While the Skiff dubbed the fountain “the biggest issue of the 1968-1969 school year,” the controversy subsided as students moved on to more serious matters. After members of the Ohio National Guard killed four Kent State University students during a Vietnam War protest on May 4, 1970, about 100 members of the TCU community gathered at Frog Fountain for a silent vigil.

By fall 1971, the fountain was host to Howdy Week activities — such as “the beanie brigade’s watermelon feast,” reported an August 1971 Skiff article — cementing Frog Fountain’s role as the campus gathering spot.

In May 2006, the fountain was dismantled for renovation as construction began on the $100 million Campus Commons.

The refurbished lotus petals were installed in a new base and plaza donated by the John V. Roach family. The fountain was also situated slightly closer to the student union. Larger in diameter than the original, the new pool featured Horned Frog tiles and a seawall the right height for visitors to sit on without getting splashed.

On March 16, 2008, Trustee Emeritus John V. Roach ’61 (MBA ’65) flipped the switch to officially start the Frog Fountain waters flowing again. The four stylized flutes represent classes — the tallest for seniors, the shortest for first-year students — and the water flowing between lotus petals symbolizes shared knowledge.

More than 50 years later, the donors’ original vision for the fountain has eclipsed its early controversy.

“Frog Fountain, in many ways, serves as the heartbeat of campus. Simultaneously, it’s a gathering space, a place for reflection and remembrance, and its central and elevated location makes it a must stop for all to see,” said TCU President Daniel Pullin. “Said simply, Frog Fountain is iconic. For many, it’s the first visual they think of when describing the beauty of our university to others.”

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