Bevis Hall
Construction began on Bevis Hall in 1967 and was completed in September 1969.
The building was officially named November 13, 1969, to honor University President Howard L. Bevis, who served from 1940-1956. It originally housed classrooms and offices for University College, but the building’s purpose changed when the University ended the University College program.
Since 1985, Bevis Hall has been home to Transportation and Parking Services (now CampusParc).
Bevis was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, and attended the Cincinnati Technical School and the University of Cincinnati, from which he received a bachelor’s degree in arts in 1908, and a bachelor of law degree in 1910. He was admitted to the Bar, and practiced for six years until he entered government service in the World War I, serving as the head of the legal division of the Army Air Service’s Finance Division. In 1919 and 1920 Bevis attended Harvard, receiving a doctor of the science of law, and afterwards returned to the University of Cincinnati as a professor of law. He served on the Ohio Supreme Court and as Ohio Gov. George White’s director of finance before returning to Harvard, where he taught until he was invited to become Ohio State’s President.
Arriving just before World War II, Bevis served as OSU’s seventh president, during a period of tremendous change at the University, including a boom in enrollment after the war. The old Ohio Union, Mershon Auditorium, St. John Arena and the French Field House were all constructed during his tenure. He was later named professor emeritus at Ohio State, and he died on April 24, 1968.
more information:
John H. Herrick Archives: Bevis Hall
