Wilbur Olin Hedrick  Wilbur O. Hedrick (1868–1954) started as a professor of Economics at Michigan State College in 1908. Born on April 3, 1868 in Elkhart, Indiana. He grew up in northern Michigan near Harbor Springs. He is the brother of Ulysses Prentiss Hedrick. He was married to Lucelia D. Baker. He fathered four children, Helen, Hester, Amy, and Marian. He pioneered student co-operatives in East Lansing, and "Hedrick House", named after him and opened in 1939, is the oldest student-owned co-operative in the USA. "No living person in this community has contributed more to M.S.C. than you have in your long period of distinguished service," said John A. Hannah in reference to Hedrick's accomplishments over his lengthy employment of 47 years as a faculty member at M.S.C..