Today in History, 1955: Granddaughter of first NDAC (NDSU) quarterback shares memories ahead of homecoming

The front page of The Forum, as it appeared on October 29, 1955. Newspapers.com By Kate Almquist Today at 12:01 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article Behind the story Behind the story Clarifies why and how a story was reported. The Trust Project What is this? On this day in 1955, Robert B. Reed, the first student to enroll at NDAC and captain of its first football team, reflected on the school's early days and football history.Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day: ADVERTISEMENT Grandpa Should Know About AC—He Captained First Team By LISA DUCKSTAD, NDAC SophomoreMy grandfather, an NDAC booster from way back, claims the Bison of today have the same fighting spirit as in the days of the college's first football team back in the 1890s.Grandpa, who is Robert B. Reed of 1341 11th Ave. N., ought to know.He was the first student to enroll at the AC in 1891 and he was captain and quarterback of the first team.College life, he said, was a little different in those days when the AC operated at Fargo College on the hill south of Island Park. See more history at Newspapers.com Oct 29, 1955 The Forum (Fargo, North Dakota) Newspapers.com Tuition was free, room and board could be had for $3 a week and for a time there was one professor for each student.In the first short term from January through April in 1891, Grandpa says there were five professors and 30 students. When classes were begun the next fall the ratio had changed to only one student to each of the five professors. ADVERTISEMENT The Main Building was completed in January, 1892 and classes were moved out to the present campus.Other buildings soon completed were the horse barn, situated in the present parking lot by the Fieldhouse and Francis Hall, the present pharmacy building. However, Francis Hall then served as a men's dormitory and home economics department.Grandpa admits that education costs have risen since the 1890s. Compared to room rent of $45 and tuition of $45 a quarter today, Grandpa paid no tuition and $3 a week room and board.The AC students really had it good in those days. They never ran out of gas or got flat tires. As a means of transportation they rode saddle horses.A luxury provided by the AC was a horse drawn sleigh for Fargo students in wintertime.Grandpa remembers that by 1895 the AC enrollment had increased to about 40 students. That year Grandpa received the first diploma granted to anyone at NDAC. Compared to 1955's graduating class of 272, the 1895 class of five seems pretty small.Ever since 1894 when Grandpa captained the first football team, his interest in football has never waned. ADVERTISEMENT The first season the AC team brought fame to themselves by defeating the University of North Dakota in two games.Grandpa recollects that because of the small squads both teams put professors into the games.It's Grandpa's hope that the Bison can do as well today in their Homecoming game with the University of North Dakota as they did in the days of the first team.He will be out there cheering for them.