The John W. Lucas Years

In 1937, the Municipal University of Omaha completed a building with sufficient space to house most of its academic programs as well as many related services. Get PIC of new building. During this period of growth, the University's president, Roland Haynes, felt a need to employ someone to champion the expansion of business administration. President Haynes' search brought him in contact with John W. Lucas who responded favorably to the idea of heading a department of business administration.

John W. Lucas graduated from Ohio State University in 1935 with the Master of Business Administration degree. Following graduation, he was hired by the Ohio Bell Telephone Company and placed in its executive training program. After a few years with the telephone company, he changed career goals and became a partner in a nursery business in Columbus, Ohio. This change gave him the freedom to begin Ohio States's doctoral program. While there as a doctoral student he also served as an instructor in the Department of Business Organization. He was also collaborating on a business book with Owen Burley, later a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

The 1938 University of Omaha faculty roster listed John W. Lucas as associate professor of business administration and acting head of business administration. In 1940, he was named head of business administration. During 1945, his job responsibilities increased to include that of being Dean of Students. He was by that time a full professor of business administration.

John W. Lucas served the college in several capacities between the years of 1948-1968. His first assignment was to head the department of business administration until 1952 when it became the College of Business Administration.