Andrew D. Holt
Encyclopedia
Andrew David Holt universally called Andy Holt, was an American
educator who was the 16th president of the University of Tennessee
, filling that position from 1959 to 1970.
Holt was born in Milan, Tennessee
in 1904, the son of two schoolteachers. He graduated from Milan High School
and Emory University
. After his college graduation in 1927, he became a teacher
in West Tennessee
, first in Milan, where he taught grades five through eight, and then in Humboldt
, where he taught high school
. He also worked as a coach
, a school principal, and a school superintendent. After less than 10 years of teaching, he joined the faculty of West Tennessee State Teachers College (now the University of Memphis
), where he served successively as principal of the Training School, director of teacher training, and professor of educational administration. While working in Memphis, he enrolled in a graduate program at Teachers College, Columbia University
, which awarded him a Ph.D. degree in 1937. His doctoral dissertation at Columbia was about the continuing struggle for public support of education in Tennessee
.
After receiving his Ph.D., Holt started a new job as executive secretary of the Tennessee Education Association (TEA).
In 1949 he became president of the National Education Association
, after having been elected first vice president in 1948.
In 1950 he left the TEA to join the University of Tennessee as executive assistant to university president Cloide Brehm. In 1953 he became the university's vice president, and after Brehm's retirement in 1959 the university's trustees appointed him to the university presidency.
Retired University Historian Milton Klein has described Holt's leadership of the University of Tennessee system
as "marked by a burst of energy unsurpassed in the University's history." During Holt's tenure as president, enrollment increased threefold and the faculty and staff doubled in number. Eight new buildings were built on the university's flagship campus in Knoxville
. The university budget and state government funding for its support both increased fourfold.
Holt died in Knoxville
on August 7, 1987.
The University of Tennessee administration building, Andy Holt Tower, completed in 1973, and a street on the university's Knoxville campus
, Andy Holt Avenue (formerly Rose Avenue), are named in his honor. The largest dormitory
on campus, a 15-story
building that is officially named Apartment Residence Hall, is located on Andy Holt Avenue and is commonly called "Andy Holt Apartments", or just "Andy Holt".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator who was the 16th president of the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, filling that position from 1959 to 1970.
Holt was born in Milan, Tennessee
Milan, Tennessee
Milan is a city in Gibson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 7,851 at the 2010 census. The zip code assigned by the U.S. Postal Service is 38358. Residents of Milan are usually referred to as Milanites...
in 1904, the son of two schoolteachers. He graduated from Milan High School
Milan High School
Milan High School is a small high school located at 609 N Warpath Drive, Milan, Indiana. Its current principal is Paul Ketcham.-Courses:Milan High School offers a variety of courses in the general and advanced levels...
and Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
. After his college graduation in 1927, he became a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
in West Tennessee
West Tennessee
West Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of the State of Tennessee. Of the three, it is the one that is most sharply defined geographically. Its boundaries are the Mississippi River on the west and the Tennessee River on the east...
, first in Milan, where he taught grades five through eight, and then in Humboldt
Humboldt, Tennessee
Humboldt is a city in Gibson and Madison counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee. The population was 8,452 at the 2010 census, a decline of 1,015 in 2000. It is the principal city of and is included in the Humboldt, Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Jackson,...
, where he taught high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. He also worked as a coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, a school principal, and a school superintendent. After less than 10 years of teaching, he joined the faculty of West Tennessee State Teachers College (now the University of Memphis
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
), where he served successively as principal of the Training School, director of teacher training, and professor of educational administration. While working in Memphis, he enrolled in a graduate program at Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University is a graduate school of education located in New York City, New York...
, which awarded him a Ph.D. degree in 1937. His doctoral dissertation at Columbia was about the continuing struggle for public support of education in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
After receiving his Ph.D., Holt started a new job as executive secretary of the Tennessee Education Association (TEA).
In 1949 he became president of the National Education Association
National Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
, after having been elected first vice president in 1948.
In 1950 he left the TEA to join the University of Tennessee as executive assistant to university president Cloide Brehm. In 1953 he became the university's vice president, and after Brehm's retirement in 1959 the university's trustees appointed him to the university presidency.
Retired University Historian Milton Klein has described Holt's leadership of the University of Tennessee system
University of Tennessee system
The University of Tennessee system is one of two public university systems in the state of Tennessee. It consists of three primary campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Martin, a health sciences campus in...
as "marked by a burst of energy unsurpassed in the University's history." During Holt's tenure as president, enrollment increased threefold and the faculty and staff doubled in number. Eight new buildings were built on the university's flagship campus in Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. The university budget and state government funding for its support both increased fourfold.
Holt died in Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
on August 7, 1987.
The University of Tennessee administration building, Andy Holt Tower, completed in 1973, and a street on the university's Knoxville campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
, Andy Holt Avenue (formerly Rose Avenue), are named in his honor. The largest dormitory
Dormitory
A dormitory, often shortened to dorm, in the United States is a residence hall consisting of sleeping quarters or entire buildings primarily providing sleeping and residential quarters for large numbers of people, often boarding school, college or university students...
on campus, a 15-story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
building that is officially named Apartment Residence Hall, is located on Andy Holt Avenue and is commonly called "Andy Holt Apartments", or just "Andy Holt".