Editing Louisiana Tech University (section)

===Expansion===
[[File:Keeny Hall from the Lady of the Mist.jpg|left|thumb|Keeny Hall: Administrative building dates to the middle 1930s; designed, along with several other Tech buildings by architect [[Edward F. Neild]] of [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]].]]
The Main Building, also known as Old Main, burned to the ground in December 1936,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Dailey |first1=Barbara Pfister |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fhJNTyiVQc0C |title=Ruston |last2=Pfister |first2=Pamela J. |last3=Pfister |first3=Pamela |date=2000 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-0584-8 |language=en}}</ref> but the columns that marked the entrance remain in place behind Prescott Memorial Library. By June 1936, construction on a new administration building had begun. On completion in January 1937, it was named Leche Hall in honor of then [[governor of Louisiana|Governor]] [[Richard W. Leche]] of [[New Orleans]]. The building was renamed after the death of former university president, [[J. E. Keeny]], and remains the remodeled Keeny Hall.

Louisiana Polytechnic Institute experienced an infrastructure growth spurt in 1939 and 1940. Seven buildings were designed by architect [[Edward F. Neild]] and completed at a cost of $2,054,270. These were Aswell Hall (girls' dormitory), Robinson Hall (men's dormitory for juniors and seniors), Tolliver Hall (880-seat dining hall), Bogard Hall (the Engineering Building), the S.J. Wages Power Plant, Reese Agricultural Hall (located on the South Campus Tech Farm), and the Howard Auditorium & Fine Arts Building.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eye20creativecorridor.com/parishes/lincoln-parish|title=Lincoln Parish|work=eye20creativecorridor.com|access-date=May 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710105646/http://eye20creativecorridor.com/parishes/lincoln-parish|archive-date=July 10, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During World War II, Louisiana Polytechnic Institute was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the [[V-12 Navy College Training Program]] which offered students a path to a Navy commission.<ref name="list-of-v-12">{{cite web |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Admin-Hist/115-8thND/115-8ND-23.html |title=U.S. Naval Administration in World War II |publisher=HyperWar Foundation |access-date=September 29, 2011 |year=2011}}</ref>

After World War II, old army barracks were used to construct the student union and bookstore. It was known as the "Tonk" because it resembled a honky tonk. The building was replaced 15 years later but its nickname remained.<ref name=":0" />

In 1959, four students were awarded the first master's degrees by the institution.