The Presidents Of Ohio State That You Need To Know About

Did you know that many former US presidents have also been alumni of Ohio State University?Ohio State University, or Ohio State as it’s typically called, has supplied some of the greatest minds of American history. And a number of them have gone on to serve as the president of the United States.The state of Ohio gained its official status in the 19th century after the Northeast territory was divided into several states and unions. This state has experienced immigration from Europe and the south during was was known as the Great Migration. Hence, with a culturally rich heritage and interest in education, Ohio State University was established in 1870 by Rutherford B. Hayes, the then Governor of Ohio and the 19th President of the United States. This university is one of the best public research universities in the world and has a track record of academic achievements.Keep reading to find out more interesting facts about Ohio State presidents.The History Of Ohio StateBefore Ohio officially became a formal state of the United States, it was inhabited by several communities for several hundred years. Here are some other interesting facts about the history of Ohio State.Initially, the Native Americans inhabited most of the North American subcontinent. They spoke many varieties of the Algonquin languages and had a rich culture. However, in the late 17th century, the arrival of the Iroquois at the bank of river Ohio displaced the Native Americans.In the mid-18th century, the region was named after the Ohio River or the ‘great river’ by the French explorers from Canada, who marked the birth of the state of Ohio. As the American Revolutionary War came to a halt, the United States was formed, and the American settlements expanded into the state.The population of Ohio started increasing rapidly after the United States stood victorious in the Northwest Indian Wars. With the onset of the 19th century, the Northeast territory of the United States was divided, and several unions were formed, one of them being the state of Ohio. Currently, the state is recognized as the 17th state of the United States.The people of the state of Ohio were avid followers of modernization, mass education, and anti-slavery policies. During the 19th to 20th-century transition, Ohio became a rich industrial state wherein iron ore, and other western products were being exchanged across the Great Lakes. The establishment of industries led to the creation of jobs that attracted European immigrants to a great extent.During the First World War in the 20th century, the Great Migration from the South brought in a new wave of immigrants. This led to the diversification of their culture. Education became an integral part of their life, leading to the establishment of Ohio State University, which was home to the renowned Presidents of Ohio State. Timeline Of Ohio State PresidentsLet’s go through the list of presidents of Ohio State University along with their tenures.The first president of Ohio State, Edward Francis Baxter Orton, Sr., served the office for eight years (Sept 17, 1878 – Jun 21, 1881). He was replaced by Walter Quincy Scott, who served his term of only two years (Jun 21, 1881 – Jun 20, 1883).Next came William Henry Scott, who held office for 12 long years (Jun 20, 1883 – Jun 30, 1895). Thereafter, James Hulme Canfield was elected the fourth president who served his term of four years (July 1, 1895 – June 30, 1899).President William Oxley Thompson replaced him to become the fifth president who held office for a lengthy 25 years (July 1, 1899 – Nov 5, 1925).Next, George Washington Rightmire (interim) was the acting president for a year (Nov 6, 1925 – Mar 1926). He later became the incumbent president and held office for 12 years (Mar 1926 – July 1, 1938).William McPherson was elected as an interim president for two years (July 1, 1938 – Jan 31, 1940).Howard Landis Bevis became the seventh president of the University and served his tenure of 16 long years (Feb 1, 1940 – June 30, 1956).He was replaced by the eighth president, Novice Gail Fawcett, who held office for 16 years as well (Aug 1, 1956 – Aug 31, 1972).President Harold Leroy Enarson, who replaced him, became the ninth president and held office for a term of nine years (Sept 1, 1972 – Aug 31, 1981).After him, President Edward Harrington Jennings took over and held office for nine years as well (Sept 1, 1981 – Aug 31, 1990). Next came President E. Gordon Gee, who served as the president for eight years (Sept 1, 1990 – Jan 2, 1998).He was followed by John Richard Sisson, who served as the interim president for a year (Dec 15, 1997 – June 30, 1998).Thereafter, President William English Kirwan presided over the office for four years (Jul 1, 1998 – June 30, 2002).President Edward Harrington Jennings also played the role of an interim president for two months only (July 1, 2002 – Sept 30, 2002).He was replaced by the first female president, Karen Ann Holbrook, who was the president of Ohio State University for five years (Oct 1, 2002 – June 30, 2007).After her, Joseph A. Alutto was elected as the interim President for a month (July 1, 2007 – September 30, 2007). A former President, E. Gordon Gee, became the President again and presided over the office for six years (October 1, 2007 – June 30, 2013).Next, Joseph A. Alutto was elected as the interim President again for a year (July 1, 2013 – June 29, 2014) and was replaced by President Michael V. Drake, MD, who held the office for six years (June 30, 2014 – June 30, 2020).Currently, the Ohio State University President is Kristina Johnson, a member of the LGBT community.About The Presidents Of Ohio StateOhio is also known as the ‘Mother of Presidents’ because a considerable number of United States presidents belong to the state of Ohio and are alumni of Ohio State University. Let’s look a little deeper to learn more about some presidents that Ohio State University has offered.Edward Francis Baxter Orton, Sr., a geologist by profession and the first Ohio State President, was born on Mar 9, 1829, in Deposit, New York. He is an alumnus of the Ohio State and died on October 16, 1899, in Columbus, Ohio, US.An American educator and the second Ohio State President, Walter Quincy Scott (Dec 19, 1845 – May 9, 1917), was born in Dayton, Ohio. He was a professor of philosophy and political science.Ohio State President George Washington Rightmire was born on Nov 15, 1868, in Lawrence County, Ohio. He was an alumnus of Ohio State and well professed in law.Ohio State President Howard Landis Bevis, born on Nov 19, 1885, in Hamilton County, Ohio, was a professor of law as well and held the office of State Director of Finance.Ohio State President Novice Gail Fawcett, an alumnus of the Ohio State, was born on Mar 29, 1909, in Knox County, Ohio. He worked there as a teacher and sports coach throughout his life.Ohio State President Harold Leroy Enarson worked in the field of political science and public administration and had established the Latin American Peace Corps training programs. Surprising Facts About The Presidents Of Ohio StateOhio State University has been renowned as one of the most efficient academic institutions worldwide. Now, it is time to discover some amazing facts about the presidents of Ohio State who took the pledge to uphold the name of the institution.E. Gordon Gee was the only person to serve in the president role of the Ohio State President twice. He was born on February 2, 1944, in Vernal, Utah, and specialized in the fields of history and law. Ohio State President Edward Harrington Jennings (February 18, 1937-August 10, 2019) was the tenth President of Ohio State University. His field of interest circled around finance, business administration, and industrial management. During the tenure of Ohio State President Michael V. Drake, MD, the university experienced exceptional excellence in research and innovation. Kristina M. Johnson, the current President of Ohio State University, is the first LGBT member to hold the office and carry out presidential duties. President Johnson is known for developing optoelectronic processing systems, 3-D imaging, and color-management systems. Several buildings on the campus of Ohio State University, such as Orton Hall, Scott hall and House, Canfield Residence Hall, Rightmire Hall, and Enarson Classroom are named in honor of one President or the other.

Did you know that many former US presidents have also been alumni of Ohio State University?