Based off the book “A Giving Man – The Story of C.Y. Stephens and How He Changed Iowa State University,” written by Steven L. Jones. Production of the book was made possible by Murray and Valerie Wise and the Wise Family Foundation, Inc. Murray Wise (’73 agriculture, plant pathology) was inspired by Stephens’ legacy after touring Stephens Auditorium as an Iowa State student in the early 1970s.
As an Iowa State student, C.Y. Stephens formed many connections and friendships with fellow students who would later become his business partners.
Feb. 11, 1902 – C.Y. Stephens (1925 dairy industry) was born in Ball Ground, Georgia, the youngest of 11 children
September 1921 – Stephens came to Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) after reaching out to the USDA asking for a recommendation on what was the best agricultural college in the country
1921-1925 – Highlights of Stephens’ time at Iowa State College:
- Pledged Tau Gamma Nu. At the encouragement of his fraternity brothers, Stephens switched majors from animal husbandry to dairy industry. The curriculum focused on teaching students to make cheese, ice cream, buttermilk and other dairy products. He also worked at the college dairy, gaining hands-on experience making cheese and other dairy products.
- Joined the Iowa State Dairy Club and was an alternate member on the four-student dairy products judging team that took first place at the National Dairy Exposition in Milwaukee in 1924. They also claimed top honors in butter judging as a team and earned the highest individual score in milking judging.
- Made connections with many fellow students that would prove beneficial throughout his professional career:
- Frank “Tiny” Kollmansperger (1925 dairy science), president of Iowa State Dairy Club, would become an ice cream business partner
- John “Jack” Tatum (1927 dairy science), would become an ice cream business partner
- Verrick O. French (1924 architectural engineering), would join Stephens’ dairy business in Washington, D.C.
- James H. Hilton (1923 animal science), who shared a mutual interest in the arts, would later encourage Stephens to lead the fundraising campaign for the Iowa State Center – Fisher Theater, Hilton Coliseum, Scheman Building and Stephens Auditorium
1925 – Graduated from Iowa State College and worked for several dairy-related companies in Iowa before moving to the east coast
1931 – Married Viva Mae Marsh, who changed her name to Mary Anne Stephens after marriage
1933 – Moved to Richmond, Virginia, and opened the first of many High’s Dairy Products Corporation ice cream shops in Washington, D.C., with Luther W. High, a Richmond businessman. The stores sold scoopable ice cream, bottled milk and other food items.
1936 – Established a dairy industry scholarship fund to benefit upper-level Iowa State students
1941 – Started Capitol Milk Producers Association in Frederick, Maryland, which provided nearly all the milk needed to supply the High’s retail stores
1961 – Stephens was announced as the national chair of the Iowa State Center fundraising effort, working alongside Iowa State President Hilton and ISU alumni director Wallace “Red” Barron, who was Stephens’ fraternity brother
- He and Mary Anne pledged $1 million to go toward the $7.5 million campaign
Nov. 29, 1963 – Stephens died in a car accident in Maryland at the age of 61
1965 – Groundbreaking ceremony for C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, the first of four Iowa State Center buildings to be constructed
Sept. 6, 1969 – First event takes place in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, attended by Iowa State students. The Cowsills, a pop group, and The First Edition, a rock band, performed a “test run” of the building.
Sept. 9, 1969 – Official grand opening of C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, complete with a concert by the New York Philharmonic, the nation’s oldest continuous symphony orchestra, that attracted much media attention
- The orchestra played to sold-out crowds five nights in a row as part of the Ames International Orchestra Festival
- Crowds were in awe of the shiny, silver curtain in the auditorium (which is still there today). The 80x35 feet curtain was designed and woven in Japan and weighed 2,800 pounds. It was a gift of Iowa State Foundation Board of Governors member J.W. “Bill” Fisher of Marshalltown, Iowa, for whom Fisher Theater is named after.
2004 – C.Y. Stephens Auditorium was selected (from a list of 300 nominated buildings) as Iowa’s Building of the Century by the Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
