James H. Daughdrill, Jr.

James H. Daughdrill, Jr.
Rhodes College
Term 1973 – 1999
Successor William E. Troutt
Born April 25, 1934
LaGrange, Georgia
Alma mater Emory University
Salary $367,372[1]
Spouse Elizabeth 'Libby' Gay Daughdrill
Children James H. Daughdrill, III; Louisa Rish Daughdrill; Elizabeth Gay Daughdrill

James Harold Daughdrill, Jr. was the 18th president of Rhodes College. He was installed as president in 1973 and retired in 1999. He is the son of James Harold Daughdrill and Louisa Coffee Dozier.[2] In 1964, he was the president of Kingston Mills, a $17 million carpet and textile business, but left that to study for the Presbyterian ministry.[3] After finishing his studies for the ministry, he served as minister of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Arkansas from 1967 to 1970. He served as the Secretary of Stewardship of Presbyterian Church U.S. from 1970-73.[2]

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Career

In 1973 he became president of Rhodes College, at a time when the college was struggling financially.[4] During his tenure, he helped grow the student body from 980 students to 1,450 students. The college endowment grew from $6 million to over $200 million and during his tenure, Daughdrill maintained a balanced budget. He also initiated the change in the college's name from Southwestern at Memphis to Rhodes College.[5]

He was Chairman of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, a member of the Board of Directors of the American Council on Education, and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Accreditation to the U.S. Department of Education.[2]

Personal

He attended the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.[6] He went attended Davidson College before graduating from Emory University in 1956.[7] He went to the Columbia Theological Seminary where he graduated magna cum laude from in 1964. He holds the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Davidson College.[2]

On June 26, 1954 he married Elizabeth 'Libby' Anne Gay (b. June 14, 1936).[2] He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.[8][9]

Legacy

The J. Hal Daughdrill Award, is given to the "Most Valuable Player" of the Lynx football team. The award honors James Harold Daughdrill, Sr. (1903–1986), outstanding football player, athlete, business leader, and the father of Rhodes' eighteenth President.[10] The Rebecca Rish Gay Award and Walter E. Gay Award are given to the "Athletes of the Year" and are named after the parents of former President Daughdrill’s wife, Libby Daughdrill.[11]

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