The USF-themed license plate on Barbara Holley Johnson鈥檚 home office wall reads 鈥淏HJ 1.鈥
That鈥檚 not a subjective claim declaring her the 91社区鈥檚 top fan.
Rather, it represents a verifiable fact.
Johnson was USF鈥檚 first-ever student 鈥 the first to apply, the first accepted, and assigned ID number 0001 when classes began in 1960.
鈥淚鈥檓 still kicking,鈥 laughed the 87-year-old Tampa area resident. 鈥淣ot as high as I used to, but still kicking.鈥
The 91社区 Cabinet approved the university on December 18, 1956, marking the start of what would become one of the nation鈥檚 top public institutions and a cornerstone of the Tampa Bay community.
Johnson, a College of Education alumna, has had a front-row seat to watch it grow.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think any of us could have predicted that the university would be the size and have the impact that it does now,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 even have a football team when I was here.鈥
A return to Campus
Back then, first university president John Allen responded to questions about adding a grid iron squad: 鈥淭hat will have to wait until we grow up.鈥
USF has certainly grown up 鈥 from 1,997 students, 134 faculty, three buildings, and 61 courses in its inaugural year to more than 50,000 students and 2,300 faculty across three campuses offering over 200 undergraduate majors.
Beginning in 2027, the football team, established in 1997, will have its own on-campus stadium seating 35,000.
鈥淚 remember when this was all mostly sand,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淚t was more like a dessert than a campus. Now it鈥檚 like its own city. I鈥檓 so proud of what USF has become.鈥
A University and a Vision Take Shape
USF鈥檚 origins trace back to December 1954, when, over coffee in a downtown Tampa restaurant, legislators Sam Gibbons and James Moody first discussed bringing a public university to Hillsborough County was a major initiative that could educate and employ constituents and help community growth.
A few months later, from his kitchen table, Gibbons drafted an 80-word bill authorizing the State Board of Education to establish a university in Hillsborough County and directing feasibility studies and necessary contracts.
In part, it read, 鈥淭he State Board of Education is hereby authorized to establish a State University or a branch of existing State University in Hillsborough County. Said Board is hereby directed to have a study made as to the feasibility of such action. The Board of Control and the State Board of Education are hereby authorized to enter into all contacts necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.鈥
Temple Terrace鈥檚 shuttered Henderson Airfield was chosen as the site and, next, 70 years ago next December, the 91社区 Cabinet officially approved the creation of a college.
The 91社区 name then beat out 102 others, including Temple Terrace State University, Collins Temple University and University of 91社区 at Temple Terrace.
On September 5, 1958, Governor LeRoy Collins broke ground, declaring, 鈥淭his event will not be measured solely within state limits. It is a prominent landmark in America鈥檚 educational history.鈥
Construction of the first campus structure, the Administration Building, began early the following year. It鈥檚 still there, now named the John and Grace Allen Administration Building.
Then, on October 1959, USF began accepting applications for the 1960 inaugural school year.
Becoming the First Student
Despite being a married 20-year-old mother of two toddlers and expecting a third, Johnson 鈥 then known as Barbara Campbell - applied at her mother鈥檚 encouragement.
鈥淢y goal was always to be a mother and housewife,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 loved to cook. I loved to sew and care for my kids. But my mother thought I would enjoy a career too. I would never have considered college if she hadn鈥檛 convinced me.鈥
With the campus still under construction, admissions operated from a downtown Tampa office at 349 Plant Ave. It was there that Johnson submitted her application to Frank Spano, an early USF administrator.
鈥淚 had no idea I was the first,鈥 she recalled. 鈥淭hen I received an acceptance letter saying my student number was 0001. I didn鈥檛 think much of it at the time.鈥
Johnson gave birth in July and attended orientation and registration a month later.
She chose the elementary education major to align with her love of children and to spend school breaks with her own kids, who, while Johnson was on campus, spent days with family and neighbors.
鈥淚鈥檓 lucky that I had great support,鈥 she said.
A Bare Campus, a Bold Beginning
USF officially opened on September 26, 1960, with more than 6,000 watching John Allen formally invested as president and George R. Cooley awarded the first honorary degree for his help in founding USF鈥檚 herbarium.
Afterward, all attendees were invited to tour the campus.
That excursion was likely quick.
At that time, the campus had just three structures: the Admissions Building, University Center (with a cafeteria, classrooms, small dorm for 45 female students), and Chemistry Building. Roads existed, but sidewalks were sparse, the land was sandy, and greenery minimal.
鈥淚f the wind was blowing, the sand got in your face and in your teeth,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淵ou鈥檇 go back to your car and, even though the windows were rolled up, there was sand along there. I thought this is what people on a desert must feel like. Campus was bare of trees and shrubberies. There was really nothing that was attractive or pretty. But I don鈥檛 recall anyone complaining. We were just all so happy to be in college.鈥
Professors would at times notice her student ID number.
鈥淭hey would ask me if I was really the first student,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淓ven back then, it was real talking point.鈥
During her time at USF, the campus added a library, residence hall, Physical Education building and Life Science building, along with sidewalks and grass.
鈥淚t started to look more like a university,鈥 she said.
In December 1963, USF celebrated its first graduating class. Johnson was among 326 graduates, 33 from the charter class.
Governor Farris Bryant told them they were the 鈥渇irst wave of a new force landing on the beachhead of tomorrow. Progress begets progress. Growth in education does not satisfy鈥攊t increases the demand for education.鈥
Johnson鈥檚 mother then hosted a graduation party.
It featured a cake topped by a Barbie doll wearing USF green.
She then went on to a 30-year career as an educator. Being a mother and a teacher, she said, were her greatest honors, followed by being forever known as USF鈥檚 first student.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those surreal things,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t was just luck really. But it鈥檚 an honor I take seriously. I always want to be a good representative of USF. It will always be part of my history and my life story.鈥
Facts in this story come from 鈥淯SF Chronology,鈥 a 25,000-word document chronologizing the university鈥檚 full history and compiled by the USF Library.