Thomas W. Butcher

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Thomas W. Butcher
Thomas W. Butcher.gif
8th President of the Kansas State Teachers College
In office
July 1, 1913 – June 30, 1943
Preceded byJoseph H. Hill
Succeeded byJames F. Price
6th President of Central State Normal School
In office
1906–1908
Preceded byFrederick Howard Umholtz
Succeeded byJames Argyle McLauchlin
Personal details
Born
Thomas Walter Butcher

(1867-07-03)July 3, 1867
Macomb, Illinois
DiedJuly 14, 1947(1947-07-14) (aged 80)
Emporia, Kansas
Resting placeEmporia, Kansas
Spouse(s)
Mary W. Peck
​
(m. 1900⁠–⁠1947)​
Alma materUniversity of Kansas (B.A.)
Harvard University (M.A.)
OccupationEducation administrator

Thomas Walter Butcher (July 3, 1867 – July 14, 1947) was an American educator most notably for serving as president at what is now known as Emporia State University. Before serving as the Kansas State Normal School's president, Butcher served various state-level education administrator jobs.[1][2]

Biography[]

Early life and education[]

Butcher was born to Boman Rilea Butcher and Adeline Vail in Macomb, Illinois.[3] Butcher attended The University of Kansas (KU), where he later graduated in 1894. Butcher began his career in education as a principal of a couple of high schools in Oklahoma, and in 1904, Butcher received his master of arts from Harvard University.[4] Two years after graduating from Harvard, Butcher became Central State Normal School's sixth president in Edmond, Oklahoma, and served until 1908.[5] After resigning from Central State in 1908, Butcher left for Frederick William University in Germany.[6] In 1909 after a year in Germany, Butcher served as a superintendent in Enid, Oklahoma from 1909 to 1913, and was later named Kansas State Normal's president in 1913.[7]

KSN–Kansas State Teachers College presidency[]

In 1914, Butcher started a work study program, which would give students on-campus jobs to help them attend school. 1917 saw the completion of the administrative building, Plumb Hall.[8][9] Albert Taylor Hall, named after the fifth president of KSN, Albert R. Taylor, is an auditorium located within the building.[10][11] Under Butcher's administration, the Memorial Union was built in 1922, named to honor veterans of World War I. Butcher also helped the Normal School transition a name change; the new name would Kansas State Teachers College to focus on teaching.[12] In 1938, a new stadium, later named Francis G. Welch Stadium, opened, as well as a bell tower known today as Silent Joe.[13] Butcher retired on June 30, 1943 as the longest serving president in the history of Emporia State University.[14]

Personal life[]

Butcher united in marriage with Mary W. Peck on July 3, 1900 in Wellington, Kansas and had three children. On July 14, 1947, Butcher died in Emporia. Butcher Education Center, which houses the Sociology, Anthropology, and Crime and Delinquencies department, is named after him.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ "Yearbook and List of Active Members". google.com. 1910.
  2. ^ "School Executive". google.com. 1920.
  3. ^ a b "Thomas W. Butcher". emporia.edu.
  4. ^ "School Executive". google.com. 1920.
  5. ^ President of Central State Oklahoma
  6. ^ "Thomas W. Butcher (1913-1943) - About - Emporia State University". emporia.edu.
  7. ^ "1918 KS & Kansans, Thomas Walter Butcher". ksgenweb.com.
  8. ^ "The Bulletin : Plumb Hall nearing its 100th anniversary". Esubulletin.com. 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  9. ^ Hanschu, Steven (2013). Emporia State University. ISBN 9780738598741.
  10. ^ "Albert Taylor Hall". emporia.edu.
  11. ^ "Albert R. Taylor (1882-1901) - About - Emporia State University". emporia.edu.
  12. ^ "About Home - About - Emporia State University". emporia.edu.
  13. ^ "Silent Joe". Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  14. ^ Hanschu, Steven (2013). Emporia State University. ISBN 9780738598741.
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