1890

UNT was founded as Texas Normal College and Teachers’ Training Institute. Joshua C. Chilton was the founding President.

1891

The Spirit Bell is brought from Michigan to Denton. The bell is used to signal class changes and evening curfew.

1894

The name Texas Normal College and Teacher’s Training Institute was changed to North Texas Normal College.

1901

The name North Texas Normal College was changed to North Texas State Normal College.

1903

The earliest reference to an Alumni Association appears in The North Texas State Normal Journal, October 1903.

1913

The football team was founded.

1919

Julia Smith, member of the University’s band, composed “Glory to the Green and White.”

1922

The song “Glory to the Green and White” was adopted as the as school’s alma mater.

In an election, students chose the eagle over the dragon and lion as the college’s mascot.

1923

The name North Texas State College was changed to North Texas State Teachers College.

1930’s

The Homecoming bonfire began. Members of the Talons spirit organization built the fire.

1947

North Texas State Normal becomes the first university to offer a degree in Jazz Studies.

1949

The first issue of the alumni publication, The North Texan, was produced.

The name North Texas State Teachers College was changed to North Texas State College.

1952

The football field “Fout’s Field” opened.

1960’s

The nickname “Mean Green” is born when the football team’s defense was dominating other teams. One of the outstanding players of the time was “Mean” Joe Green.

1961

The name North Texas State College was changed to North Texas State University.

The first University Day celebration was held on campus.

One O'Clock Lab Band wins one of its first important awards as Best Jazz Band in the 1961 Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival.

1970

The tradition of firing Boomer the Victory Cannon to signal a touchdown at the football game is started.

The Alumni Association grew to 4,500 members.

1973

The Coliseum, also known as the “Super Pit,” was built.

1988

The name North Texas State University was changed to University of North Texas.

1999

The Murchison Performing Arts Center is opened.

 

2002

Football team wins the New Orleans Bowl.

 

2003

The University of North Texas Alumni Center is opened as part of the Gateway Center of the Denton campus.

 

Pohl Recreation Center opens.

 

2005

Women's soccer team wins consecutive conference championships.

 

Honors College founded.

 

2006

Dr. Gretchen M. Bataille appointed university's first female president.

2007

The UNT men’s basketball team wins their first Sun Belt Conference Championship.

 

2008

"We Mean Green" campaign begins for a sustainable campus.

 

2009

One O'Clock Lab Band and Director Steve Wiest receive two Grammy nominations for Lab 2009.

2010

University makes U.S. News & World Report's "Top Up-and-Coming Schools" list.

 

Men's basketball team wins Sunbelt Conference Championship.

 

Women's tennis team wins Sunbelt Conference Championship.

 

2011

UNT receives the largest gift in its history from former international student, Charn Uswachoke (’73 M.B.A.), a successful Thai entrepreneur who gave a $22 million commitment to the colleges of Business, Engineering and Music .

 

The College of Business moves into a new Gold-level LEED-certified 180,000-square-foot Business Leadership Building to meet its growing technology and enrollment needs.

 

The UNT Alumni Association opens its new 2,000-square-foot Alumni Pavilion adjacent to the university’s Apogee Stadium to serve as a gathering space for game-day festivities.

 

UNT opens the 31,000-seat Apogee Stadium, built with environmentally friendly materials and powered in part by renewable energy from its three wind turbines.