Lloyd Watkins

A Full Career

Lloyd Watkins (1928-2012) was the thirteenth president of Illinois State University. Born in 1929 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Watkins went on to Southeast Missouri State College and earned his bachelor’s degree in education. He later attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in 1951 and 1954, respectively. After graduation, Watkins taught at Moorhead State College and Ohio University. In 1956, Watkins was appointed as an administrator at Ohio University and served in that position until 1966 when he left to serve as an executive vice president of Idaho State University. From 1969-1973, Watkins served as the president of the Iowa Association of Private Colleges and Universities. In 1973, Watkins became the fourth president of West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) until his appointment as president at ISU in 1977.

Rites of Spring

One of Watkins first acts as president was to end the annual music festival known as the Rites of Spring. The festival had long been a point of contention between town residents and the student body. The festival drew up to 25,000 people who would leave behind trash and cause significant property damage, causing problems with the town residents. The end of the Rites of Spring and the raising of the drinking age to 21 in 1979 were just a few of the factors that lead to the infamous Beer Riots of October 3, 1984.

Redbird Arena

Among some of Watkins accomplishments during his tenure was the establishment of the international business and applied computer science programs, expansion of the honors program, and a rise in enrollment. Watkins was also instrumental in helping to push through the construction of Redbird Arena. At the time, the arena was one-of-a-kind, having a Teflon-coated, fabric roof. However, like his predecessors, finding funding for academics and construction was difficult. Watkins stepped down from the presidency on January 14, 1988. He joined the faculty at the School of Communication and returned to teaching. Watkins retired from ISU in 1991 but remained active in the community. Lloyd Watkins died on March 3, 2012 and is buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington, Illinois.