Chapter 3, Part 5 – 1950-1960: An Era Ends, Another Begins

1950-1960: An Era Ends, Another Begins

  • First organ transplanted.
  • Korean War began.
  • Polio vaccine created.
  • General Dwight D. Eisenhower elected president.
  • McDonald’s corporation founded.
  • Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus.
  • Velcro is introduced.
  • Dr. Seuss published “The Cat in the Hat.”
  • Soviet satellite Sputnik launched space race.
  • Castro became dictator of Cuba.

On April 25, 1950, the Internal Revenue Service notified Western States College that the disagreement between the two parties over WSC’s tax-exempt status had been resolved.

From May 1939 until April 1950, the two entities had been locked in a battle over the college’s tax exempt status and alleged delinquency on its tax obligations. In its letter, the IRS conceded that Western States had a legitimate claim for tax-exempt status. However, the IRS would only extend that status retroactively to January 1, 1949. The college remained obligated to pay the accrued taxes in arrears for 1939 through 1948. Further litigation of the issue would cost more than what was owed in back taxes.

WSC awarded tax free status by IRS
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, May 1950
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, October 1950
Graduating class March 1950

On September 1, 1951, Appa Anderson, DC, DACBR, joined the WSC faculty. She was the first woman chiropractic radiologist and the cornerstone upon which WSC built its instruction of radiology. Her tenure at the college would span 38 years, becoming one of the most respected and revered members of the WSCC community.

Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, January 1951
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, February 1951
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, March 1951
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, April/May 1951
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, June 1951
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, July 1951
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, November 1951
Graduating class March 1951

The WSC catalog for 1952 indicated that tuition cost for the four-year DC degree had not increased appreciably over those for 1947. The cost had increased by only $100.

WSC Catalog 1952

Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, January 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, February 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, March 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, April 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, May 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, June 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, July 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, August 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, September 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, October 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, November 1952
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, December 1952

Graduating class March 1952.

In 1953, Budden chose to go it alone again by initiating a two-year, pre-professional requirement for admission to Western States College. To ensure there would be no backsliding on this commitment, Budden successfully advocated for an amendment to the Oregon Chiropractic Act that codified the requirement in statutory language. Western States was the first college to adopt a two-year, pre-professional education requirement, but there would be consequences. It would be years before all chiropractic colleges had a two-year, pre-professional education requirement and only then because it was mandated by policy from the Council on Chiropractic Education. Eventually, the chiropractic college presidents who most feared the requirement would deter students from enrolling at their colleges would come to appreciate the requirement actually attracted students – exactly as Budden had forecast.

Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, January 1953.
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, February 1953.
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, March 1953.
Synergist: Voice of the Student Body, April 1953.
Graduating class March 1953.
Graduating class July 1953.

In late July 1954, Budden attended the National Chiropractic Association’s annual convention in St. Louis, Missouri, where he presided over the meeting of the National Council on Education, as its president. During his drive back to Portland, Budden was involved in an automobile crash. Initially, it appeared that he was not seriously injured. However, on August 1, 1954, one week after the NCA convention adjourned, he collapsed and was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital in Portland. To say the very least, this was a devastating loss to WSC and a serious blow to the advancement of chiropractic education. His absence created a void that would not be filled quickly or easily.