Youngstown State University. Office of the President.

Howard W. Jones was born on September 25, 1895 in Palmyra, Ohio. He graduated from Hiram College in 1920 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received his Master's degree from Western Reserve University in 1938. In 1943, Jones was granted an honorary degree of pedagogy from Westminster College (Pennsylvania). During World War I, Jones served in the U.S. Navy. After the Armistice, Jones worked as an athletic trainer and coach, and a school principal before being hired as an assistant to the President of Hiram College. In 1931, Jones was named Director of Youngstown College by the Youngstown YMCA. In 1935, his title was changed to "President". In this capacity, Jones oversaw the recruiting of faculty, the physical expansion of the campus (starting with the construction of the main building, now known as Jones Hall), the creation of a Youngstown College football team, and the transformation of the urban college into Youngstown University. Jones retired in 1966 and died in Youngstown on February 25, 1982 at the age of 86.

From the description of Office of the President, Youngstown State University, Howard W. Jones, records, 1932-1966. (Youngstown State University). WorldCat record id: 636666076

John J. Coffelt was born on December 26, 1924, in Neosha, Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Denver in 1948 and a Master of Arts degree from Colorado State College in 195 1. Coffelt received his Doctoral in Education from the University of Colorado in 1962.

Prior to coming to Youngstown State in 1968, Coffelt served in several public educational administrative positions in Colorado. Afterward, he was made Vice Chancellor for Research and Planning by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

In 1968, Coffelt was appointed Vice President of Administrative Affairs at Youngstown State University. In 1973, he was chosen to succeed Albert L. Pugsley as President of YSU.

Under President Coffelt, the College of Fine & Performing Arts was founded in 1974 and took up residence in the newly-constructed Bliss Hall three years later. New facilities were constructed for the College of Applied Science and Technology (Cushwa Hall, 1978) and the College of Arts & Sciences (DeBartolo Hall, 1979). A new library was dedicated in 1976 and an enrollment record was set in 1981, with 16,100 students registered for classes.

Due to ill health, Coffelt was granted medical leave in 1983 and retired the following year. He died in a Houston, Texas hospital on September 1, 1988 following surgery for an aneurysm. He was 67.

From the guide to the Office of the President, Youngstown State University, John J. Coffelt Records, 1973-1984, 1973-1984, (Youngstown State University)

Howard W. Jones was born on September 25, 1895 in Palmyra, Ohio. He graduated from Hiram College in 1920 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received his Master's degree from Western Reserve University in 1938. In 1943, Jones was granted an honorary degree of pedagogy from Westminster College (Pennsylvania).

During World War I, Jones served in the U.S. Navy. After the Armistice, Jones worked as an athletic trainer and coach, and a school principal before being hired as an assistant to the President of Hiram College. In 193 1, Jones was named Director of Youngstown College by the Youngstown YMCA. In 1935, his title was changed to "President". In this capacity, Jones oversaw the recruiting of faculty, the physical expansion of the campus (starting with the construction of the main building, now known as Jones Hall), the creation of a Youngstown College football team, and the transformation of the urban college into Youngstown University.

Jones retired in 1966 and died in Youngstown on February 25, 1982 at the age of 86.

From the guide to the Office of the President, Youngstown State University, Howard W. Jones Records, 1932-1966, 1932-1966, (Youngstown State University)

David C. Sweet was born on May 16, 1939. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester in 1961 and his Master of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1963. Sweet was awarded a Ph. D. from The Ohio State University in 1970.

From 1963 to 1970, Sweet was the Regional Economics Division Director of the Battelle Institute in Columbus, Ohio. In 197 1, he was appointed Director of the Department of Economic and Community Development. Sweet was made a commissioner on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in 1975 and served in this capacity until being named Dean of the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University in 1978. In 2000, Sweet became the sixth president of Youngstown State University.

The author of several books and articles relating to urban affairs, Sweet has been a key participant in the Wick Neighbors partnership, which was established to enhance Youngstown's Wick Avenue and Smokey Hollow areas (where Sweet guided the construction of the University Courtyard Apartments). His support for YSU's role in promoting community revitalization has been demonstrated through his work with Youngstown 2010, an ambitious urban renewal project. On campus, Sweet's leadership has resulted in the construction of the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center in 2005 and increased enrollment. In 2008, Sweet will preside over celebrations commemorating Youngstown State University's centennial.

From the guide to the Office of the President, Youngstown State University, David C. Sweet Records, 2000 - [ongoing], 2000-2008, (Youngstown State University)