David Wiley Mullins
Encyclopedia
David Wiley Mullins was an American
academic. He was the president of University of Arkansas
in Fayetteville, Arkansas
from 1960 to 1974, the second longest serving president.
, to Roscoe C. and Emma Matilda Mullins. He attended University of Arkansas, graduating cum laude in 1931. In 1934, he earned a master's degree from the University of Colorado
. He received his doctoral degree from Columbia University
in 1941.
as a high school teacher in the small rural town of Lepanto, Arkansas
, where he also as the superintendent of schools. He later became the chair of the department of educational administration for Alabama Polytechnic Institute, which would later become Auburn University
. However, he served as a lieutenant
in the U.S. Navy during World War II
.
After the war, Mullin return to Alabama Polytechnic Institute as a vice president, serving from 1949 to 1960. However, his alma mater would soon need a new president. In 1959, John Tyler Caldwell left the Arkansas to become chancellor of North Carolina State University
. The university search committee named Storm Whaley as acting president. In 1960, Mullins was named the president.
During his presidency, the campus had tremendous growth. The student enrollment more than doubled, which lead to a massive construction phase. The university built new a student union, library, and communications building along with new residence halls. Among the new residence halls were Yocum, Humphreys, Fulbright, Hotz and Carlson Terrace. Much of the building was funded by private gifts to the university. However, similar to most college campuses during the 1960s, Mullins also presided over the tumultuous period that included the Vietnam War protests.
Additionally, Mullins helped create the University of Arkansas System
, brokering a series of mergers. First came Little Rock University in 1969, which became University of Arkansas at Little Rock
, along with Arkansas A&M in 1971, which would be renamed University of Arkansas at Monticello
, and Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal (AM&N), eventually renamed the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
in 1972.
In 1965, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Hendrix College
. In 1969, the Arkansas Democrat
named Mullins Man of the Year in Arkansas. In 1983, the University of Arkansas
awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
He died on September 22, 1987, at age 81.
The main research library at the University of Arkansas was named the David W. Mullins Library in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic. He was the president of University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
from 1960 to 1974, the second longest serving president.
Early life and education
Mullins was born August 11, 1906, in Ash Flat, ArkansasAsh Flat, Arkansas
Ash Flat is a city in Fulton and Sharp counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The population was 977 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Sharp County.-Geography:Ash Flat is located at ....
, to Roscoe C. and Emma Matilda Mullins. He attended University of Arkansas, graduating cum laude in 1931. In 1934, he earned a master's degree from the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
. He received his doctoral degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1941.
Career
Began his teaching career during the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
as a high school teacher in the small rural town of Lepanto, Arkansas
Lepanto, Arkansas
Lepanto is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,133 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, where he also as the superintendent of schools. He later became the chair of the department of educational administration for Alabama Polytechnic Institute, which would later become Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
. However, he served as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the U.S. Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
After the war, Mullin return to Alabama Polytechnic Institute as a vice president, serving from 1949 to 1960. However, his alma mater would soon need a new president. In 1959, John Tyler Caldwell left the Arkansas to become chancellor of North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
. The university search committee named Storm Whaley as acting president. In 1960, Mullins was named the president.
During his presidency, the campus had tremendous growth. The student enrollment more than doubled, which lead to a massive construction phase. The university built new a student union, library, and communications building along with new residence halls. Among the new residence halls were Yocum, Humphreys, Fulbright, Hotz and Carlson Terrace. Much of the building was funded by private gifts to the university. However, similar to most college campuses during the 1960s, Mullins also presided over the tumultuous period that included the Vietnam War protests.
Additionally, Mullins helped create the University of Arkansas System
University of Arkansas System
The University of Arkansas System comprises six main campuses within the state of Arkansas; a medical school; two law schools; a unique graduate school focused on public service; statewide research, service and educational units for agriculture, criminal justice and archeology; and several...
, brokering a series of mergers. First came Little Rock University in 1969, which became University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock , is a public research university located in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, and the second largest university by enrollment in the state of Arkansas....
, along with Arkansas A&M in 1971, which would be renamed University of Arkansas at Monticello
University of Arkansas at Monticello
The University of Arkansas at Monticello is a public university and college for vocational and technical education located in Monticello, Arkansas, United States....
, and Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal (AM&N), eventually renamed the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a historically black university located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1873, it is the oldest HBCU and the second oldest public institution in the state of Arkansas . UAPB is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
in 1972.
Personal life
In August 1935, he married Eula Elizabeth Harrell. They had three children, Carolyn, David Jr., and Gary. His son, David W. Mullins, Jr., would go on to become the Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1991 to 1994.In 1965, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Hendrix College
Hendrix College
Hendrix College is a private liberal arts college located in Conway, Arkansas. The student body averages around 1,400 and currently represents forty-three states and fourteen foreign countries. In US News and World Report's America's Best Colleges, Hendrix is ranked annually in the top tier of...
. In 1969, the Arkansas Democrat
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is the newspaper of record in the U.S. state of Arkansas, printed in Little Rock with a northwest edition published in Lowell...
named Mullins Man of the Year in Arkansas. In 1983, the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
He died on September 22, 1987, at age 81.
The main research library at the University of Arkansas was named the David W. Mullins Library in his honor.