Frank Everson Vandiver (December 9, 1925 – January 7, 2005) was an American Civil War historian and former president of Texas A&M University and the University of North Texas, as well as acting president of Rice University. Vandiver wrote, co-wrote, or edited 24 books, and wrote an additional 100 scholarly articles or reviews. One of his books was a runner-up for a National Book Award.
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Vandiver was born in Austin, Texas. He joined the United States Army Air Corp during World War II and served as a historian. Despite not having a high school diploma, following the war, Vandiver entered the University of Texas at Austin to study humanities and American studies. He was awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship for his studies. Vandiver received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Texas in 1949 and was awarded a Ph.D. from Tulane University in 1951.[1]
After graduation, Vandiver accepted a teaching position as Washington University. He left within a few years to teach at Rice University in Houston, Texas. By 1958 he had become a full professor at Rice. Over the next two decades, Vandiver was promoted to department chair, master of Brown College, provost, and vice president.[1] He served as the Acting President of Rice from 1969–1970.[2] During his tenure as acting president, Houston Independent School District awarded Vandiver a high school diploma.[1] In 1979, Vandiver left Rice to become the president of what is now the University of North Texas.[1]
In 1981, Vandiver became president of Texas A&M University.[1] During his tenure, Vandiver was a driving force behind the adoption of a law creating space-grant colleges in the United States. Colleges given this designation would gain federal funds to research space-related technologies. Vandiver believed that Texas A&M was well-positioned to become one of the first of these institutions and remarked that such a designation would "elevate Texas A&M from being an excellent institution for space-related studies to being a great one".[3]
Vandiver resigned as president of A&M in 1988, citing a desire to spend more time on research and writing. Rather than leave the university, he established the Mosher Defense Studies Institute, a national defense think tank.[2] He was also named a distinguished professor in the history department.[1]
Vandiver wrote, co-wrote or edited 24 books, most centered on the American Civil War. Almost half of his books were still in print at the time of his death, including his first book, Ploughshares Into Swords: Josiah Gorgas and Confederate Ordnance. His 1977 book, Black Jack: The Life and Times of John J. Pershing, was a runner-up for a National Book Award.[1] He also authored over 100 scholarly articles or reviews.[2]
He was awarded many honors for his work. Among these were honors from two Civil War Round Tables (Houston and Baton Rouge).[4][5] The Houston Civil War Round Table renamed their annual award of merit the Frank E. Vandiver Award in 1985.[5] Vandiver was also awarded a distinguished service award from the Houston chapter of the Texas Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and was named an honorary professor at the Universidad Nacional de Asuncion in Paraguay.[6]
The Houston Chronicle described Vandiver as "a colorful and articulate man with much personal charm".[2] He was married twice. His first wife, Carol Sue Smith, died in 1979.[1] The next year, Vandiver remarried to Renee Aubry Carmody.[7] He had three children, two daughters and a son. Vandiver died at his home in College Station, Texas on January 7, 2005.[1]