Oglesby Union History
Organized in 1946 as a "community center" for students attending Florida State College for Women and the Tallahassee Branch of the University of Florida, the original Student Union operated as the "O" Club (The Officers' Club) at an abandoned air base, Dale Mabry Field. The "O" Club housed the Union until the mid-1950’s when it was moved to its current location at Woodward Avenue and Tennessee Street.
Extensive additions in 1964 enlarged the complex considerably and included dining rooms, game rooms, a barber/beauty shop, a ticket office, lounges, an auditorium, office, meeting rooms and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
In August 1988 a renovation and expansion project was completed. The project added a computer lab, a video center, a Senate chamber, 13 new meeting rooms, an Arts center, numerous retail locations, a video games arcade and 20 new offices.
The Roscoe R. Oglesby Union Complex was named for Dean Ross Oglesby, who
had been an FSU Professor of Government for 19 years, serving concurrently
for 10 years as Dean of Students. Buildings in the Complex are named for
distinguished graduates: Robert Edward Crenshaw, Helen Morris Davis, and
Coyle E. Moore, Jr. The formal dining room in the Union was named for Holata
Micco, a Seminole Indian Chief, and the Senate Chamber was named for Robert
A. Brandewie, an advisor to the Student Government Association.
Oglesby Union Directors
1964 - 1965
Dr. Reid Montgomery, Director of Student Activities
1965 - 1968
Dr. Herb Reinhard
1968 - 1970
Mr. Paul Durrett
1970 - 1973
Mr. Roger Wehrle
1974 - 2003
Dr. Nancy Turner
2003 - 2006
Mr. Christopher Roby
2006 - Present
Mr. William Clutter
Oglesby Union Facility Timeline
1940 - The Rowena Longmire Student-Alumnae building, named after Associate Professor of English and former President of the Alumnae Association, opened in the Fall of 1940. This building was described as "the center of activities for student organizations." It also served as the center for social and recreational purposes for faculty and students.
1952 - The Student Center, which they referred to as "the alum", was completed in 1952 and provided students with a gathering place other than Longmire. The Student Center had a snack bar, juke box, and a room for dancing. This area was later given over to the post office.
1964 - An extensive enlargement of the Student Center was constructed and dedicated on November 14, 1964. Named the University Union, the complex contained dining rooms, games rooms, a barbershop and a beauty shop, a ticket office, lounges, an auditorium, offices, meeting rooms, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The buildings in the complex were named the Davis Building, Activities Building, Crenshaw Building, Moore Auditorium and the Union Pool. The complex was 130,000 sq. ft. in size.
1988 - A $9 million Union Renovation and Expansion project, funded with Capital Improvement Trust Fund (CITF) dollars, was completed in August 1988. 60,000-sq. ft. of the original complex was renovated; a new building, later named the Turner building, was added which contained 67,000 sq. ft. This construction project added a computer lab, a video center, a Senate chamber, thirteen additional meeting rooms, an Art Center, six retail locations, a video games arcade and about twenty new offices.
1995 - A $3 million renovation and expansion project, funded with CITF dollars, renovated many aspects of the 30-year old building (i.e. roof replacement, relocating water and sewer lines, renovating restrooms, etc.). It did infrastructure renovation to the site formerly occupied by the bookstore, renovated additional meeting room space and expanded office areas in the Activities building.
2000 - The Student Life Building (dedicated as the Reubin O'D. Askew Student Life Center in 2006) is a vital addition to the 'student services corridor' running from the Union to the University Center, featuring several facilities that enhance student life at FSU. It includes: A state-of-the-art, 400 seat multimedia theater, complete with teleconferencing and satellite down linking capabilities; four 35-seat, high-tech, business-quality meeting rooms, also with multimedia capabilities; a Graduate Student Center which provides office space, meeting and workspace for the Congress of Graduate Students; office, meeting, and workspace for the National Pan-Hellenic council (NPHC) student organizations; offices for the University Housing Office and Student Counseling Center; a cyber café for computer gaming and a dining facility which provides expanded on-campus food service. The Student Life Building was an $8.5 million dollar CITF project.
2001 - A $2,458,350 CITF renovation of the ballrooms and the third floor of the Activities Building were accomplished in 2000-01. The ballroom's 36-year old air handling equipment was replaced. In addition, the ballrooms received a major sound system and control console; replacement of the glass front on the balcony with a combination of glass and brickwork; carpeting; lowered ceilings and light fixtures and other cosmetic improvements. The third floor of the Activities Building was developed into a state-of-the-art Student Activities Center. It serves as a major resource center for event planning, program planning and calendaring; contract administration; organization recognition and advisement; and leadership training and development. It is the home to the Union Board, SGA Publications Center, many SGA agencies and Recognized Student Organizations.
Total Square FootageMain Complex ----------------------------------197,000 sq. ft.
Moore Auditorium Activities Building
Crenshaw Lanes Davis Building
Turner Building
Askew Student Life Center ---------------------55,000 sq. ft.
Student Services Building ----------------------13,000 sq. ft.
Haskins Circus Complex -----------------------Coming Soon
Facility Designations and Heritage
OGLESBY UNION COMPLEX
The ROSCOE R. OGLESBY UNION COMPLEX was named in 1974 for Dean Ross Oglesby, who had been at Florida State University for 19 years as Professor of Government and concurrently for 10 years as Dean of Students. While Dean, he was instrumental in remodeling and expanding the Union and its facilities. At a dedication ceremony in 1975, he was described as "a friend of students; one of the key planners of the University Union; scholar in International Law. He sought to make all of University life a learning experience." The complex encompasses all of the buildings listed in chapter 103.2, which house dozens of departments and organizations. The Union does not, however, have jurisdiction over the Union Post Office Building, which is overseen by Business Services.
The CRENSHAW BUILDING was named in 1964 for Robert Edward Crenshaw, a 1956 graduate. Crenshaw was president of the 1956 class and co-captain of the football team. He was also president of the junior class, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Gold Key, and the Hall of Fame. In 1956 he was named to Who's Who in American College and Universities. He was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity. While on active duty as a U.S. Air Force pilot, he was killed. Bob Crenshaw was the son of Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Crenshaw of North Miami, Florida. This building currently houses recreational activities including bowling and billiards.
The DAVIS BUILDING was named in 1964 for Helen Morris Davis, a graduate of the 1929 class of the Florida State College for Women. As a student, she was a member of Omicron Nu, the "F" Club, and Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She served in the U.S. Army as chief of the dietetic section of the Medical Specialists Corps where she received the Legion of Merit for her work in modernizing hospital food services. She retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. This building currently houses the Union's food services and food court.
The MOORE AUDITORIUM was named in 1964 for Coyle E. Moore, Jr., a 1956 cum laude graduate. Moore served as president of the student body; he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, Omicron Delta Kappa, Gold Key, and Circle K. He was named to the Hall of Fame and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. Picked as the outstanding ROTC cadet during his sophomore and junior years, he was also selected in 1954 as the "Most Outstanding College Student in Florida." Moore died in 1961 after a heroic battle against cancer. His parents were Dr. and Mrs. Coyle E. Moore, Sr. for whom the Moore Athletic Center is named. With several technological updates, this building to the present day functions as an auditorium.
The DR. NANCY A. TURNER BUILDING was named in 2003 for Dr. Nancy A. Turner, a 1961 and 1977 FSU graduate. As a student, Turner was involved with hall government and the Baptist Student Union. She also served as a Junior Counselor. She had an exemplary professional career at FSU in Student Affairs. Serving as Union Director from 1979 – 2003, she oversaw two major renovations of the Union complex, including the addition of the Nancy A. Turner Building, creation of the Student Activities Center, makeover of the Union Ballrooms, and the addition of the Union Food Court and Union Art Gallery. Under her direction, "Art in Low Places" was created, "Later," the Friday late-night initiative was developed, the Club Downunder found a permanent home, and the film series left the confines of Moore Auditorium for the state-of-the-art theater in the Student Life Center. Through her efforts as director and mentor to staff and students alike, the Oglesby Union has developed into one of the premier unions in the country. This building functions as the Administrative Offices for the faculty and staff of the Oglesby Union Complex.
The Askew STUDENT LIFE CENTER was named in 2006 after Reubin O'D. Askew, a graduate of Florida State University in 1951. Askew was student body president, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Gold Key, Delta Tau Delta, and Alpha Phi Omega. He enlisted in the United States Army paratroopers in 1946 as a private and was discharged as a sergeant in 1948. He served in the Air Force in 1951-1953 as a second lieutenant. He began his public career as Assistant County solicitor for Escambia County in 1956-1958. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1958 and to the Senate in 1962. He served as president pro tempore in 1969-1970. He was elected Governor in 1970 and reelected in 1974, the first governor to be elected for a second, successive 4-year term. He named the first African American Justice of the Supreme Court, the first woman to the State Cabinet, and the first African American in a hundred years as a member of the Cabinet. He delivered the keynote address at the 1972 Democratic National Convention and served as chairman of President Carter's Advisory Committee on Ambassadorial appointments. This building currently houses the counseling center, a movie theater, graduate center and the University housing department.
The STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING, which is partly the responsibility of the Union staff and Union Board, was opened in January 2004. Located on the Woodward Plaza in between the Oglesby Union and the Student Life Center, the building features several important services including: the Student Disability Resource Center; the Division of Sponsored Research Services; Sponsored Research Accounting Services; FSU Research Foundation; and a 24-hour diner. In addition, the Oglesby Union facilitates the second floor, which is 13,000 square feet. The Union floor includes 4 conference rooms; 3 meeting rooms; 1 reception room; and 1 banquet room.
The ACTIVITIES BUILDING - Coming Soon!
The Haskin Circus Complex - Coming Soon!
ROOMS AND SPACE OF SIGNIFICANCE
The MICCO ROOM was named in 1976 for Holato Micco, former chief of the Seminole Indian tribe. He was also known as Billy Bowlegs, sometimes-called 'King' or 'General' Bowlegs, and was chief in the mid-1840's.
The BRANDEWIE SENATE CHAMBER was named for Robert A. 'Bob' Brandewie in a ceremony on September 28, 1988. Mr. Brandewie worked for the Florida State University for nineteen years, thirteen of which were devoted to being a liaison with the Student Government Association. His experience and knowledge in Student Affairs made him an unparalleled resource person for student leaders.
The CAROLYN KRENTZMAN LOUNGE was named for Carolyn Krentzman in a ceremony on October 3, 1997. Ms. Krentzman served as the Space Reservations Coordinator during her seventeen years working at the Oglesby Union. She retired in 1981 after twenty-six years with Florida State University. Her commitment to the ideals of a college union and to the students with whom she worked has been second to none.
The Grads made good room - Coming Soon!
