Re: A steep price has already been paid for the naming rights to

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Re: why doesn't Clemson sell the naming rights to our stadiums?

Jan 16, 2013, 8:20 AM

Today, the name "Littlejohn" conjures up images of Clemson basketball in the minds of many alumni. The man for whom the coliseum was named was most certainly a team player, though not on any court. His life impacted Clemson in almost every arena. In 1904, James Corcoran Littlejohn first stepped onto the Clemson campus, not as a basketball player, but as a freshman engineering major from Union County. From that day on, Littlejohn served Clemson until his death in 1959.

As a student, Littlejohn made a favorable impression on many of his instructors including Walter Merritt Riggs. Upon Littlejohn's graduation in 1908, Riggs encouraged him to seek a position at Clemson. Littlejohn heeded the advice and became campus electrician, the first of his many roles at the College. A year later, he began instructing woodworking and engineering courses. Eventually Littlejohn advanced to the position of registrar.

In 1910, Riggs became Clemson's fifth president and was eager to increase Littlejohn's administrative responsibilities. In addition to Littlejohn's duties as registrar, Riggs appointed him to serve as his assistant. In 1926, he was appointed business manager under Clemson President E.W. Sikes' administration, a position he would retain until his retirement in the mid-1950s.

Littlejohn and his wife, Mary Poats, also raised a family in Clemson during those years: sons James P. '32, Samuel M. '36 and daughter, Mary Katherine. Throughout his years of service, Littlejohn was a constant entity through a sea of administrative changes. He earned the confidence and praise of each of the five presidents under whom he served, and he proved himself to be a thoughtful decision-maker for Clemson. President Robert F. Poole introduced Littlejohn as his "faithful sidekick, friend and able boss." The contributions Littlejohn made to Clemson are countless. During the Depression, Littlejohn managed the College's finances, personally guaranteeing that not one person would miss a paycheck. He also helped fortify Clemson's athletic heritage by bringing the athletic department out of debt after years of financial struggle. And he was never too distant from the students, serving side-by-side with them in Tiger Brotherhood and Blue Key. Littlejohn was also instrumental in building many campus facilities, some necessitated by fire, others to accommodate former servicemen attending Clemson. Some of the structures he had a hand in building still stand today: Long Hall, Norris Hall, the Fraternity Quad and Memorial Stadium.

Others, like the "prefabs" — prefabricated federal government housing for WWII servicemen — have long since been removed, but still stand vividly in the memories of many Clemson men and women. The prefabs later became married-student housing for several decades. They were eventually removed to make room for Littlejohn Coliseum, Barre Hall and Lehotsky Hall.

Littlejohn was clearly devoted to Clemson. Throughout his career, he was offered more lucrative positions away from the College, including one from Ben Tillman to serve as the Secretary of the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs. He declined. Even after his retirement, Littlejohn kept an office on campus where he compiled and cataloged historical information about Clemson as he had seen it develop. J.C. Littlejohn's dedicated service, spanning five presidencies and more than 50 years, was instrumental in building the Clemson we know today. Fittingly, he rests in the University's most hallowed place of honor, Woodland Cemetery.

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why doesn't Clemson sell the naming rights to our stadiums?

Re: why doesn't Clemson sell the naming rights to our stadiums?

Re: why doesn't Clemson sell the naming rights to our stadiums?

and you don't think

Re: and you don't think

Are you SERIOUS??????***

Re: why doesn't Clemson sell the naming rights to our stadiums?

That's not the way Clemson operates...

what about Hoke Sloan?***

I believe he was a tennis coach...

Can Clemson sell the names of streets too?

Silas pearman blvd aka perimeter rd...***

not a bad idea

I hope we never do that

We're already starting to name some academic buildings after

Not crazy about it myself...

Michelin Career Center always irks me

Re: Michelin Career Center always irks me

Sadly, the CEO of Flour now is a Coot***

Opps, Fluor***

Thank you.***

GHEY idea dude...***

Because we aren't corporate ######***

You first!

A steep price has already been paid for the naming rights to

I'll second that AMEN. People should do a little homework.***

B/c we are Clemson....

It ain't all about money***

"The Clampett Moonshine and Checkerboard Emporium"

Re: why doesn't Clemson sell the naming rights to our stadiums?

Just don't mess with DV - that name is sacred***

I'm gonna vote no on this.***

^^^^ found one.***

What'd we find?***

hey, i just flush em out for gwp...

GWP knows where to find me, I've given him a key.

well, i never venture onto the lunge...

I venture over there sparingly, mostly just for pics***

i hear there's a 2 drink minimum?***

Sorry but FAtZ cafe blows***

did I say it was the ultimate example of cuisine?***

And to diverge a little

coule be called

Total Wine field***

Naturally Fresh Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium***

Hooters Tiger Scoreboard***

NEVER. Especially Clemson MEMORIAL stadium!***

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