1950s to 1980s
This exhibit highlights student life, clubs, teams, and activities at Dixie Junior College and Dixie College from the 1950s through the 1980s.
1950s
Woodshop and Industrial Arts
1951: “In the shop they learn to use tools and equipment, which will help them in their homes and recreational activity...There is much good character education in a shop. It is easy to see sloppy preparations or cheating on the job, or the fine results of careful planning, honest workmanship and a job carried to a successful conclusion...We extend an invitation to all to come and visit our woodshop.”[2]
Cheerleading
1953: "Orchids: To the cheer leaders for planning the pep rally held in the intersection for the football teams on Friday!
Onions: To all the people who were too impatient to get to their dinner that they didn’t yell with us and get some ‘Dixie’ spirit!'"[4]
Swimming Pool
1953: “A swim in the St. George City Swimming Pool was an attraction of the afternoon with students and faculty having a wonderful time.”[6]
1955: “The St. George Municipal swimming pool where many happy, splashing hours are spent. Our pleasant Dixie climate makes it possible for swimming about six months of the year.”[7]
1960s
Field Trips
1961: “First hand experience is often one of the very best ways to gain information about a subject. With this thought in mind, teachers at Dixie plan field trips whenever possible, enabling students to see the application of principles they have learned. Mr. Mitchell and his surveying crews, Dr. Barnum and his bird watching, Mr. McConkie and his geology trips, all help to promote better understanding.”[9]
Clean-Up Day
1965: “A clean-up day was officially declared and the students pitched in to see who had the green thumb. Grass was planted, weeds were pulled, and water was thrown. With spring, the fruits of these efforts began to ‘cheer-up’ the once-brown campus.”[11]
Athletics
1968: “Today, athletically, Dixie College has formed a determination to field competitive teams in every sport the school participates in. Of course, there are times of losing, but Dixie has a firm resolution to be vigilant towards victory, placing great emphasis on exemplary sportsmanship...Most Dixie athletes participate in more than one sport, being encouraged to do so. It is not uncommon at Dixie to find two, three, and even four-letter athletes. Personal attention from the head coach is given from the beginning of the freshman year. As the student-athlete becomes acquainted with the friendly college environment, he also begins a well balanced athletic career.”[13]
1970s
Rodeo Team
1970: "The Rodeo team has an excellent backdrop in the red hills of Dixie. Combining skill with a sure knowledge of rodeo techniques, this club travels throughout the state competing with other rodeo teams and displaying their own brand of Southern Spirit.”[15]
KRDC-FM
1975: "This year Dixie College acquired a new educational radio station – KRDC-FM. The station provided entertainment for many students as well as townspeople and training for those interested in radio broadcasting."[17]
Dixie College "Indian Club"
1977: “The First Place Trophy was presented to the Dixie College Indian Club, the Native People, for their float that they entered in the parade Saturday morning...The club has been a great factor in uniting us together and we are able to do more than when we were all scattered. I feel that we need to strive to do our best in all that we set out to do. Whether it be in float building or in school or whatever we do because we are the examples of our people.”
-Lenora Fulton[19]
1980s
The Sand Blast
1982: “The Sand Blast was a blast. We enjoyed unscheduled baths in the tug-o-war pool, an obstacle course, though some found it easier to go under the hurdles rather than over them, tackle football, and volleyball. There were smiles and Designer Jeans, and watermelon, chili burgers, potato chips, ice cream bars, and soda pop – lots of soda pop, and cliff climbing, and nausea.”[21]
Dances
1983: “The same old casual Friday night sock hop was no good anymore as we turned to preppy dances, M*A*S*H dances, beach dances, and punk dances, just to name a few! And what about all those extra after-the-dance activities? If everyone was hungry, where to? JB’s of course! And what about those moonlit nights? The Red Hill of course! (Activities there varied depending upon who you were with!) Then there were walks around the temple, hikes through the narrows (preferably past midnight), visits to the arcade when we were hit with PAC-MAN FEVER, midnight trips to the 7-11 or Time-Savers, practical jokes on the next door neighbors and of course, that favorite of all favorites, something that all of our parents think we’re doing at college – HOMEWORK!!!!”[23]
Outdoor Club
1989: “Southern Utah is a great place for people who like to experience nature in all it’s [sic] glory...The Outdoor Club’s activities consist of repelling, hiking, and watching the rare beauty of Southern Utah as the seasons change. The club also does service projects to help ‘keep America beautiful,’ picking up trash and various other services.”[25]
Citations
[1] "Dixie College 1951 School Year Movie #2," Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, Utah Tech Historic Films, 0:09:25 - 0:09:53, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1216.
[2] "Work in Woodshop is Rated," Dixie Journalists' Chatter (St. George, UT), February 16, 1951, 3, Utah Digital Newspapers, https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6wq5q46.
[3] "Various Subjects - Mostly Dixie College Some Botanical," Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, Utah Tech Historic Films, 0:11:36 - 0:11:48, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1218.
[4] "Orchids and Onions," The Dixie Sun (St. George, UT), November 3, 1953, 2, Utah Digital Newspapers, https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6gb7qfg.
[5] "Various Subjects - Mostly Dixie College Some Botanical," 0:42:16 - 0:42:48.
[6] "Dixie Day Queen Crowned; Events Please," The Dixie Sun (St. George, UT), April 14, 1953, 2, Utah Digital Newspapers, https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s67t385n.
[7] Dixie 1955 (St George, Utah: The Associated Students of Dixie College, 1961), 13, Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1106#?c=&m=&s=&cv=.
[8] The Dixie 1961 (St George, Utah: Associated Students of Dixie College, 1955), 33, Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1112#?c=&m=&s=&cv=.
[10] Dixie 65 (St George, Utah: Associated Students of Dixie Junior College, 1964-65, 1965), 90, Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1116#?c=&m=&s=&cv=.
[12] The Confederate (St George, Utah: Associated Students of Dixie Junior College, 1968), 82, 105, 124, 158, 160, 162, Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1119#?c=&m=&s=&cv=.
[13] The Confederate (1968), 156.
[14] The Confederate 1970 (Dixie Junior College, 1970), 99, Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1121#?c=&m=&s=&cv=.
[15] The Confederate 1970, 98.
[16] Confederate '75 (Dixie College, 1975), 104, Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1396#?c=&m=&s=&cv=.
[18] Lenora Fulton, "Indian Club Recieves Trophy," The Dixie Sun (St. George, UT), April 29, 1977, 1, Utah Tech University Special Collections and Archives.
*Digital version available via Utah Digital Newspapers, https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6sz20nk.
[19] Fulton, "Indian Club Recieves Trophy," 1.
[20] Confederate 1982 (St. George, UT: Dixie College, 1982), 14-15, Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1403#?c=&m=&s=&cv=.
[21] Confederate 1982 (St. George, UT: Dixie College, 1982), 15.
[22] Dixie College Confederate 1983 (St. George, UT: Dixie College, 1983), 20, Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1404#?c=&m=&s=&cv=.
[23] Dixie College Confederate 1983, 154-155.
[24] The Dixie College Confederate 1989 (St. George, UT: Dixie College, 1989), 84, Utah Tech University Library Digital Collections, https://digital.library.utahtech.edu/items/show/1410#?c=&m=&s=&cv=.