Philip Guthrie Hoffman
Encyclopedia
Philip Guthrie Hoffman (6 August 1915 – 29 October 2008) was the fifth president of the University of Houston
, and the first chancellor of the University of Houston System
. While at the university, he was instrumental in obtaining state affiliation, transitioning to a racially integrated status, and expanding enrollment in multiple locations. Hoffman also served as president of the Texas Medical Center
. Prior to his appointment as president of UH, he was a professor and administrator for several universities.
, Hyōgo Prefecture
, Japan
to Benjamin Philip Hoffman and Florence Guthrie Hoffman who were serving as missionaries there. The family moved to Oregon
when he was five. Hoffman received a BBA
from Pacific Union College
in 1938, and a Master's degree
in History from the University of Southern California
in 1942. He then served in the United States Navy
during World War II
as an intelligence officer
.
in History from Ohio State University
in 1948. During and after his graduate work at Ohio State, he worked as a professor at the university until 1949. He then went to the University of Alabama
, where he served as an associate and assistant professor until 1953. Until 1956, Hoffman was first vice-dean and then dean of the general extension division for the Oregon State System of Higher Education (now known as the Oregon University System
).
In 1957, he came to the University of Houston
as vice-president and dean of faculties. He served in this capacity until September 1961 when he succeeded Clanton W. Williams as the president of the university. During his time as president, Hoffman helped to found the University of Houston System
. He became the system's first chancellor upon resigning from position of president of UH. He remained chancellor of the system until his retirement in 1979. In 1980, UH dedicated the on-campus Philip Guthrie Hoffman Hall in his honor, and upon his death in 2008, President Renu Khator
named October 31, "Philip G. Hoffman Day".
from 1981 until 1984.
); three daughters, Mary Victoria, Ruth Ann, and Jeanne; his grandchildren John, Guy, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Melanie, and Mary; and his great-grand child Mary Mae.
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, and the first chancellor of the University of Houston System
University of Houston System
The University of Houston System is a state university system in Texas, encompassing four separate and distinct universities. It has two system centers, which operate as and distance learning course delivery sites for its universities...
. While at the university, he was instrumental in obtaining state affiliation, transitioning to a racially integrated status, and expanding enrollment in multiple locations. Hoffman also served as president of the Texas Medical Center
Texas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
. Prior to his appointment as president of UH, he was a professor and administrator for several universities.
Early life
Hoffman was born in 1915 in KobeKobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, Hyōgo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to Benjamin Philip Hoffman and Florence Guthrie Hoffman who were serving as missionaries there. The family moved to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
when he was five. Hoffman received a BBA
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
from Pacific Union College
Pacific Union College
Pacific Union College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Angwin, California, United States. It is the only four-year college in Napa County, California....
in 1938, and a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in History from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1942. He then served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World 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...
as an intelligence officer
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
.
From professor to administrator
After the war, Hoffman earned his DoctorateDoctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in History from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in 1948. During and after his graduate work at Ohio State, he worked as a professor at the university until 1949. He then went to the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, where he served as an associate and assistant professor until 1953. Until 1956, Hoffman was first vice-dean and then dean of the general extension division for the Oregon State System of Higher Education (now known as the Oregon University System
Oregon University System
The Oregon University System consists of seven public, four-year universities in the State of Oregon administered by the Chancellor of the OUS, who is appointed by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education...
).
University of Houston involvement
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
as vice-president and dean of faculties. He served in this capacity until September 1961 when he succeeded Clanton W. Williams as the president of the university. During his time as president, Hoffman helped to found the University of Houston System
University of Houston System
The University of Houston System is a state university system in Texas, encompassing four separate and distinct universities. It has two system centers, which operate as and distance learning course delivery sites for its universities...
. He became the system's first chancellor upon resigning from position of president of UH. He remained chancellor of the system until his retirement in 1979. In 1980, UH dedicated the on-campus Philip Guthrie Hoffman Hall in his honor, and upon his death in 2008, President Renu Khator
Renu Khator
Renu Khator is the eighth chancellor of the University of Houston System and the thirteenth president of the University of Houston. She is the first foreign-born president of the university, and the second woman to hold the position...
named October 31, "Philip G. Hoffman Day".
Post-UH years
Upon retirement from the University of Houston System, Hoffman served as President of the Texas Medical CenterTexas Medical Center
The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research...
from 1981 until 1984.
Personal life and death
Hoffman died 29 October 2008 in his Houston home. He is survived by his wife, Mary Hoffman (a niece of U.S. President Warren G. HardingWarren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
); three daughters, Mary Victoria, Ruth Ann, and Jeanne; his grandchildren John, Guy, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Melanie, and Mary; and his great-grand child Mary Mae.