Ralph Dorn Hetzel
Encyclopedia
Ralph Dorn Hetzel was the tenth president of the Pennsylvania State University
, serving from 1927 until 1947. Prior to that he served as the president of the New Hampshire College
, which became the University of New Hampshire
in 1923, under Hetzel's tenure.
It was during Hetzel's presidency that Penn State's football program
shifted to the oversight of the University, rather than the Board of Athletic Control, run by alumni at the time. Hugo Bezdek
, coach of the football team at the time, was unpopular among influential alumni in the Pittsburgh area. Dissatisfied that Bezdek had been unable to defeat long-time rival University of Pittsburgh
, the alumni accepted an agreement that would remove him from the head coaching position in exchange for a transfer of control to the Department of Physical Education, which would be elevated to the status of a school (the present-day College of Health and Human Development).
The Hetzel Union Building
(HUB) at Penn State University is named for Hetzel. Hetzel Hall, a dormitory at the University of New Hampshire, is named after him as well.
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, serving from 1927 until 1947. Prior to that he served as the president of the New Hampshire College
New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts
New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts was founded and incorporated in 1866, as a land grant college in Hanover in connection with Dartmouth College...
, which became the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
in 1923, under Hetzel's tenure.
It was during Hetzel's presidency that Penn State's football program
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
shifted to the oversight of the University, rather than the Board of Athletic Control, run by alumni at the time. Hugo Bezdek
Hugo Bezdek
Hugo Francis Bezdek was a Czech-American sports figure who played American football and was a coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He was the head football coach at the University of Oregon , the University of Arkansas , Penn State University , and Delaware Valley College...
, coach of the football team at the time, was unpopular among influential alumni in the Pittsburgh area. Dissatisfied that Bezdek had been unable to defeat long-time rival University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, the alumni accepted an agreement that would remove him from the head coaching position in exchange for a transfer of control to the Department of Physical Education, which would be elevated to the status of a school (the present-day College of Health and Human Development).
The Hetzel Union Building
Hetzel Union Building
The HUB–Robeson Center, commonly referred to as the "HUB" is the student union building centrally located on the University Park campus of Pennsylvania State University. It was originally built in 1953 and had major renovations done in 1973 and 1983. The most recent round of expansions and...
(HUB) at Penn State University is named for Hetzel. Hetzel Hall, a dormitory at the University of New Hampshire, is named after him as well.