The College of Idaho board of trustees voted unanimously Friday to change the name of the state's oldest private four-year school to the Albertson College of Idaho.
The new name honors Albertsons supermarket chain founder Joseph A. Albertson, 85, a College of Idaho alumnus who has donated some $35 million to the 100-year-old liberal arts school, which has a fall enrollment of 640.The name change was effective immediately.
College spokesman Greg Koller said potato magnate J.R. Simplot made the motion for the name change at Friday's board meeting. It was seconded by Gov. Cecil Andrus and supported by Velma Morrison, the widow of Morrison Knudsen Corp. co-founder Harry Morrison; Sen. Steve Symms, R-Idaho; and Robert Skotheim, former president of Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash.
Longtime confusion with public schools such as the University of Idaho and the College of Southern Idaho was cited as the main reason for the change. Officials also believe the new name will make fund-raising easier because it identifies the school more clearly as a private institution.
Among Albertson's contributions has been $13.5 million for the new J.A. Albertson Activities Centers sports complex and the Kathryn Albertson International Center, which were dedicated in a ceremony Friday.
College President Robert Hendren said Albertson was very reluctant to agree to the name change, and neither encouraged nor tied a gift offer to it. Trustees first decided a name change was needed, then rallied around the name Albertson, Hendren said.
Albertson met the former Kathryn McCurry in a chemistry class at the College of Idaho, which has ties to the Presbyterian Church. They were married in 1930 by college founder and longtime president William Judson Boone. The couple's daughter, Bobbie, also attended the college.
A number of college officials, alumni and major financial contributors have expressed support for the new name since plans to make the change were announced Wednesday. Most students speaking at a Wednesday night meeting also supported Albertson as the new name, but said they were disappointed at the low profile trustees gave consideration of a change.
Opponents have cited the long history of the school as the College of Idaho and possible confusion with the Boise-based Albertsons chain.