US Educator, President of the University of Tennessee. He was one of four children born into a teaching family in Milan, Tennessee. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and his master's and doctoral degrees from Teachers' College of Columbia University in New York. He married Martha Chase in 1938, and they had three children. He taught elementary school in his home town of Milan and later high school in Humboldt. He became principal at the Demonstration School of Memphis State College and was named high school supervisor for West Tennessee. He moved to Nashville and spent 13 years as secretary of the Tennessee Education Association. In 1949, he was elected president of the National Education Association. He was rewarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee in 1950. He came to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1950 as assistant to the president, and was promoted to vice-president in 1953. In 1959 he was he was named president of the university. The university enjoyed its greatest growth period under President Holt. Student enrollment more than tripled and academic programs expanded over thirty percent. He retired at age 65 in 1969. Immediately after retiring, he was appointed by President Richard Nixon to the Board of Governors for the new independent post office.
US Educator, President of the University of Tennessee. He was one of four children born into a teaching family in Milan, Tennessee. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and his master's and doctoral degrees from Teachers' College of Columbia University in New York. He married Martha Chase in 1938, and they had three children. He taught elementary school in his home town of Milan and later high school in Humboldt. He became principal at the Demonstration School of Memphis State College and was named high school supervisor for West Tennessee. He moved to Nashville and spent 13 years as secretary of the Tennessee Education Association. In 1949, he was elected president of the National Education Association. He was rewarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee in 1950. He came to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1950 as assistant to the president, and was promoted to vice-president in 1953. In 1959 he was he was named president of the university. The university enjoyed its greatest growth period under President Holt. Student enrollment more than tripled and academic programs expanded over thirty percent. He retired at age 65 in 1969. Immediately after retiring, he was appointed by President Richard Nixon to the Board of Governors for the new independent post office.
Bio by: Tom King
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Holt memorials in:
Advertisement
