Pacific Lutheran College becomes Pacific Lutheran University,
and the athletic name changes
from Gladiators to Knights.

The Philip Hauge Administration Building, originally called Tacoma-Pierce Administration, is built. Administrative offices are moved to this building, and classrooms are upstairs.

An east wing, housing the Chris Knutzen Fellowship Hall, is added to the College Union Building.

Robert A.L. Mortvedt becomes the PLU president.

Relieving some of the president’s duties, A. Dean Buchanan becomes the first business manager.

In May, alumnus Luther Jerstad becomes 1 of the first 3 Americans to climb Mt. Everest. He is honored by PLU in October and in 1964 receives the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

In the summer, the Choir of the West tours Europe for the first time.

This is Malmin’s last major tour with the choir; afterward, Maurice Skones becomes the choir director and music department chair.

A hopeful phone call from President Mortvedt to Senator Henry M. Jackson brings John F. Kennedy, President of the United States, to a combined convocation address for PLU and UPS at Cheney Stadium on 27 September. Four thousand students, as well as local and state dignitaries, attend.

When school starts, dancing is allowed for the first time on campus. The first dance, the Freshman Ball, is held in September and is well attended.

Philip A. Nordquist joins the history faculty.

As of 2001 he is still teaching and is the PLU centennial historian.

Construction of Pflueger Hall, the first dormitory on lower campus, and the Columbia Center, housing a café, golf shop, and other various things, is also finished. Construction of these 2 buildings kicks off a decade-long building streak, ending with 10 new buildings by 1970, almost as many as had been built in the previous 70 years.

Workers start building he second lower campus dormitory, Foss Hall (named for Board of Regents member Dr. Halfdan L. Foss).

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