Tarleton Thursdays: Did You Know?

Dean J. Thomas Davis

Teaching at Peabody

As mentioned in an earlier blog post this summer, additional faculty was brought in to teach summer school and the teachers institute. In 1926 additional teachers included Mr. L.W. Hartsfield, Breckenridge High School, education; Mr. Ormand C. Corry, Stephenville High School, history; Miss Dora Rawlings, Stephenville Grammar School, elementary; Mr. A.L. Faubian, graduate of Howard Payne, mathematics; Mr. B.E. McGlomery, Hico High School, history and literature; and Miss Anne Palmer, Comanche Grammar School, grammar. (J-TAC, June 30, 1926)

In addition to bringing in faculty, some of the Tarleton faculty spent the summer at other colleges. Mrs. Woodward and Miss Vera Sams, English, John Oliver and Miss Grace Wickline, commercial arts, and Mr. Blanchard, industrial arts, were all at "state" (University of Texas). Mrs. W.E. Moody, dorm matron, Mrs. Ertith Richardson, Miss Minn Ferguson, and Mr. Hunewell, studied music in Chicago. Miss Mary Marrs studied math in Denton, Miss Lillie V. Lilliard studied public speaking at S.M.U., Mrs. Frances Ramsey studied education at Peabody, and Mr. Garrett spent the summer teaching at the teachers' college in Commerce.

Dean J. Thomas Davis, shown in the 1926 photo above, spent that summer as an instructor at George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee. He taught Extension Work in Vocational Agriculture and the Administration of Junior Colleges. "He will spend some of his time attending lectures and doing work in the library!" Dean Davis was asked to teach at Peabody because of the unusual growth and development Tarleton had made under his leadership. After Davis became Dean, Tarleton gained recognition as the largest junior college in the South. Dean Davis had also been president of the Southern Association of Junior Colleges for many years and was well respected as a leader.

Peabody was one of the greatest teachers' colleges in the South and being invited to lecture was a great honor. The Tarleton students and faculty appreciated Dean Davis and wished him the best as he worked toward preparing himself to do even more at Tarleton the next year. (J-TAC, July 11, 1926)