Yavapai College Timeline

  • Inception

    Founding letterMrs. Merle (Opal) Allen, Prescott P.T. A. President, receives from Dr. R.A. Perry a list of reasons why the time is right to form a Junior College in Yavapai County.
  • Initial meeting

    Mrs. Allen and Dr. Taylor Hicks conduct an initial meeting of interested individuals under the sponsorship of the P.T.A. Forty-three attend.
  • Voters approve

    Voters approve formation of a Junior College District.
  • Board creation

    Warner B. Dixon, Sr. appoints 5 interim members to form the Yavapai County District Junior College Board (Richard Walraven, Walter G. Statler, Roy E. Campbell, Fred Wheadon, and Duane D. Miller) until a precinct election can be held.
  • Site approval

    The State Board approves the Whipple site in Prescott.
  • Property purchased

    The Prescott City Council authorizes the process for the sale of 46 acres next to Whipple Veterans Administration to be sold to the college.
  • Voters approve budget

    Voters in a bond election approve 3011 to 2904 (107 margin) a $2.5 million for the creation of Yavapai College.
  • Dr. John Barnes starts work as the first President of the College.

  • BLM leases land

    The Bureau of Land Management issues a lease to Yavapai College for 55 acres adjacent to Fort Whipple. Purchase price is $2.50/acre.
  • Ground is broken for the Prescott Campus.