Radio School, first — The Department of Speech began a radio school in conjunction with the Columbia Broadcasting System during the 1937-1938 academic year, the first of its kind in the United States.
Reckord Armory — Constructed in 1944; designed by Hopkins & Fletcher. Named for Major General Milton A. Reckord, Adjutant General of Maryland. The building served as a dormitory for GIs returning from World War II. The two mortars at the fron of the building are believed to have been used by the Maryland Militia during the Civil War. The world famous rock band Hootie and the Blowfish filmed a portion of their music video for the song "Only Wanna Be With You" on the floor of Reckord Armory.
Regents, Board of — The University System of Maryland, comprised of eleven individual campuses, is overseen by a Board of Regents who are appointed by the governor of Maryland.
Registration — The automation of the registration process began in 1972. Prior to that year, students waited in endless lines to register, only to see classes close before their eyes.
Rhodes Scholars — Tom McMillen earned this distinction in 1974. At the time, he was also the all-time top scorer in Maryland basketball history. University President Wilson H. Elkins was the first Rhodes Scholar to be associated with the campus.
Rifle shooting — A rifle team was first organized in 1911. The women's
team, first organized in 1922, won numerous national championships. The men were
national champions in 1953 and 1954.
Ritchie Coliseum — Constructed in 1932 and designed by Howard W. Cutler. Named for Albert Cabell Ritchie, governor of Maryland, 1921-1935.
Roads — As of 2004, there were approximately 13 miles of road on campus.
Robot — Maryland students won first prize in the prestigious Japanese Robot Grand Prix in Tokyo in 1996. Maryland was the only U.S. university to enter the competition.
Rockets — The University of Maryland has long been in the forefront of space research. Dr. S. Fred Singer, who pioneered many of the University's early ventures into rocketry and satellite research, designed the "Terrapin" and "Oriole" high altitude rockets which were built and launched at very low costs compared to the value of the data they gathered. The "Terrapin," a fifteen-foot, two-stage rocket, weighing approximately 225 pounds, could soar eighty miles into space at speeds of up to 3800 miles per hour; the first test firing of this rocket occurred in November 1957.
Rossborough Inn — Constructed between 1802 and 1814 and named for the
Ross family. The Rossborough originally served travellers on the main road between
Baltimore and Washington. The inn has also served as the headquarters for the
Agricultural Experiment Station, a dormitory, and
the home of the Faculty/Staff Club. Extensive renovations have altered the original
appearance of the exterior significantly.
Rotocraft Center, Alfred Gessow — One of three centers established by the Army Research Office in 1982. The center was named for Alfred Gessow, leading helicopter expert and professor emeritus in the Department of Aerospace Engineering.
Rugby — Men's rugby was first organized in 1967. Women's rugby was organized in 1986.
