Coates Instigates Growth and Change
for Concordia Portland
By Elizabeth Braun
In last month’s installment of Concordia’s historical presidential series, we reviewed the presidency of F.W.J. Sylwester and Concordia’s “Beginning Years”. This month, we’re proud to present our newest chronicle of Concordia’s years with its’ second president, Thomas Coates.
Although the presidency of Thomas Coates was relatively brief, (1946-1956) it was indeed ripe with noteworthy achievements. For starters, Concordia’s enrollment increased substantially during his term: from 55 to 140 students in just ten years. Coates also initiated the erection of several new, and now vital, Concordia buildings, including a new gymnasium, chapel, library, service building and cafeteria. Today you can observe many of these buildings as they are still landmarks of Concordia Portland’s campus (i.e. Luther hall, Centennial, etc.)
In addition to scores of new buildings, the decade of Thomas Coates’s presidency is also remembered for the historic “Coates Experiment”. According to later president Weber, the intention of this “experiment” was to develop the school into a four year institution, which included only the last two years of high school and the first two years of college. Although this initial plan was passed in 1947, by 1950, the first two years of high-school (freshman and sophomore) had been reinstated, making Concordia a six-year school. From this time forth, the school would begin its’ undergraduate ministry, and would call itself: “Concordia College.”
Another significant and often unknown feature of Coates’ presidency was that he engineered a profitable relationship between Concordia and Emanuel Hospital. At the time, Emanuel was conducting a three-year program for student nurses, but because of limited classroom space, had nowhere to hold its’ instructional classes. So, when Emanuel propositioned Concordia for the use of it’s’ facilities, Coates wholeheartedly welcomed them; this agreement ultimately prompted a relationship (including a joint choir ensemble) which lasted well beyond Emanuel’s use of Concordia classrooms.
Yet, despite all these remarkable accomplishments, Thomas Coates is perhaps best remembered for his passionate dedication to the spiritual health of Concordia’s students. As president, he was adamant that students be provided with numerous opportunities to nurture their spirituality. For instance, Coates insisted on building a separate building for worship activities; and in 1951, built a chapel to offer students two services a day. He even encouraged students to form small groups for further spiritual reflection.
Thomas Coates was an invaluable addition to Concordia Portland. He not only instigated a notable rise in student population, but also orchestrated Concordia’s momentous transition from a high-school to a six-year school offering both high-school and college classes. He was responsible for initiating and effecting many changes, including several new buildings, a mutually beneficial relationship with Emanuel, and a renewed commitment to the spiritual lives of Concordia’s student body.
Watch next month for the third installment of Concordia’s historical presidential series when we examine Concordia’s years with Coates’s successor, E.P. Weber.
Works Cited
Weber, E.P. “History of Concordia Portland: 1905-1995.” Concordia Historical Institute. St Louis, Missouri. 1998.