By Molly Wampler
In honor of today’s inauguration of Puget Sound’s 14th president, the Trail has compiled a brief history of the thirteen presidents who came before Crawford. From Cherington to Ron Thom and everyone in between, these presidents all helped shape this university into the Puget Sound President Crawford now has the opportunity to serve.
Rev. Dr. Fletcher B. Cherington (1890–1892)
Cherington was the first official president of Puget Sound University (as it was then
called) appointed by the Board of Trustees in 1890. He served only two years as president before accepting a pastoral position at the First Methodist Church in Tacoma, the Puget Sound Archives’ blog explains.
Rev. Dr. Crawford R. Thoburn (1892–1899)
To replace Cherington, the Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Thoburn, a Methodist minister born and raised in India. Thoburn relocated Puget Sound University (PSU) to Portland for the 1898 academic year, in partnership with Portland University. Whether he died as president or left the University for another job is up for debate. A 1924 Trail article by Naomi Logan says, “[Thoburn] remained at the head of the institution until his death in Portland in March, 1899.” However, the blog of the Puget Sound Archives says, “In 1899, Thoburn resigned and accepted the pastorate of Centenary Church in Portland.” Thoburn’s Wikipedia page seems to agree with the latter story, citing his date of death as 1922, but the Wikipedia article on the next President Whitfield cites the same Trail article saying Thoburn died in 1899.
Rev. Dr. Wilmot Whitfield (1899–1901)
After Thoburn either died or resigned, Whitfield took on the role of President, and moved Puget Sound University back to Tacoma where it has remained ever since. According to the same 1924 Trail article and the Winter 2013 “Arches” publication, Whitfield was only president until 1900, but the Puget Sound Archives say he served until 1902. Regardless, his term was quite short, and Charles O. Boyer took over in the early 1900s, partially because of the University’s troublesome financial situation (see below).
Rev. Prof. Charles O. Boyer (acting president, 1901–1903)
PSU alumni and professor Charles O. Boyer replaced Whitfield and served as President until Puget Sound University closed in 1903. So far in debt, the trustees “decided to no longer carry on the university as then organized after the close of the school year,” a 1924 Trail article wrote. The alumni proceeded to sell the sole university building, and buy a new parcel of land on 6th and Sprague in Tacoma. The commission responsible for the financial investigation of PSU “took [PSU] up and organized the ‘University of Puget Sound’” the Trail article said.
Rev. Dr. Edwin M. Randall Jr. (1903–1904)
Randall was chosen to be the first president of the University of Puget Sound, but only served for a year. The Trail article notes that he quickly raised $20,000 for an academic building on the new 6th ave. and Sprague ave. location. Little additional information is available on Randall.
Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Williams (1904–1907)
The Board of Trustees chose Williams to succeed Randall. According to the Puget Sound Archives, it was under Williams’ presidency that the funds for the first gym were raised. This fundraising is credited to Edward H. Todd (future President, and the name of the current dormitory) who was the General Secretary of the University.
Prof. Lee L. Benbow (1907–1909)
After Williams’ resignation, Benbow served as president for a year (according to the Puget Sound website and the Archives, or for two years, according to the 1924 Trail and the Winter 2013 Arches publication). “Benbow brought the University into closer relations with the public school system, by beautifying the campus, the completion of the gymnasium, the enlarging of the Ladies’ Hall, and the building of the Boys’ Hall and University Chapel,” the Trail article says. At this time, however, the University and all its buildings still existed at the 6th and Sprague location.
Rev. Dr. Julius Christian Zeller (1908–1913)
Zeller took over for Benbow is 1908 or 1909 (depending on the source) and “did a great deal in reorganizing and enlarging the curriculum,” the Trail article writes. Dr. Julius Christian Zeller served on the “Special Committee on the Matter and Methods of Sex Education” which produced a report on the matter in 1912. In short, it didn’t argue for an abstinence-only dialogue, rather, it said sex-ed should be for the purpose of protecting youth and calming their curiosities without sparking more interest or glorifying the acts.
Rev. Dr. Edward H. Todd (1913–1942)
Serving for 29 years, Edward H. Todd (of the current dorm in his name) is one of the longest-standing Presidents in Puget Sound’s history. A year after his inauguration, he changed the name to the College of Puget Sound, which stuck until 1960. Todd is responsible for the purchase of the current North End campus, for which he fundraised a total of $2 million, double his initial goal, the 1924 Trail article notes. Construction crew broke ground on Jones Hall in 1923, after Mrs. Jones donated $200,000 to the College.
Rev. Dr. R. Franklin Thompson (1942–1973)
After Todd retired in 1942, the Board of Trustees appointed Thompson. In 31 years as President, Thompson was responsible for the construction of most of the buildings on campus, as well as the final name change from back to the University of Puget Sound. Thompson retired in 1973, but remained chancellor.
fun fact: After the completion of Collins Memorial Library in the early 1950s, the campus community helped move the collection from Jones to the new shelves. President Thompson helped carry books across campus with students, faculty and professors!
Dr. Philip M. Phibbs (1973–1992)
Philip M. Phibbs, a namesake of Todd/Phibbs dorm, followed Thompson in office, and was responsible for removing the University from financial attachment to the Methodist Church in 1980. After this change, the Board of Trustees took on full financial control. fun fact: President Phibbs had a very relaxed policy on campus drinking! “Dr. Phibbs is not–repeat, not–planning to prevent students from drinking on campus … Phibbs’ official policy is this: ‘Drinking is a matter of individual choice,’” a September 1973 Trail article quotes. “Phibbs does believe that students should be aware of the dangers of alcohol, both to the individual and the institution. He maintains the university has a responsibility to counsel students about drinking, in order to help them make their own decisions,” the article explains. “Campus security have not been told to bust drinkers.”
Dr. Susan Resneck Pierce (1992–2003)
After 19 years as president, Phibbs retired, leaving the Board of Trustees to select Dr. Susan Resneck Pierce. In 1994, Pierce transferred Puget Sound’s law school to Seattle University, and Puget Sound blossomed into an institution more recognizable to its current form. “Under her leadership, Puget Sound entered the ranks of the national liberal arts colleges. The endowment grew from $68 million to $213 million; the college completed $85 million of new construction and major renovations [including the construction of Trimble and Wyatt halls]; SAT scores increased from 1067 to 1253,” the website for Puget Sound’s Office of the President reads.
fun fact: Pierce now runs a private consulting firm, SRP Consulting, for colleges and
universities facing organizational or financial problems, among other things.
Dr. Ronald R. Thomas (2003–2016)
Endearingly nicknamed “Ron Thom,” Puget Sound’s 13th president advanced the University’s prestige. “During that time, he led the university in three critical initiatives: a 20-year master plan aimed at making the most of Puget Sound’s intimate, inviting, and inspiring campus; a strategic plan of action for the decade that firmly positioned the university as a national leader in liberal arts education; and an ambitious comprehensive capital campaign to realize these objectives,” the Office of the President’s website remarks. In Ron Thom’s 13 years, $200 million was spent on the construction of Harned, Commencement and Weyerhaeuser Halls, as well as Commencement Walk and the new Aquatics Center. “For each year of Thomas’s presidency,” the website continues, “the university has achieved new high-water marks in admission, academic achievement, retention, and fundraising.”
Timeline of Campus Locations (Winter 2013 Arches)
1890 – (Tacoma) I and S. 21st
1891 – (Tacoma) Yakima and S. 10th
1895- (Tacoma) G and S. 9th
1898- Portland, in connection with Portland University
1899- (Tacoma) G and S. 9th
1903- (Tacoma) Sixth and Sprague
1924- (Tacoma) North End, 1500 North Warner Street (current)
Timeline of Institution’s Names (Winter 2013 Arches)
1888- Puget Sound University
1903- University of Puget Sound
1914- College of Puget Sound
1960- University of Puget Sound
