Lincoln University honors former University president and donors

Lincoln University in Jefferson City held a ribbon cutting Friday morning for a new building on campus, which honors a former University president, as well as the owners of Arris Pizza.

The lower level of the LINC is named the Dr. James Frank Center, in honor of the former president. Dr. Frank is a 1953 graduate of the university, and he’s the only alumnus to ever serve as its president, from 1973 to 1983.

His administration oversaw the construction of three campus buildings, and renovations of several other campus facilities. Frank also made history as the first African-American president of the NCAA, and the first collegiate president to hold the position.

Today, he serves on the board of directors of the Lincoln University Foundation, Inc.

The new gymnasium at the LINC is named the Arris Pardalos Gymnasium, after the Pardalos family. They own Arris Pizza, and they donated $100,000 to the building project.

Current Lincoln University President Kevin Rome says, “When students come looking for a university, they come looking for all those amenities that they get to have; their dorm life, their community life, what are the physical structures like. I mean come on, we’ve already had some prospective students come and say ‘oh, wow’.”

Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on campus at 11:15 a.m.