Presidents of Texas A&M University

Thomas Sanford Gathright

President July 15, 1876-November 21, 1879

Born: Monroe County, Georgia; January 5, 1829

Died: Henderson, Texas; May 24, 1880; buried in Henderson

Elected President July 15, 1876; relieved of the presidency November 21, 1879 in the reorganization of the College.

John Garland James

President November 22, 1879-April 1, 1883

Born: Fluvanna County, Virginia; December 1, 1844

Died: Dallas, Texas; February 11, 1930; buried in Austin

Elected President November 22, 1879; resigned April 1, 1883.

James Reid Cole

Acting President April 1, 1883-June 26, 1883

President June 26, 1883-July 19, 1883

Born: Stokes County, North Carolina; November 17, 1839

Died: Dallas, Texas; October 28, 1917; buried in Dallas

Appointed professor of English language, history, and literature on November 22, 1879, following the dismissal of the Gathright faculty; Appointed Acting President April 1, 1883, following the resignation of James. Office of the President was abolished in favor of a Chairman of the Faculty System, July 19, 1883.

Hardaway Hunt Dinwiddie

Chairman of the Faculty July 23, 1883-December 11, 1887

Born: Lynchburg, Virginia; October 25, 1841

Died: College Station, Texas; December 11, 1887; buried in Austin

Came to the College in November of 1879 as professor of physics and chemistry. Following the authorization of the office of chairman of the faculty on July 19, 1883, the faculty elected him as its chairman on July 23, 1883, a position which he filled until his death on December 11, 1887.

Louis Lowry McInnis, A.M.

Chairman of the Faculty January 24, 1888-July 1, 1890

Born: Jackson, Mississippi; March 24, 1855

Died: Bryan, Texas; January 14, 1933; Buried in Bryan

Appointed adjunct professor November 9, 1877; professor of mathematics 1879-1890; Appointed chairman of the faculty by the Board of Directors on January 21, 1888; served until July 1, 1890.

William Lorraine Bringhurst, Ph.D.

Acting President July 1, 1890-January 20, 1891

Born: Alexandria, Louisiana; August 22, 1844

Died: Corsicana, Texas; February 19, 1913; buried in Bryan

Professor of physics, 1882-1885; professor of English and history, 1885-1893; acting president July 1, 1890, to January 20, 1891.

Lawrence Sullivan Ross

President January 20, 1891-January 3, 1898

Born: Bentonsport, Iowa; September 27, 1838

Died: College Station, Texas; January 3, 1898; buried in Waco

Served as governor of Texas, January 18, 1887, to January 20, 1891. Elected President of the College on July 1, 1890, "to take effect at the end of his present term as governor," which was January 20, 1891; served until his death on January 3, 1898.

Roger Haddock Whitlock, M.E.

Acting President January 17, 1898-July 1, 1898 and December 10, 1901-July 1, 1902

Born: Brooklyn, New York; July 15, 1860

Appointed professor of mechanical engineering in 1883; resigned in 1906. Served twice as acting president: first, January 17, 1898, to July 1, 1989, following the death of President Ross; second, December 10, 1901 to July 1, 1902, following the death of President Foster.

Lafayette Lumpkin Foster

President July 1, 1898-December 2, 1901

Born: Cummings, Georgia; November 17, 1851

Died: Dallas, Texas; December 2, 1901; buried in College Station, Texas

Member of state Legislature, state commissioner of agriculture. Elected president of the College on June 7, 1898, and by agreement with the Board of Directors set the effective date as July 1, 1898. Served until his death on December 2, 1901. President Foster was buried in the College Cemetery, a small burial plot which was originally on the site where Duncan Hall is now located. His remains and those of several others were moved in late 1938 or early 1939 to their present location on University property west of the Southern Pacific tracks.

David Franklin Houston, M.A., LL.D.

President July 1, 1902-September 1, 1905

Born: Monroe, North Carolina; February 2, 1866

Died: New York City; September 2, 1940; buried in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island

Dean of the faculty, The University of Texas, 1899-1902; elected president of the College April 7, 1902, but by agreement effective July 1, 1902; resigned August 24, 1905, effective September 1, 1905, to accept the presidency of The University of Texas.

Henry Hill Harrington

President September 8, 1905-August 7, 1908

Born: Buena Vista, Mississippi; December 15, 1859

Died: Kilgore, Texas; August 16, 1939; buried at Bay City, Texas

Professor of chemistry and mineralogy at Texas A&M at the time of his election to the presidency of the College on September 8, 1905. Resigned August 7, 1908, effective September 1, 1908, or at the pleasure of the board. His resignation was accepted as of August 7, 1908.

Robert Teague Milner

President September 1, 1908-October 1, 1913

Born: Cherokee County, Alabama; June 21, 1851

Died: Henderson, Texas

Member of the Texas Legislature 1887-1892; first commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture and as such was an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors, who elected him to the presidency of the College on August 7, 1908. Resigned June 9, 1913, effective October 1, 1913.

Charles Puryear, M.A., LL.D.

Acting President September 1, 1913-August 24, 1914

Born: Boydton, Virginia; October 21, 1860

Died: Bryan, Texas; July 11, 1940; buried at Bryan

Appointed associate professor of civil engineering and physics at Texas A&M in 1889; professor of mathematics 1890-1932; dean of the College 1907-1932. Appointed president pro tem on August 18, 1913, but in view of the leave of absence granted to Colonel Milner (see above), it is a safe assumption that his duties as acting president began on September 1, 1913, and lasted until August 25, 1914. Dean Puryear also served as acting president for another month or six weeks during the interim between the resignation of Dr. Bizzell on June 2, 1925, and the election of Dr. T.O. Walton on September 3, 1925.

William Bennett Bizzell, Ph.D.

President August 25, 1914-September 1, 1925

Born: Independence, Texas; October 14, 1876

Died: Norman, Oklahoma; May 13, 1944; buried at Norman

President of the old College of Industrial Arts at Denton, Texas, at the time of his election to the presidency of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas on August 25, 1914; resigned June 1, 1925, effective September 1, 1925, to accept the presidency of the University of Oklahoma.

Thomas Otto Walton

President September 3, 1925-August 7, 1943

Born: Near Gray, Texas; March 8, 1884

Died: Bryan, Texas; February 18, 1961; buried at Bryan

Director of Extension Service at time of his election to the presidency of the College on September 3, 1925; resigned August 7, 1943.

Frank Cleveland Bolton, M.S. LL.D.

Acting President August 9, 1943-May 27, 1944

President September 1, 1948-June 3, 1950

Born: Pontotoc, Mississippi; March 24, 1883

Died: Houston, Texas; January 31, 1961; buried at College Station

Appointed professor of electrical engineering at Texas A&M in 1909; was vice-president and dean of the College when appointed acting president on August 9, 1943; served until May 27, 1944. Elected president on July 9, 1948, effective September 1, 1948; served until June 3, 1950.

Gibb Gilchrist, C.E.

President May 27, 1944-September 1, 1948

Chancellor of the Texas A&M System September 1, 1948-August 31, 1953

Born: Wills Point, Texas; December 23, 1887

Died: College Station, Texas; May 12, 1972; buried in College Station

Appointed dean of the School of Engineering in 1937; elected president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas May 27, 1944; served until September 1, 1948, when the Texas A&M System was created and he became the first chancellor of the System, serving until his retirement on August 31, 1953.

Marion Thomas Harrington, Ph.D.

President June 3, 1950-September 1, 1953 and September 1, 1957-July 1, 1959

Chancellor September 1, 1953-August 31, 1965

Born: Plano, Texas; September 8, 1901

Dean of the College when elected president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas on September 22, 1949, effective "at the end of the present school year." This was interpreted to be June 3, 1950, and on that date he officially took over the reins of the presidency. He served until September 1, 1953; when he became the second chancellor of the System, succeeding Mr. Gilchrist. Dr. Harrington was elected president a second time on August 23, 1957, and in addition to his duties as chancellor served as president from September 1, 1957, until July 1, 1959. He retired as chancellor on August 31, 1965. He was the first graduate of Texas A&M University to serve as president and also as chancellor.

David Hitchens Morgan, Ph.D.

President September 1, 1953-December 21, 1956

Born: Portsmouth, Virginia; January 2, 1909

Died: St. Petersburg, FL; April 21, 1974

Dean of the College when elected president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas on June 17, 1953, effective September 1, 1953; resigned December 21, 1956.

David Willard Williams, M.S.

Acting President December 22, 1956-September 1, 1957

Born: Venedocia, Ohio; August 20, 1892

Died: Bryan, TX; October 30, 1985; buried in Bryan

Vice President for agriculture when appointed acting President on December 22, 1956; served until September 1, 1957.

James Earl Rudder, LL.D.

President of Texas A&M University July 1, 1959-March 23, 1970

President of the Texas A&M University system September 1, 1965-March 23, 1970

Born: Eden, Texas; May 6, 1910

Died: Houston, Texas; March 23, 1970; buried at College Station

Vice President when elected president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas June 27, 1959, effective July 1, 1959. On September 1, 1965, when Dr. Harrington retired as chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, the title was changed to president, and Mr. Rudder, in addition to his duties as president of Texas A&M University, became president of the Texas A&M University System, which dual position he held until his death on March 23, 1970.

Alvin Roubal Luedecke, LL.D.

Acting President March 30, 1970-November 1, 1970

Born: Eldorado, Texas; October 1, 1910

Died: San Antonio, Texas; August 9, 1998; buried at Fort Sam Houston National

Cemetery in San Antonio

Associate dean of the College of Engineering when appointed acting president on March 30, 1970; served until November 1, 1970.

Jack Kenny Williams, Ph.D.

President of Texas A&M University November 1, 1970-July 31, 1977

President of the Texas A&M University System November 1, 1970-July 31, 1977

Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System August 1, 1977-January 24, 1979

Born: Galax, Virginia; April 5, 1920

Died: Houston, Texas; September 28, 1981; buried in Clemson, South Carolina, on the campus of Clemson University. Vice-President for academic affairs, University of Tennessee System, when elected President of Texas A&M University and president of the Texas A&M University System on September 11, 1970, effective November 1, 1970; Elevated to Chancellor of the System on May 24, 1977; Resigned as Chancellor on January 24, 1979 to return to teaching.

William Clyde Freeman, Jr.

Acting President July 14, 1976 - September 1976

Freeman served as Acting President to the University while President Williams was ill. A member of the class of ’40, Mr. Freeman acted in many roles for the University from 1947 until 1983, including Auditor of Branch Colleges, Vice President and Comptroller, Executive Vice Chancellor, and C.E.O. of the University.

Jarvis E. Miller, Ph.D.

President of Texas A&M University August 1, 1977-July 10, 1980

Born: Orange Grove, Texas; May 30, 1929

Director of Texas Agricultural Experiment Station when elected president of Texas A&M University; left office on July 10, 1980 when reassigned by the Board of Regents to be Special Assistant to the Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.

Charles H. Sampson, Jr., Ph.D.

Acting President of Texas A&M University July 10, 1980-August 31, 1981

Born: Portsmouth, Ohio; July 12, 1924

Head of the Department of Civil Engineering from 1964 until appointed acting President on July 10, 1980, following the re-assignment of President Miller; Served until September 1, 1981, when Frank E. Vandiver assumed the Presidency and Sampson was appointed Vice President for planning.

Frank E. Vandiver, Ph.D.

President of Texas A&M University September 1, 1981- August 31, 1988

Born: Austin, Texas

President of North Texas State University when offered the presidency of Texas A&M University; Served as President from September 1, 1981, until September 1, 1988, when he resigned to head the Mosher Defense Institute at Texas A&M University.

William H. Mobley, Ph.D.

President of Texas A&M University September 1, 1988 - August 31, 1993

Chancellor of Texas A&M University System September 1, 1993 - June 12, 1994

Born: Akron, Ohio; November 15, 1941

Executive Deputy Chancellor of Texas A&M University System when assumed the presidency of Texas A&M University on September 1, 1988; Served as President until promoted to Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System on September 1, 1993; Resigned the Chancellor's position on June 12, 1994, to return to teaching.

E. Dean Gage, DVM

Acting President of Texas A&M University September 1, 1993 - June 1, 1994

Born: San Saba, Texas

Serving as Provost and Academic Vice-President at Texas A&M University when appointed acting President on September 1, 1993, following the promotion of President Mobely; after withdrawing his name from the search for a permanent president, he left the office on June 1, 1994, to allow Ray Bowen to assume the presidency.

Ray M. Bowen, Ph.D.

President of Texas A&M University June 1, 1994 - July 31, 2002

Serving as Interim President of Oklahoma State University when elected President of Texas A&M University. He resigned the President's position on July 31, 2002, to return to teaching in Mechanical Engineering.

Robert M. Gates, Ph.D.

President of Texas A&M University August 1, 2002 - December 16, 2006

Dr. Gates served as Interim Dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M from 1999-2001. He served as Director of Central Intelligence from November 6, 1991 until January 20, 1993.

 

Eddie Joe Davis, Ph. D.

Acting President of Texas A&M University December 19, 2006 – January 3, 2008

Born:  Henrietta, Texas  Graduated Texas A&M in 1967. Former Texas A&M Vice President of Fiscal Affairs.  Davis also served as President of the Texas A&M Development Foundation, leading the university’s two biggest fund-raising campaigns; Capturing the Spirit and One Spirit One Vision.  Both campaigns exceeded their goals, with Capturing the Spirit earning $637 million dollars (with a goal of $500 million), and One Spirit One Vision earning over $1.4 billion dollars (with a goal of $1 billion).

Elsa Murano, Ph. D.

President of Texas A&M University January 3, 3008 - June 15, 2009

Born:  August  14, 1959, Havana, Cuba.  Family fled Castro’s ascension in 1961.

Served as vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences, and as the director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station from 2005 until 2008, when she assumed the presidency.  Served as undersecretary for food safety in the United States Department of Agriculture in 2001.  First female president of the university, and the first Hispanic president.

R. Bowen Loftin, Ph. D.

Interim  President of Texas A&M University June 16, 2009 - February 11, 2010.

President of Texas A&M University February 12, 2010 - present

Served as Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of TAMU-Galveston. He has served as Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at College Station and as Professor in as well as Chair of the Department of Computer Science and the Director of the NASA Virtual Environments Research Institute at the University of Houston.