C. Clement French
Encyclopedia
Charles Clement French was an American academic leader and the sixth President of Washington State University
, serving 1952-1966.
He earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1922 from the University of Pennsylvania, and was elected to Tau Beta Pi
engineering honorary and the Priestly Chemical Society. He earned his M.S. in chemistry in 1923 and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1927, both degrees also from the University of Pennsylvania
. His doctoral dissertation was titled "The Effect of Neutral Salts on Catalytic Decompositions."
, where he was dean of the college from 1936 to 1949. During that period, he was chairman of the Committee on the Improvement of Instruction of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The committee conducted research and published results. On January 13, 1947, in Boston, he was elected an officer of the American Conference of Academic Deans.
He served as vice president at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia
, from January 1949 to August 1950, when he was named dean of the college at Texas A&M University
in College Station, Texas
. Then on February 24, 1952, the Board of Regents selected him to become the sixth president of the State College of Washington in Pullman, Washington
. The institution was renamed Washington State University
in 1959, the mid-point of his presidency.
French received honorary degrees from Whitworth College and Pacific Lutheran University
in Washington state and from the University of Punjab in Lahore
, Punjab
, Pakistan
.
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, serving 1952-1966.
Early life and education
Charles Clement French was born on October 24, 1901, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Henry Sailer French of New Jersey and Gertrude Comly MacMillan of Pennsylvania.He earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1922 from the University of Pennsylvania, and was elected to Tau Beta Pi
Tau Beta Pi
The Tau Beta Pi Association is the oldest engineering honor society in the United States and the second oldest collegiate honor society in America. It honors engineering students who have shown a history of academic achievement as well as a commitment to personal and professional integrity...
engineering honorary and the Priestly Chemical Society. He earned his M.S. in chemistry in 1923 and his Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1927, both degrees also from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. His doctoral dissertation was titled "The Effect of Neutral Salts on Catalytic Decompositions."
Career
In 1930, Charles Clement French was an instructor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. From Penn he went to Randolph-Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, VirginiaLynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
, where he was dean of the college from 1936 to 1949. During that period, he was chairman of the Committee on the Improvement of Instruction of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The committee conducted research and published results. On January 13, 1947, in Boston, he was elected an officer of the American Conference of Academic Deans.
He served as vice president at Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
, from January 1949 to August 1950, when he was named dean of the college at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
in College Station, Texas
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
. Then on February 24, 1952, the Board of Regents selected him to become the sixth president of the State College of Washington in Pullman, Washington
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
. The institution was renamed Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
in 1959, the mid-point of his presidency.
Recognition
Washington State University honored C. Clement French in 1968, naming the new administration building the French Administration Building. In addition, WSU created a scholarship fund established in his honor, named "The Helen B. and C. Clement French Scholarship" as he requested.French received honorary degrees from Whitworth College and Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University
Pacific Lutheran University is located in Parkland, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington. In September 2009, PLU had a student population of 3,582 and approximately 280 full-time faculty...
in Washington state and from the University of Punjab in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.