Thomas Milton Gatch
Encyclopedia
Thomas Milton Gatch was an American
educator and politician
in Oregon
. He served one term as mayor
of Salem, Oregon
, was the president of what would become Oregon State University
, served as president of the University of Washington
, and twice served as president of Willamette University
. A native of Ohio
, he was the first president of Oregon State University to hold a doctorate degree.
, to Lucinda and Thomas Gatch. In Ohio, Gatch attended Ohio Wesleyan University
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1855. He then moved to Cincinnati where he took a course at Lane Theological Seminary
, and was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity
degree from the school.
, where he mined gold during the California Gold Rush
and also taught school for three years. He then taught at the University of the Pacific at Santa Clara, California
. At Pacific he served as chair of the natural sciences and mathematics department. He was married in 1857 to Orytha Bennett, and they would have five children including Claud Gatch, who would become mayor of Salem. Claud's son Thomas Leigh Gatch
, commanded the battleship USS South Dakota
and served as Judge Advocate General
of the United States Navy
during World War II
.
In 1859, Thomas Gatch moved to Olympia, Washington
, where he worked as the principal of Puget Sound Wesleyan Institute. The following year, he was appointed as president of Willamette University
in Salem, where he served until 1865. He returned to the position as president of the school, serving from 1870 until 1879. During this time Thomas Gatch then earned a Doctor of Philosophy
in 1874 from Indiana Asbury University
(now DePauw University). He also served as mayor of Salem from 1877 to 1878.
From 1879 until 1881 he was a professor of history at the University of Oregon
in Eugene
; afterwards he helped found the Wasco Independent Academy in The Dalles, Oregon
in 1881. Gatch served as president of that institution until 1886. Gatch was then selected to serve as president of the University of Washington
in Seattle
in 1887. In 1895 he left the school, and in 1897 he was appointed to the position of president of Oregon Agricultural College
(now Oregon State University). While at Oregon State he was also a professor of political and mental science, and was the first president of the school to hold a doctorate degree. Gatch served at the Corvallis
school until July 1907 when he resigned as president, though continued teaching until the end of the year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He served one term as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, was the president of what would become Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, served as president of the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, and twice served as president of Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
. A native of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, he was the first president of Oregon State University to hold a doctorate degree.
Early life
Thomas Gatch was born in the town of Milford, OhioMilford, Ohio
Milford is a city in Clermont and Hamilton counties in the U.S. state of Ohio, along the Little Miami River in the southwestern part of the state. It is a part of Greater Cincinnati. Milford, an abbreviated form of mill ford, was so named because it was the first safe ford across the Little Miami...
, to Lucinda and Thomas Gatch. In Ohio, Gatch attended Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1855. He then moved to Cincinnati where he took a course at Lane Theological Seminary
Lane Theological Seminary
Lane Theological Seminary was established in the Walnut Hills section of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1829 to educate Presbyterian ministers. It was named in honor of Ebenezer and William Lane, who pledged $4,000 for the new school, which was seen as a forward outpost of the Presbyterian Church in the...
, and was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree from the school.
Educational career
In 1856 Gatch moved west to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he mined gold during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
and also taught school for three years. He then taught at the University of the Pacific at Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
. At Pacific he served as chair of the natural sciences and mathematics department. He was married in 1857 to Orytha Bennett, and they would have five children including Claud Gatch, who would become mayor of Salem. Claud's son Thomas Leigh Gatch
Thomas Leigh Gatch
Thomas Leigh Gatch was an American naval officer and attorney in the 20th century. A native of Oregon, and grandson of educator Thomas Milton Gatch, he served in the United States Navy as a ship commander during World War II and Judge Advocate General of the Navy from 1943 to 1945...
, commanded the battleship USS South Dakota
USS South Dakota
Three ships of the United States Navy have been namedUSS South Dakota in honor of the 40th state.*The first , Pennsylvania-class armored cruiser, escorted troops and convoys during World War I....
and served as Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
The Judge Advocate General's Corps also known as the "JAG Corps" or "JAG" is the legal arm of the United States Navy. Today, the corps consists of a worldwide organization of more than 730 Judge Advocates, 30 limited duty officers , 500 enlisted members and nearly 275 civilian personnel, serving...
of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
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...
.
In 1859, Thomas Gatch moved to Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, where he worked as the principal of Puget Sound Wesleyan Institute. The following year, he was appointed as president of Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem, where he served until 1865. He returned to the position as president of the school, serving from 1870 until 1879. During this time Thomas Gatch then earned a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1874 from Indiana Asbury University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
(now DePauw University). He also served as mayor of Salem from 1877 to 1878.
From 1879 until 1881 he was a professor of history at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
; afterwards he helped found the Wasco Independent Academy in The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
in 1881. Gatch served as president of that institution until 1886. Gatch was then selected to serve as president of the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
in 1887. In 1895 he left the school, and in 1897 he was appointed to the position of president of Oregon Agricultural College
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
(now Oregon State University). While at Oregon State he was also a professor of political and mental science, and was the first president of the school to hold a doctorate degree. Gatch served at the Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
school until July 1907 when he resigned as president, though continued teaching until the end of the year.