1957

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1957 in Clemson History

Events in 1957

  • The Dixie Skydivers are founded, the oldest collegiate parachute club in the nation.
  • Boggs Store, a general store in old Calhoun, closes. It will be remodelled into Calhoun Corners restaurant in 1974.
  • January 1: The Clemson Tigers face the Colorado Buffaloes for the first time in the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, losing 21-27 for a 7-1-3 season record. Attendence is given as 73,280. (DiMarco, Anthony C., "The Big Bowl Football Guide", G.P Putnam's Sons, New York, 1974, revised edition 1976, ISBN 399-11800-4, pages 80-81.) This is also Clemson's first televised football game, aired on CBS. The Tigers are ranked nineteenth. Clemson will even the record in another bowl game in 2005.
  • March: Congressional hearings are held in Washington, D.C. addressing the Hartwell Dam flooding issues.
  • March 25: The Dave Brubeck Quartet performs in the college chapel (Tillman Auditorium) at 8 p.m., sponsored by the Central Dance Association, the first appearance by the artist in South Carolina. Admission is $2 at the door. (The Tiger, "Dave Brubeck Quartet To Give Concert Here", Thursday 7 March 1957, page 3.)
  • April 5: First of two Spring Dances is held, the Military Department sponsoring the Military Ball on Friday night with music provided by saxophonist Sam Donahue and his Orchestra. Shortly before intermission, the Executive Sergeants form the traditional sabre arch and the Honorary Cadet Officers, chosen by Scabbard and Blade, are presented to the crowd. Miss Mary Jane Webster, of Greenville, South Carolina, is presented as the Honorary Cadet Colonel. "In weather too good to pass up, many parties journeyed to the mountains for a gay houseparty and returned Saturday to wind up a wonderful Spring Dance." (TAPS 1957, Volume LXVII, page 158.)
  • April 6: Central Dance Association hosts the Saturday Spring Hop with music again provided by saxophonist Sam Donahue and his fifteen-musician Orchestra. (TAPS 1957, Volume LXVII, page 158.)
  • June 2: Commencement - Margaret Snider becomes the first woman graduate of Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina.
  • June 30: Board of Trustees institute new policy requiring Clemson officials to retire at age 65.
  • July: Work resumes on the Hartwell Dam, without notice to the university. But plans for two diversionary dams and one dike west of the campus are carried out, isolating a portion of the original Seneca River bed and a new channel for the lake being excavated behind a hill. In an agreement worked out between the College and the Corps, the integrity of the campus is maintained and the school receives more than a million dollars in recompense for lost bottom lands.
  • Lee Hall is constructed.
  • September 3: United States Air Force pilot Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. first qualifies on the Lockheed U-2, a classified high-altitude reconnaissance jet aircraft.
  • September 21: In final meeting with Presbyterian College until the 2010 season, the Tigers rule, 66-0. PC will go 0-8-1.
  • September 28: The Tigers are blanked by North Carolina on a road trip, 0-26.
  • October 5: Clemson is defeated by thirteenth-ranked N.C. State in Memorial Stadium, 7-13.
  • October 12: The Tigers defeat Virginia, 20-6, in Charlottesville.
  • October 24: Clemson shuts out South Carolina, 13-0, in Columbia.
  • November 2: The Tigers play a night game at Rice, winning, 20-7.
  • November 8: The first-ever Tigerama is staged, sponsored by Blue Key. Central Dance Association sponsors dance that features the famed Stan Kenton. Miss Phyllis O'Dell is selected as Homecoming Queen.
  • November 9: Clemson defeats Maryland in Memorial Stadium, 26-7, for Homecoming. The post-game dance has music provided under the direction of Bill Snyder "and his magic piano." (TAPS 1958, Volume XLVIII, page 134.)
  • November 16: The fourteenth-ranked Tigers play the eleventh-ranked Duke Blue Devils in Durham, losing, 6-7.
  • November 23: Clemson hosts Wake Forest, wins, 13-6. The Demon Deacons will go 0-10.
  • November 30: The Tigers defeat Furman in Sirrine Stadium in Greenville, 45-6, completing 7-3 season, 4-3 in conference, tied for third in the ACC.
  • The football team finishes the season with an 18th position ranking in the United Press International poll, but no slot in the Associated Press top twenty.



1956 The 1950's 1958