After Dr. Ballantyne's untimely death, Ira Larson was called upon to lead Kirkwood Community College as Interim President at a time when the college community was grieving the lost of their previous leader and to give the Board time to search for a…
Dr. Ballantyne, commonly referred to as Dr. B., had the appearance of a gruff person but he was admired by many. From his humble beginnings in Albia, Iowa and dropping out of school when he was 15 years old, he understood hard work and the…
The first order of business for the new board of Area Ten Community College was to hire it's first superintendent. On June 10, 1966 Dr. Selby Ballantyne, Iowa native and superintendent of schools at Bettendorf, Iowa, was hired. The new board and…
After students petitioned the Board of Directors for "a more humanized name" rather than Area Ten Community College, a lengthy process ensued until just the right name was found. The Board approved the name Kirkwood Community College on August 25,…
Linn Hall is the first permanent building on the main campus. Construction began in 1968 and was ready for classes Fall 1969. Indicative of Kirkwood's "can-do" spirit, the college contracted with two contractors to help speed the construction to…
Dr. Mel Oliven, astronomy and physics professor 1968-1975, died unexpectedly in an air plane crash on March 5, 1975. This photo was taken in 1971 at an all-college open house. The Mel Oliven lecture series was initiated in his memory to educate…
After a national search, Kirkwood hired it's second leader, Bill F. Stewart from Anchorage Community College in Alaska where he served as president. He assumed duties on July 1, 1978.
A summary of the law (SF 550) passed by the Iowa legislature on May 29, 1965 which was the enabling legislation to create community colleges in Iowa. This document, commonly referred to as the "Ten Point Law", stipulates those educational services…
