Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

12-1995

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Education

Major Professor

Robert K. Roney

Committee Members

Mary Jane Connelly, Ronald E. Taylor

Abstract

This study is a life history of Andrew David Holt (1904-1987), the sixteenth president of the University of Tennessee, 1959-70. A study of Andy Holt, as he preferred to be called, is significant for several reasons. He was at the helm of the University during its greatest physical and population growth. As a popular and powerful leader in education in the state of Tennessee for nearly fifty years, he had an impact on developments in public education in this state. His leadership as University president left a legacy that is important in the overall understanding of the University's history and its future. Holt held national prominence as president of the National Education Association and as a much desired public speaker. He was known for his wit, charm, and ability to win friends in every facet of his life and was considered to be a masterful politician.The study was conducted through a variety of means. Key figures in Holt's life were formally interviewed; campus acquaintances provided casual observations. Interview subjects included family, professional cohorts, hometown and college friends, University trustees, detractors, and other associates. Personal letters, photographs, visits to his hometown, and contextual histories provided avenues for insight into the nature of his perspective and the keys to his relationships. Relevant holdings in the University of Tennessee and Emory University libraries were scrutinized for context, historical value, perspective, and for understanding of Holt's role and attitude. The data were analyzed to reconstruct and interpret the life history of Andy Holt. The analysis revealed that Holt was a principled man with a dedication to education for the masses. It also revealed that Holt's standard of servant leadership stands as an example worthy of study.

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