It’s a LAUNCH PARTY! Meet the authors and celebrate the release of Leading the Crimson and Gray: The Presidents of Washington State University, a new title from WSU Press.

Leading the Crimson and Gray chronicles the lives and legacies of those who served in one of WSU’s most visible roles—president. The outstanding gathering of chapter authors includes professors, editors, an archivist, an associate dean, graduate and doctoral students, an assistant vice president, and a chancellor. All have strong ties to WSU. To tell the stories of Lilley, Heston, Bryan, Holland, Compton, French, Terrell, Smith, Rawlins, and Floyd, they conducted interviews and delved deep into historical archives and newspapers.

Among many challenges, these chief administrators faced battles over the Pullman location and curriculum, student protests, and severe economic depression and recession. Yet their accomplishments were substantial. Early presidents launched the college, expanded the academic program, and made progress toward university status. Recent leaders championed athletic achievement, strengthened enrollment, increased research grants and contracts, completed major construction projects, and won state legislative backing for a new medical school. Together, they left a heritage that makes the Cougar Nation proud.

The book is available in paperback and a collectible hardbound edition limited to 125, each numbered and signed by current WSU President Kirk H. Schulz and WSU Regent Scott E. Carson. Purchases support WSU. A portion of every sale goes to the President’s Excellence Fund.

Contributing writers:

Scott Carson, Regent
Kirk Schulz, President
William Stimson, alumnus and Eastern Washington University professor of journalism
Mark O’English, University Archivist
Tim Steury, Washington State Magazine founding editor
Dr. Trevor James Bond, Co-Director of the Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation and the Associate Dean for Digital Initiatives and Special Collections at WSU Libraries
Larry Clark, Washington State Magazine editor
Sam Fleischer, doctoral student in modern American history
John T. Menard, graduate student in history
Brian Stack, doctoral candidate in history
Buddy Levy, Clinical Professor of English
Paul Pitre, Everett Campus Chancellor
Aaron Ngozi Oforlea, Associate Professor of English
Brian Dixon, Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Services