John T. Caldwell
Encyclopedia
John Tyler Caldwell was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi
. He received a B.S. from Mississippi State College
in 1932, an M.A. from Duke University
in 1936, and a Ph.D. in political science
from Princeton University
in 1939 as a Julius Rosenwald Fellow
. He was a professor of political science at Holmes Junior College from 1932-1936 and was a professor at Vanderbilt University
from 1939-1947.
and was awarded a Bronze Star
for his service in the Battle of Okinawa
. He left the Navy in 1946 as a Lt. Commander. Caldwell was named president of the University of Montevallo
in Alabama
in 1947. After leaving Montevallo in 1951, he served as president of the University of Arkansas
. Here, he supervised the development and expansion of the University's Graduate school and saw the beginning of the process of racial integration. This was noted by its peacefulness in contrast to problems encountered elsewhere.
In 1959 he was named the eighth chancellor of North Carolina State University
; the school's chief executive. During his tenure, the School of Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics was established and the university offered degrees in the humanities and social sciences for the first time. After his retirement from the office in 1975 Caldwell continued to teach in the Department of Political Science.
The NC State Alumni Association established the John T. Caldwell Alumni Scholarship Program in 1977 to recruit outstanding high school seniors to NC State. These students were selected on the basis of leadership potential, outstanding scholarship, citizenship, maturity and intellectual promise. From 1977-2004 over 400 Caldwell Alumni Scholarships have been awarded. In 1988, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges named Caldwell one of Mississippi State's 10 distinguished alumni.
Caldwell was an Eagle Scout
, recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
, and worked with Scouting much of his life.
Caldwell died in Raleigh
, North Carolina
at the age of 83.
The North Carolina Humanities Council named its highest honor after Caldwell. http://www.nchumanities.org/content/caldwell-award
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. He received a B.S. from Mississippi State College
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
in 1932, an M.A. from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1936, and a Ph.D. in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1939 as a Julius Rosenwald Fellow
Rosenwald Fund
The Rosenwald Fund was established in 1917 by Julius Rosenwald and his family for "the well-being of mankind."...
. He was a professor of political science at Holmes Junior College from 1932-1936 and was a professor at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
from 1939-1947.
Biography
Caldwell entered the US Navy as an Ensign in 1942 to serve in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was awarded a Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for his service in the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
. He left the Navy in 1946 as a Lt. Commander. Caldwell was named president of the University of Montevallo
University of Montevallo
The University of Montevallo is a four-year public university located in Montevallo, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1896, it is Alabama's only public liberal arts college and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Programs are offered through the Michael E...
in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
in 1947. After leaving Montevallo in 1951, he served as president of the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
. Here, he supervised the development and expansion of the University's Graduate school and saw the beginning of the process of racial integration. This was noted by its peacefulness in contrast to problems encountered elsewhere.
In 1959 he was named the eighth chancellor of North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
; the school's chief executive. During his tenure, the School of Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics was established and the university offered degrees in the humanities and social sciences for the first time. After his retirement from the office in 1975 Caldwell continued to teach in the Department of Political Science.
The NC State Alumni Association established the John T. Caldwell Alumni Scholarship Program in 1977 to recruit outstanding high school seniors to NC State. These students were selected on the basis of leadership potential, outstanding scholarship, citizenship, maturity and intellectual promise. From 1977-2004 over 400 Caldwell Alumni Scholarships have been awarded. In 1988, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges named Caldwell one of Mississippi State's 10 distinguished alumni.
Caldwell was an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
, recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
, and worked with Scouting much of his life.
Caldwell died in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
at the age of 83.
The North Carolina Humanities Council named its highest honor after Caldwell. http://www.nchumanities.org/content/caldwell-award