UAH celebrates origins with new historical marker at Campus No. 805, site of first classes in 1950

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) traces its origins to the mid-20th century. A new historical marker at Campus No. 805, the site of the university’s first classes on Jan. 6, 1950, commemorates the original 137 students and recognizes UAH’s development as a research-focused institution.

UAH President Dr. Charles Karr recalled those students on Dec. 16, 2025, when UAH representatives and supporters gathered to unveil the marker and celebrate the university’s history, milestones and plans for the future. He thanked Barbara Wadsworth, a proud UAH supporter, for her “vision and generosity” in donating the marker as well as the UAH Foundation Board for helping to make the event possible.

“We started as a research entity, an extension center of The University of Alabama (UA),” Karr said. “In 1969, we became our own university.”

Now UAH, a part of the UA System, is one of America’s premier doctoral-granting, research-intensive universities and home to 17 research centers. It’s come a long way since November 1949 when, as the marker notes, UA approved the creation of the University of Alabama-Huntsville Center.

“Today UAH has almost 9,000 students,” Karr said. “But we’ve held true to that mission of research. Last year our faculty and staff conducted about $160 million in externally funded research. This research helps us produce outstanding graduates who provide the workforce for people here in Huntsville.”

UAH continues growing toward even greater goals. Karr pointed out new and ongoing building and renovation projects that will move the university forward in 2026 and beyond:

• Completing the Raymond B. Jones Engineering Building, expected this summer.
• Renovating the Bevill Center for the new Center for Cybersecurity Research, Education & Advanced Training.
• Building UAH’s first Track and Field Complex.
• Redeveloping the former Executive Plaza site into Exploration Plaza with residence, office and research buildings in the first phase.

Wadsworth has long been a cheerleader for UAH and its vital role in Huntsville’s history.

“I couldn’t understand why there wasn’t already a marker in place,” she said. “This is an important historic development for the city and its progress.”

Wadsworth said she’s considered UAH a community “brain trust” for as long as she’s called Huntsville home. She and her late husband, E.J. “Butch” Wadsworth, moved to town when he joined Boeing as a defense contractor. She worked as a retail store manager and training store manager with the furniture company This End Up for 19 years. After that store closed, she worked for the Bombay Company.

She remembers unusual questions from customers employed in engineering and scientific fields.

“They might ask what type of polymers were in the chairs. We sold bunk beds, and there was a man who wanted to know what the tensile strength of the wood was per board foot. I told him, ‘I haven’t calculated that lately, but let me get back to you.’ I’d call corporate headquarters, and they’d say, ‘What? Is he a rocket scientist?’ And I’d say, ‘Yeah, he is.’

“It’s a little bit different when you’re selling in Huntsville, but that’s part of the spirit, the atmosphere of Huntsville and of UAH. Details like that are what I like to share with people because it gives them an idea of the whole picture.”

The faculty and staff of UAH’s M. Louis Salmon Library are dedicated to keeping track of the university’s historic details. Library Director David Moore recognized those who worked on the marker project and added his thanks for Wadsworth’s gift.

“I want to recognize one of our grad students, Kyle Curtis. He wrote the lettering for the marker and did some research on that using our archives. I also want to give a shout out to Reagan Grimsley, head of Special Collections and Archives, and Drew Adan, university archivist, for their work on this project to get it going.

“Most of all, thank you, Barbara, for your idea and your initiatives moving this forward. We are all here as great champions of UAH, and I think this recognizes the work that we are doing and will continue to do. There are great days ahead for the university. Thank you for your support.”