 The university leadership led by President Donald D. MacKay came to realize that a relocation would likely be necessary to secure Whitworth’s future.When Whitworth was approached by Spokane boosters, the Spokane Presbytery, and railroad magnate Jay P. Graves with some land on his new Country Homes development outside the city, the university trustees agreed to the move provided that the Spokane community donate $70,000 and the Synod of Washington $30,000 for facilities.Whitworth merged with Spokane Junior College in 1942, when the latter shut down due to financial difficulties during World War II.