Eunice Hutto
Encyclopedia
Eunice Hutto Morelock was a pioneer professor at Bob Jones College
and possibly the first female chief academic officer of a coeducational college in the United States.
, where her father owned the general store
. She entered the Women’s College of Montgomery (later Huntingdon College
) at age 14 and graduated in 1923, at 18, the youngest member of her class. In 1929, Hutto completed a master’s degree in mathematics
at the University of Alabama
, and in 1939 she earned a doctor of pedagogy from Westminster College.
In 1928, after teaching mathematics in the Alabama public schools for five years, Hutto joined the faculty of the one-year-old Bob Jones College, then located near Lynn Haven
, Bay County
, Florida
. According to her colleague R. K. Johnson
, Hutto “seemed to catch a glimpse of the vision” of college founder, evangelist Bob Jones, Sr.
Hutto served as principal of Bob Jones Academy, 1931-36, and dean of the college, 1933-41.
According to Bob Jones, Jr.
, Hutto was “strong [and] could be stubborn.” Her impact on the fledgling college was immediate. As dean she was “tough-minded and unyielding to pressure,” standardizing the curriculum and perceptively evaluating the faculty. She thus quickly gained the confidence of Bob Jones, Sr., who treated her as a member of his official family. Jones deferred to Hutto in “the technical educational work,” and he noted in a 1935 chapel service that the two “check[ed] each other. I might turn this school into a camp meeting
, but Miss Hutto says, ‘No, this is a college.’ So she keeps me reminded that this is a college, and I keep her reminded that we have to keep our religion.” Hutto believed herself to be the only female dean
of a coeducational college in the United States.
In September 1941, Hutto resigned to marry Jefferson Davis Morelock, Jr., a businessman from Cleveland, Tennessee
, where BJC had moved in 1933. Jones, Sr. immediately named her to the BJC Board of Trustees. She returned to BJC to teach mathematics from 1943 to 1947.
Morelock died of leukemia
on August 22, 1947, eight months after giving birth to a son, Jefferson Davis Morelock III. A building in the Academy Quadrangle of Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina
, is named for her.
Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University is a private, for-profit, non-denominational Protestant university in Greenville, South Carolina.The university was founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr. , an evangelist and contemporary of Billy Sunday...
and possibly the first female chief academic officer of a coeducational college in the United States.
Biography
Hutto was born and reared in Ariton, AlabamaAriton, Alabama
Ariton is a town in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 772. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the town had a population of 755. Ariton is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, where her father owned the general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
. She entered the Women’s College of Montgomery (later Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College
Huntingdon College, founded in 1854, is a coeducational liberal arts college in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Related to the United Methodist Church, the college's central hallmarks are faith, wisdom, and service. The college is known for providing a solid academic experience based on good...
) at age 14 and graduated in 1923, at 18, the youngest member of her class. In 1929, Hutto completed a master’s degree in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, and in 1939 she earned a doctor of pedagogy from Westminster College.
In 1928, after teaching mathematics in the Alabama public schools for five years, Hutto joined the faculty of the one-year-old Bob Jones College, then located near Lynn Haven
Lynn Haven, Florida
Lynn Haven is a city in Bay County, Florida, United States, north of Panama City. The population was 18,493 at the 2010 census. It has the smaller population of the two principal cities of the Panama City, Florida - Lynn Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population...
, Bay County
Bay County, Florida
Bay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. According to her colleague R. K. Johnson
R. K. Johnson
Robert Kirthwood "Lefty" Johnson , pioneer financial officer of Bob Jones University, a private, Protestant Fundamentalist, liberal arts university located in Greenville, South Carolina.-Biography:...
, Hutto “seemed to catch a glimpse of the vision” of college founder, evangelist Bob Jones, Sr.
Bob Jones, Sr.
Robert Reynolds Jones, Sr. was an American evangelist, pioneer religious broadcaster and the founder and first president of Bob Jones University.-Early years:...
Hutto served as principal of Bob Jones Academy, 1931-36, and dean of the college, 1933-41.
According to Bob Jones, Jr.
Bob Jones, Jr.
Robert Reynolds Jones, Jr. was the second president and chancellor of Bob Jones University. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Jones was the son of Bob Jones, Sr., the university's founder...
, Hutto was “strong [and] could be stubborn.” Her impact on the fledgling college was immediate. As dean she was “tough-minded and unyielding to pressure,” standardizing the curriculum and perceptively evaluating the faculty. She thus quickly gained the confidence of Bob Jones, Sr., who treated her as a member of his official family. Jones deferred to Hutto in “the technical educational work,” and he noted in a 1935 chapel service that the two “check[ed] each other. I might turn this school into a camp meeting
Camp meeting
The camp meeting is a form of Protestant Christian religious service originating in Britain and once common in some parts of the United States, wherein people would travel from a large area to a particular site to camp out, listen to itinerant preachers, and pray...
, but Miss Hutto says, ‘No, this is a college.’ So she keeps me reminded that this is a college, and I keep her reminded that we have to keep our religion.” Hutto believed herself to be the only female dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of a coeducational college in the United States.
In September 1941, Hutto resigned to marry Jefferson Davis Morelock, Jr., a businessman from Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland, Tennessee
Cleveland is a city in Bradley County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 41,285 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bradley County...
, where BJC had moved in 1933. Jones, Sr. immediately named her to the BJC Board of Trustees. She returned to BJC to teach mathematics from 1943 to 1947.
Morelock died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
on August 22, 1947, eight months after giving birth to a son, Jefferson Davis Morelock III. A building in the Academy Quadrangle of Bob Jones University, Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, is named for her.