds near Black Mountain, NC, under the leadership of the Reverend Lloyd Vernon. The school was called Mount Allen Junior College, taking its name from the mountain near Cragmont.

In 1953, the College relocated to Mount Olive to be nearer to the center of denominational strength in the eastern section of the state. Under the leadership of the Reverend David W. Hansley, Chairman of the Board of Directors, plans were made to develop a junior college offering programs in arts and sciences and in business. Until minimum preparations could be made for using the Mount Olive property, Mr. Vernon held classes in the Beulaville Free Will Baptist Church. In November 1953, he brought the students to Mount Olive. The Reverend W. Burkette Raper was chosen as president in July 1954, and steps were taken to begin a collegiate program in September, with an enrollment of 22 students. In 1955, the name was changed to Mount Olive Junior College.

In 1956, plans were initiated for the purchase of land and the development of an enlarged campus. In 1960, the College was granted accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1965, the first buildings were completed on the new campus.

In September of 1970, the school’s name was changed to Mount Olive College. In 1979, the Board of Trustees set a timetable to make Mount Olive a senior college. In 1986, the first baccalaureate degrees were awarded and the Southern Association granted accreditation as a four-year institution. On January 1, 2014, the school’s name was officially changed to the University of Mount Olive.

Students

1956 Graduation

1956 Graduation

Original Size Image - 1956 Graduation

Art Class

Art Class

Original Size Image - Art Class

Orientation, Sept. 6, 1961 - Original Mount Olive Campus

Orientation, Sept. 6, 1961 - Original Mount Olive Campus

Original Size Image - Orientation, Sept. 6, 1961 - Original Mount Olive Campus

Panelists for Free Will Baptist Student Fellowship - First Fall 1967 Meeting

Panelists for Free Will Baptist Student Fellowship - First Fall 1967 Meeting

(L-R) Isaac Hines, Pamela Wood, Becky Jo Sumner, Dianne Brown, and Miss Hilda F. Owens
Original Size Image - Panelists for Free Will Baptist Student Fellowship - First Fall 1967 Meeting

Faculty and Board of Trustees

University Seals, Logos, and School Song

(click on photo to open original size)

Mount Olive Alma Mater

Mount Olive Alma Mater

Original Size Image - Mount Olive Alma Mater

Hail, Mount Olive, Alma Mater,
endless years shall crown they head;
praise we then our great Creator,
who through all the years shall lead.
May thy torch of truth grow brighter
still supplied with light divine;
strong, and clear, and ever burning;
on the path of wisdom shine.
Alma Mater, Our dear mother,
honored ever, honored now;
courage, faith and love devoted,
be the laurels on thy brow.
O, Mount Olive, how we love thee,
Dowered with thy fost’ring care;
kindest heaven smile upon thee,
God exalt and keep thee fair.
- Daniel W. Fagg, Jr.

Some photos used by permission of the Mount Olive Area Historical Society

University of Mount Olive Timeline

November 27, 1951 - Charter issued by the State of North Carolina.

September 22, 1952 - Mount Allen Junior College opened at Cragmont Assembly (Lloyd Vernon, president)

September 17, 1953 - Convention of Original FWB authorized purchase of Mount Olive Elementary School building and relocation of College

August 2, 1954 - W. Burkette Raper became president

September 9, 1954 - First collegiate year. College opened in Mount Olive with twenty-two students

September 14, 1955 - Convention of Original Free Will Baptists authorized name change to Mount Olive Junior College

November 6, 1958 - State accreditation attained

December 1, 1960 - Accreditation granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Semptember 27, 1965 - Henderson Building and Women’s Residence Hall Complex occupied

August, 1968 - Moye Library completed

September, 1970 - Grantham Hall completed

September, 1970 - Convention of Original Free Will Baptists authorized name change to University of Mount Olive

August 3, 1974 - Rodgers Chapel dedicated

September 12, 1979 - Convention of Original Free Will Baptists aurthorized four-year program

April 19, 1980 - Scarborough Field dedicated

January 7, 1984 - Grand Opening of College Hall (now Kornegay Arena)

October, 1985 - College apartments completed

May 10, 1986 - First Baccalaureate degrees awarded

December 9, 1986 - Senior college accreditation granted by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

August, 1991 - Poole Administration Building completed

April 18, 1993 - Grand Opening of the Lois K. Murphy Regional Center

November 2, 1993 - Grand Opening of the University of Mount Olive at New Bern

January 31, 1995 - J. William Byrd, Ph.D., assumed the duties of third president of the University of Mount Olive

September 28, 1995 - Galloway Music Library dedicated

October 8, 1995 - Jesse R. Laughinghouse Hall dedicated

October 30, 1995 - Grand Opening of the University of Mount Olive at Wilmington

October 1, 1997 - Grand Opening of the University of Mount Olive at Research Triangle Park

November 20, 1999 - Alumni Cross Walk dedicated

May 6, 2000 - Moore-Williams Fieldhouse dedicated

March 25, 2001 - Nancy Chapman Cassell Softball Field

September 4, 2001 - King Hall dedicated

May 7, 2002 - John Neal Walker Tennis Center dedicated

May 7, 2002 - Agribusiness Center ribbon cutting

September 29, 2002 - Carillon in Rodgers Chapel dedicated

November 8, 2003 - Milton M. Lownes, Jr., M.D. Student Health Center dedicated

August 30, 2005 - George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena (formerly College Hall) dedicated

October 3, 2005 - Grand Opening of the University of Mount Olive at Washington

October 28, 2006 - Pope Wellness Center dedicated

November 18, 2006 - W. Burkette and Rose M. Raper Hall dedeicated

August 24, 2007 - Ray and Chris Amon Field dedicated

November 17, 2007 - Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center dedicated

May 31, 2008 - NCAA Division II National Champions - Baseball

July 1, 2009 - Philip P. Kerstetter, Ph.D., assumed the duties as the fourth president of the University of Mount Olive

August 12, 2009 - Grand Opening of the University of Mount Olive at Jacksonville

September 12, 2009 - Annie Mae Whitfield and Everett Edwin Herring Residence Halls dedicated

November 27, 2012 - The J. William and Marvis E. "Marcy" Byrd Apartment Complex and Assembly Hall dedicated

January 1, 2014 - Mount Olive College changes name to the University of Mount Olive