Pershing Arena

Named in honor of General John J. Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces to France during World War I and one of Truman’s most distinguished alumni, Pershing Building is a two-story red brick and stone structure located on the south end of campus.  It is the home for Bulldog Basketball, Volleyball and Wrestling and also serves as the main practice facility for the Truman Athletics Department.

The building is undergoing a major renovation project with the addition of an auxillary or east wing that is connected at the third and arena level on the south end of the building.The new addition will house a new Athletic Training Room, Health & Exercise Science labs along with the Nursing and Communication Disorders disicplines.

Also during Phase one of the renovation, a new weight room is being built where the racquet ball courts used to sit.

After opening in 1959, the building saw its first addition in 1967,  with the north wing. The addition featured another gymnasium, a dance studio, classrooms and offices.

In 1976, the south wing was added, which houses the Natatorium, with a six-lane, 40-yard swimming pool.

Pershing has one main wood parquet floor, the center court, that was replaced in 2007 and two red rubber floor courts located on either side.
Originally, the court ran east-west, but was moved and now runs in a north-south direction, with wooden bleachers on the east and west sides.
Pershing Arena-2

General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was a general officer in the United States Army. Pershing is the only person to be promoted in his own lifetime to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army—General of the Armies Pershing led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I and was regarded as a mentor by the generation of American generals who led the United States Army in Europe during World War II, including George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley, and George S. Patton.

Pershing was born in nearby Laclede, Mo. and came to Truman in 1880.  He left two years later to attend West Point.

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