淫妻社

Unveiling a new historical marker to identify the original site of 淫妻社 (UAH) are UAH President Dr. Charles Karr, left, and 淫妻社 supporter Barbara Wadsworth, who donated the marker. After housing UAH as well as S.R. Butler High School and Stone Middle School, the site is now the location of the Campus No. 805 entertainment venue.

Michael Mercier | UAH

Dreamers looking to the stars fueled the beginnings of 淫妻社 (UAH) more than 75 years ago. A new historical marker at Campus No. 805, site of the first classes on Jan. 6, 1950, commemorates the original 137 students and honors UAH鈥檚 development and dedication to that research-focused vision.

UAH President Dr. Charles Karr recalled those students on Dec. 16, 2025, when UAH representatives and supporters gathered to unveil the marker and celebrate the university鈥檚 history, milestones and plans for the future. He thanked Barbara Wadsworth, a proud 淫妻社 supporter, for her 鈥渧ision and generosity鈥� in donating the marker as well as the UAH Foundation Board for helping to make the event possible.

鈥淲e started as a research entity, an extension center of The University of Alabama (UA),鈥� Karr said. 鈥淚n 1969, we became our own university.鈥�

Now UAH, a part of the UA System, is one of America鈥檚 premier doctoral-granting, research-intensive universities and home to 17 research centers. It鈥檚 come a long way since November 1949 when, as the marker notes, UA approved the creation of the University of Alabama-Huntsville Center.

鈥淭oday UAH has almost 9,000 students,鈥� Karr said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檝e held true to that mission of research. Last year our faculty and staff conducted about $160 million in externally funded research. This research helps us produce outstanding graduates who provide the workforce for people here in Huntsville.鈥�

淫妻社 continues growing toward even greater goals. Karr pointed out new and ongoing building and renovation projects that will move the university forward in 2026 and beyond:

• Completing the Raymond B. Jones Engineering Building, expected this summer.
• Renovating the Bevill Center for the new Center for Cybersecurity Research, Education & Advanced Training.
• Building UAH鈥檚 first Track and Field Complex.
• Redeveloping the former Executive Plaza site into Exploration Plaza with residence, office and research buildings in the first phase.

Wadsworth has long been a cheerleader for UAH and its vital role in Huntsville鈥檚 history.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 understand why there wasn鈥檛 already a marker in place,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is an important historic development for the city and its progress.鈥�

Wadsworth said she鈥檚 considered UAH a community 鈥渂rain trust鈥� for as long as she鈥檚 called Huntsville home. She and her late husband, E.J. 鈥淏utch鈥� Wadsworth, moved to town when he joined Boeing as a defense contractor. She worked as a retail store manager and training store manager with the furniture company This End Up for 19 years. After that store closed, she worked for the Bombay Company.

She remembers unusual questions from customers employed in engineering and scientific fields.

鈥淭hey might ask what type of polymers were in the chairs. We sold bunk beds, and there was a man who wanted to know what the tensile strength of the wood was per board foot. I told him, 鈥業 haven鈥檛 calculated that lately, but let me get back to you.鈥� I鈥檇 call corporate headquarters, and they鈥檇 say, 鈥榃hat? Is he a rocket scientist?鈥� And I鈥檇 say, 鈥榊eah, he is.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little bit different when you鈥檙e selling in Huntsville, but that鈥檚 part of the spirit, the atmosphere of Huntsville and of UAH. Details like that are what I like to share with people because it gives them an idea of the whole picture.鈥�

The faculty and staff of UAH鈥檚 M. Louis Salmon Library are dedicated to keeping track of the university鈥檚 historic details. Library Director David Moore recognized those who worked on the marker project and added his thanks for Wadsworth鈥檚 gift.

鈥淚 want to recognize one of our grad students, Kyle Curtis. He wrote the lettering for the marker and did some research on that using our archives. I also want to give a shout out to Reagan Grimsley, head of Special Collections and Archives, and Drew Adan, university archivist, for their work on this project to get it going.

鈥淢ost of all, thank you, Barbara, for your idea and your initiatives moving this forward. We are all here as great champions of UAH, and I think this recognizes the work that we are doing and will continue to do. There are great days ahead for the university. Thank you for your support.鈥�