H. Res. 1372 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
September 17, 2008. 
Whereas the citizens of Bellevue and Omaha, Nebraska, 
worked together with vigor and determination during the 
early years of the 20th century to create a nonsectarian 
university where local high school graduates could receive 
a college education; 
Whereas due to the fortitude of the Board of Trustees and 
the generosity of donors, the first student body consisting 
of 26 students gathered on September 14, 1909, in what 
was formerly the old Redick mansion at 24th and Pratt 
Streets to begin their college education at the University 
of Omaha; 
Whereas in spite of numerous financial challenges, the Uni-
versity of Omaha never wavered from its commitment to 
its founders to produce well-rounded and informed stu-
dents by offering coursework in foreign languages, his-
tory, ethics, sacred history, science, and other traditional 
subjects; 
Whereas the University of Omaha’s substantial and respected 
curriculum prompted the University of Nebraska to an-
nounce in the spring of 1910 that it would accept credits 
from the University of Omaha as equivalent to its own;
•HRES 1372 EH 
Whereas the Board of Trustees, realizing the need for ex-
panded facilities and programs would not be met through 
voluntary donations, voted in 1929 to turn over the Uni-
versity of Omaha to the City of Omaha to establish a 
municipal university; 
Whereas the World War II years were turbulent for the Na-
tion and required many sacrifices, and students and fac-
ulty at the Municipal University of Omaha unselfishly 
united to support the war effort and their fellow students 
on active duty with a variety of activities, including re-
placing the traditional Homecoming bonfire with a scrap 
drive rally; 
Whereas the Municipal University of Omaha, under the lead-
ership of President Milo Bail, responded to the need for 
expansion due to a postwar boom in student enrollment 
that threatened to stress facilities and programs by erect-
ing a number of buildings to accommodate the quickly in-
creasing student population, including a field house, li-
brary, and student center; 
Whereas the Municipal University of Omaha further re-
sponded to the needs of returning members of the mili-
tary by participating in the Bootstrap Program, initiated 
by the Air Force in 1951, to encourage military per-
sonnel to finish degrees that had been started before the 
War; 
Whereas the University Regents, with the goal of strength-
ening financial solvency as well as offering affordable tui-
tion, agreed to merge with the University of Nebraska 
beginning July 1, 1968, a decision that has since been 
lauded as the greatest educational gain in the City’s his-
tory;
•HRES 1372 EH 
Whereas the University continued to increase program offer-
ings to students, including the development of doctoral 
programs such as a cooperative program in psychology 
and joint program in educational administration with the 
University of Nebraska at Lincoln, independent programs 
in public administration and criminal justice, and 
through the generous support of individual donors, the 
Alumni Association, and the NU Foundation, the cre-
ation of numerous named professorships; 
Whereas when a need arose for off-campus classrooms and a 
conference site to accommodate the business community, 
the University of Nebraska at Omaha worked diligently 
in both the public and private sectors to secure funding 
for the establishment of the Peter Kiewit Conference 
Center in downtown Omaha in 1980; 
Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha, in partner-
ship with private donors, demonstrated a continued com-
mitment to providing outstanding facilities with the open-
ing of the Durham Science Center in 1987, the Weber 
Fine Arts Building in 1992, and expansion of the 
Thompson Alumni Center in 2006; 
Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha provides valu-
able resources and expertise to the State of Nebraska 
through the Nebraska Business Development Center, 
which 
produces 
an 
annual 
economic 
impact 
of 
$350,000,000 and serves 200 communities; 
Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha established a 
Teacher’s College in 1908 that produces educators who 
teach in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 73 
other countries;
•HRES 1372 EH 
Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha worked with 
business leaders to establish the Peter Kiewit Institute of 
Information Science, Technology and Engineering to help 
meet the employment needs of the Nation’s technology 
and engineering firms, as well as offer students a pre-
miere educational opportunity; 
Whereas the Peter Kiewit Institute of Information Science, 
Technology, and Engineering has received accolades from 
many organizations, including the National Science 
Foundation and Carnegie Mellon; and 
Whereas 2008 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of 
the University of Nebraska at Omaha, with commemora-
tions beginning October 8, 2008: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the 
University of Nebraska at Omaha and calls upon citizens 
to observe such an anniversary with appropriate cere-
monies and activities; and 
(2) encourages State and local governments to rec-
ognize the partnership among the City of Omaha, its 
citizens, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha to 
build a vibrant and dynamic community. 
Attest: 
Clerk.