event beneficiary McPherson College Automotive Restoration

Founded in 1887, McPherson College is a four-year liberal arts college. The beautiful 27-acre campus is set in McPherson, a town of 13,000 that is one of the top 100 small towns in the U.S., with a strong diversified economic base, located in central Kansas 50 miles north of Wichita.

The Automotive Restoration Technology Program at McPherson College was established in 1976 through the generosity and foresight of local entrepreneur Gaines H. “Smokey” Billue. His gift of over 125 classic and antique cars provided initial funds for the program. Mr. Billue, the Templeton family and others contributed toward the construction of Templeton Hall, which continues to serve as the home to the world-renowned program. 

Along with the technical education that students receive in the classroom and working on the school’s collection of historic vehicles dating from 1890 to 1973, students also take classes outside of the program in areas like history, communications, business, and art.

Today, with industry connections spanning the country and internship opportunities in a broad range of automotive settings, McPherson College stands alone as the only school to provide a bachelor’s degree in Restoration Technology.

Our Mission: To be the center of excellence for students serious about automotive restoration. Our Vision: By 2023 MC will compete to win at Pebble Beach.  

• McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas offers the only four-year bachelor’s degree for restoration technology in the country.
• 98% of McPherson College auto restoration students secure jobs in their field before they graduate.
• Alumni can be found working in all facets of the automobile collecting world – Hagerty, Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, Rad Rides by Troy, Historic Vehicle Association, Peterson Automotive Museum, RM Sotheby’s, and private collections.

• Students can choose from five areas of emphasis within the major: Automotive Restoration Technology, Automotive Communications, Historic Automotive Technology, Automotive Restoration Design, and Automotive Restoration Management.
• Eight expert faculty in Engines, Sheet Metal, Chassis, Paint, Trim, Electric Systems, Assembly, Woodworking.

• Students are currently restoring a 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet with the goal of competing at Pebble Beach Concours d ‘Elegance in 2023.
• A large network of industry partners allows students opportunities to apply for internships with companies of all sizes, as well as museums, and private collections. A career fair for AR is held on campus each spring.