MOVING HISTORY FORWARD: Orrin Lee and the Sponsors Club
The Sponsors Club: These ladies were the leaders of an effort to save Coeur d’Alene Junior College from closing in 1935-1936, canvassing the community for donations and holding fund raisers to pay off outstanding bills and keep the college’s doors open. They were (back row) - Mrs. Schmidt, Dr. Martin, Mrs. Kohler, Mrs. Lee, Mrs. Gridley, Mrs. Perry Christianson, Mrs. Davies, Mrs. Anna Edminister, and Mrs. Vesser. (front row): Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Servic, Mrs. Mildred Shepperd, Mrs. Chase, and Mrs. Orrin Lee.
President Orrin Earl Lee – After the departure of Moritz Brakemeyer in 1935, the college Board of Trustees hired twenty-six-year-old Orrin Lee to serve as Dean. He would be appointed to serve as the school’s second president in 1938. M
In the last installment of our story, Moritz Brakemeyer had suddenly quit his position as the president of Coeur d’Alene Junior College, thus delaying the start of the 1935-36 school year and leaving the school without leadership.
Because of rumors the college would close after Brakemeyer’s departure, many students chose not to register. The resulting loss of revenue further deepened the school’s financial crisis. Businesses that had been content to carry forward the school’s debt for up to three years now sought payment in full on their accounts.
It was in this atmosphere that three moves were made that would foment a sea change in the fortunes of the college.
The first move came with the formation of the “Sponsors Club” in late 1935. It was a grassroots women’s group committed to keeping the school operating, and it soon began fundraising efforts that included canvassing businesses and professional men for donations and holding numerous fundraisers. Those efforts proved highly successful and all outstanding bills were paid.
The second move came in the fall of 1936 when the board of trustees took a chance and appointed a relatively unknown 26-year-old educator with no practical experience as the college’s new dean.
Orrin Earl Lee of Hibbard, Idaho (near Rexburg), had recently completed his master’s degree program from the University of Idaho in business and psychology.
He had no work experience, but the record shows he hit the ground running, enthusiastically championing the junior college and coalescing the college community to move the school forward.
Lee was promoted to college president in June of 1938 and with his continued strong leadership, confidence and interest in the college continued to rise.
As a result, in fall 1938 enrollment rose to 47 students compared to 26 at the same point in 1936. It was soon necessary to expand the college and the crisis was now “where do we put all the students who want to attend?”
In answer to the question, the college took over space on the second floor of City Hall. Space was also found in several community buildings, but a long-term solution was still needed. So, Lee and the board sought funding from the state and a permanent location.
Their efforts were rewarded in 1939 when the Idaho Legislature passed Section 33-2101 of the Idaho Code. The Junior College Act gave population centers around the state permission to form Junior College Districts.
State approval was conditional on the area’s ability to document it had $10,000,000 in assessed valuation and at least 800 high school students were within its boundaries.
Kootenai County easily met the criteria, and in July of 1939, the voters of most of the communities in Kootenai County approved the formation of the North Idaho Junior College District. This set the stage for the growth and change that would follow.
In the next installment, we will see how the Fort Grounds became home to the college and how President Lee put it on a path to greater heights.
President Orrin Earl Lee – After the departure of Moritz Brakemeyer in 1935, the college Board of Trustees hired twenty-six-year-old Orrin Lee to serve as Dean. He would be appointed to serve as the school’s second president in 1938. M