Henry G. Bennett, president of the college, approved of the idea, and envisioned a 500-seat chapel with a cost of $500,000, located near the Student Union.

[3] On October 23, 1957, OAMC President Oliver S. Willham declared that funds would be borrowed in order to complete the chapel.

An initial goal of $20,000 was set and a statewide campaign began in November 1944, but a severe influenza outbreak on campus brought fundraising to a halt.

[3] After the formation of the Henry G. Bennett Memorial Foundation, the OAMC class of 1952 announced that the chapel would receive their graduation gift.

[3] Governor Murray also declared April 1952 to be Henry G. Bennett Memorial Month in an effort to raise funds.

A 1956 model car was given as a door prize at the dance, and raised between $1,800-$2,000 of the money needed for the stained glass windows, whose cost was estimated at $5,600.

[5] Cunningham's watercolors of these two designs can be viewed in the Donald W. Reynolds School of Architecture at Oklahoma State University.