# University of Rio Grande > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/University_of_Rio_Grande > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/University_of_Rio_Grande.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Rio_Grande > Source revision: 1354132454 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Community college in Rio Grande, Ohio, US "Rio Grande College" redirects here. For the colleges in Texas, see [Sul Ross State University](/source/Sul_Ross_State_University). University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College Official seal at the campus entrance in 2007 Former name Rio Grande College (1876–1989) Motto Changing Tomorrows Type Private university and public community college Established September 13, 1876; 149 years ago (1876-09-13) Parent institution University System of Ohio Endowment $21,853,211 President Ryan Smith Provost Dr. David Lawrence Students 2,300 Undergraduates 2,140 Postgraduates 160 Location Rio Grande, Ohio , United States Campus Rural, 190 acres (77 ha) Colors Red & White Website rio.edu/ The **University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College** (originally **Rio Grande College**)[1] is a [private university](/source/Private_university) and [public](/source/Public_college) [community college](/source/Community_college) merged into one institution in [Rio Grande, Ohio](/source/Rio_Grande%2C_Ohio), United States. It is [accredited](/source/Higher_education_accreditation_in_the_United_States) by the [Higher Learning Commission](/source/Higher_Learning_Commission) (HLC). ## History ### Early history Ira Haning, a Free Will Baptist minister, persuaded Nehemiah and Permelia Atwood, affluent residents and entrepreneurs, to use their wealth to establish a college. Following Nehemiah's death in 1869, the responsibility for making this dream a reality fell to his wife Permelia. In 1873, Permelia Ridgeway Atwood established an endowment and deeded 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land for Rio Grande College, which officially opened on September 13, 1876. In its first year, [Ransom Dunn](/source/Ransom_Dunn) was president as well as professor of mental and moral philosophy.[2] ## Athletics See also: [Rio Grande RedStorm football](/source/Rio_Grande_RedStorm_football) Rio Grande athletics wordmark The Rio Grande athletic teams are called the RedStorm. The university is a member of the [National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics](/source/National_Association_of_Intercollegiate_Athletics) (NAIA), primarily competing in the [River States Conference](/source/River_States_Conference) (RSC) since the 2014–15 academic year; which they were a member on a previous stint from 1964–65 to 1970–71. The RedStorm previously competed in the [Mid-South Conference](/source/Mid-South_Conference) (MSC) from 2009–10 to 2013–14, and in the defunct [American Mideast Conference](/source/American_Mideast_Conference) (AMC) from 1971–72 to 2008–09. Rio Grande competes in 26 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, rugby, soccer, track & field (indoor & outdoor), volleyball, and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, rugby, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor & outdoor), and volleyball; and co-ed sports include bass fishing, cheerleading, dance, and eSports. Football, which had been dropped after the 1949 season, will return in 2025, competing in the [Appalachian Athletic Conference](/source/Appalachian_Athletic_Conference) (AAC). ## Notable alumni This section needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) - [Bernie Bickerstaff](/source/Bernie_Bickerstaff), former [NBA](/source/NBA) head coach and executive.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - [Matthew Boyles](/source/Matthew_Boyles), professional race walker.[3] - [Frank Cremeans](/source/Frank_Cremeans), represented the state of Ohio in the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives).[4] - [Bevo Francis](/source/Bevo_Francis), a legendary [basketball](/source/Basketball) player, put Rio Grande on the map in 1954 when he scored 113 points in a single game against [Hillsdale College](/source/Hillsdale_College). Francis' feat stood as an [NCAA](/source/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association) record for 58 years until Jack Taylor of [Grinnell College](/source/Grinnell_College) broke the mark with a 138-point performance against [Faith Baptist Bible College](/source/Faith_Baptist_Bible_College_and_Theological_Seminary) on November 20, 2012. - [Kendell Foster Crossen](/source/Kendell_Foster_Crossen), [pulp fiction](/source/Pulp_magazine) and [science fiction](/source/Science_fiction) writer. - [Ben Hunter](/source/Ben_Hunter), professional soccer player.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - [Bernard Lepkofker](/source/Bernard_Lepkofker), competitive judoka - [George Poffenbarger](/source/George_Poffenbarger), justice of the [West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals](/source/West_Virginia_Supreme_Court_of_Appeals). - [Tom Spencer](/source/Tom_Spencer_(baseball)), retired [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) [outfielder](/source/Outfielder)[5] - [Robert M. Switzer](/source/Robert_M._Switzer), former [U.S. Representative](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) from Ohio.[6] - [Laura L. Clellan](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Laura_L._Clellan&action=edit&redlink=1), Major General, [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army). Current Adjutant General, [Colorado National Guard](/source/Colorado_National_Guard).[7] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-RaccoonTownship_1-0)** ["Raccoon Township, Gallia County, Ohio"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111223045448/http://ohiogenealogyexpress.com/gallia/galliaco_history_raccoon.htm). *History of Gallia County*. Chicago & Toledo: H. H. Hardesty & Co., Publishers. Archived from [the original](http://www.ohiogenealogyexpress.com/gallia/galliaco_history_raccoon.htm) on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Raccoon1882_2-0)** ["Raccoon Township"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111223045448/http://ohiogenealogyexpress.com/gallia/galliaco_history_raccoon.htm). *History of Gallia County*. Chicago & Toledo: H. H. Hardesty & Co., Publishers. 1882. Archived from [the original](http://www.ohiogenealogyexpress.com/gallia/galliaco_history_raccoon.htm) on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Matt BOYLES | Profile | World Athletics"](http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/united-states/matthew-boyles-191232). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["CREMEANS, Frank, (1943 - 2003)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000903). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 21, 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Tom Spencer Stats"](http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=spencto01). Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["SWITZER, Robert Mauck, (1863 - 1952)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S001124). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 21, 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Clellan, Laura"](https://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2951.html). ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [University of Rio Grande](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:University_of_Rio_Grande). - [Official website](https://www.rio.edu/) - [Athletics website](https://www.rioredstorm.com/) v t e Colleges and universities in the state of Ohio Private Antioch College Antioch University Art Academy of Cincinnati Ashland University Baldwin Wallace University Bluffton University Capital University Case Western Reserve University Cedarville University Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland Institute of Music University of Dayton Defiance College Denison University University of Findlay Franciscan University of Steubenville Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Heidelberg University Hiram College John Carroll University Kenyon College Kettering College of Medical Arts Lake Erie College Lourdes University Malone University Marietta College Mount St. Joseph University University of Mount Union Muskingum University University of Northwestern Ohio Oberlin College Ohio Christian University Ohio Dominican University Ohio Northern University Ohio Wesleyan University Otterbein University Mount Vernon Nazarene University University of Rio Grande Tiffin University Ursuline College Walsh University Wilberforce University Wilmington College Wittenberg University College of Wooster Xavier University Public University of Akron Belmont Technical College Bowling Green State University Central Ohio Technical College Central State University Cincinnati State Technical and Community College University of Cincinnati Clark State College Cleveland State University Columbus State Community College Cuyahoga Community College Edison State Community College Hocking College James A. Rhodes State College Kent State University Lakeland Community College Lorain County Community College Marion Technical College Miami University North Central State College Northeast Ohio Medical University Northwest State Community College Ohio State University Ohio University Owens Community College Rio Grande Community College Shawnee State University Sinclair Community College Southern State Community College Stark State College Terra State Community College University of Toledo Washington State Community College Wright State University Youngstown State University Zane State College Defunct Chancellor University Cincinnati Christian University Cleveland Institute of Electronics Eastern Gateway Community College Notre Dame College Urbana University University System of Ohio v t e River States Conference Current members Brescia Bearcats IU Columbus Crimson Pride IU East Red Wolves IU Kokomo Cougars IU Southeast Grenadiers Kentucky Christian Knights Midway Eagles Oakland City Mighty Oaks Rio Grande RedStorm Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Pomeroys Shawnee State Bears West Virginia Tech Golden Bears v t e College sports teams in Ohio NCAA Division I Akron Zips Bowling Green Falcons Cincinnati Bearcats Cleveland State Vikings Dayton Flyers Kent State Golden Flashes Miami RedHawks Ohio Bobcats Ohio State Buckeyes Toledo Rockets Wright State Raiders Xavier Musketeers Youngstown State Penguins NCAA Division II Ashland Eagles Cedarville Yellow Jackets Central State Marauders Findlay Oilers Lake Erie Storm Malone Pioneers Ohio Dominican Panthers Tiffin Dragons Ursuline Arrows Walsh Cavaliers NCAA Division III Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets Bluffton Beavers Capital Comets Case Western Reserve Spartans Denison Big Red Franciscan Barons Heidelberg Student Princes John Carroll Blue Streaks Kenyon Lords and Ladies Marietta Pioneers Mount St. Joseph Lions Mount Union Purple Raiders Muskingum Fighting Muskies Oberlin Yeomen and Yeowomen Ohio Northern Polar Bears Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops Otterbein Cardinals Wilmington Quakers Wittenberg Tigers Wooster Fighting Scots NAIA Defiance Yellow Jackets Lourdes Gray Wolves Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars Northwestern Ohio Racers Rio Grande RedStorm Shawnee State Bears Wilberforce Bulldogs Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF 2 FAST 2 National United States 2 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [University of Rio Grande](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Rio_Grande) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Rio_Grande?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.