University Presidents

Thomas Walter Butcher

President of Central State Normal School (1906-1908)

Biographical Information

• Born July 3, 1867 in Industry, Illinois
• Married Mary W. Peck on July 3, 1900. They had three children
• Died July 14, 1947 in Emporia, Kansas

Education

• 1887- 1890 Attended Garfield University, Wichita, Kansas
• 1894 A.B. University of Kansas
• 1904 M.A. Harvard University
• 1908- 1909 Traveled in Europe and studied at the University of Berlin, Germany

Employment

• 1890 - 1891 Teacher at a Kansas country school
• 1894 - 1897 Principal of Wellington High School, Wellington, Kansas
• 1897 - 1906 Organizer and Principal of Sumner County High School, Kansas
• 1906 - 1908 Elected as President of then Central State Normal School in 1906. Resigned from the Presidency of Central State Normal School in June 1908
• 1909 - 1913 Superintendent of schools in Enid, Oklahoma
• 1913 - 1943 President of Kansas State Normal School (Now Emporia State University), Emporia, Kansas
• 1913 Authored The Common Sense Spelling Book in Two Parts (J.E. Dyche Publishing Co.)
• 1943 Retired and became President Emeritus of Emporia State Teachers College after serving as president for 30 years

Awards and Affiliations

• 1923 Delegate to the Illiteracy Conference in Denver, Colorado
• 1920 Delegate to the Citizens Conference on Education in Kansas City, Missouri
• 1919 - 1920 Member of the National Council of Normal School Presidents and Principals
• 1913 - 1933 Member of the Kansas State Board of Education
  Member of the Oklahoma State Teachers Association (President 1911)
  Member of the Kansas State Teachers Association (President 1905
• 1904 Member and Secretary of the International Jury of Awards on Social and Industrial Betterment of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri
• 1903 - 1907 Member of the Board of Regents of the University of Kansas
• 1900 - 1906 Member of the City Council of Wellington, Kansas