Dale Houk, a native of Butler County, entered Slippery Rock in 1919 when it was still a normal school and eventually became superintendent of schools in Allegheny County before being named president of Slippery Rock State Teachers College in 1946. With the G.I. Bill providing tuition and subsistence benefits, enrollment at the college soared to reach 920 by 1955. The teaching curriculum continued to become more rigorous. Students planning to teach in the secondary schools were required to have at least 30 semester hours of credit in the fields of biological science, physical science, general science, history, social science and English. During this time, SRSTC became one of the first to offer credit for courses taken over the Pittsburgh Educational Television Station, WQED. Houk resigned his presidency to join WQED as director of community relations in 1956. He graduated from Park College in Missouri and earned his master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh.