Guy Potter Benton: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|American college president}}

The Reverend Dr. '''Guy Potter Wharton Benton''' (born [[May 26]], [[1865]]) was an American educator who served as president of [[Miami University]] from 1902-1911 and the [[University of the Philippines]] from 1921-1925. While at Miami University, he is credited with being instumental in the founding of [[Delta Zeta]] Sorority in 1902.

{{More footnotes needed|date=August 2023}}{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Guy Potter Benton

| image = Guy Potter Benton 1905 (3191859795).jpg

| imagesize =

| caption =

| order =

| office = 3rd [[President of the University of the Philippines]]

| term_start = 1921

| term_end = 1923

| predecessor = [[Ignacio Villamor]]

| successor = [[Rafael Palma|Rafael V. Palma]]

| office2 = President of [[University of Vermont]]

| term_start2 = 1911

| term_end2 = 1920

| office3 = President of [[Miami University]]

| term_start3 = 1902

| term_end3 = 1911

| office4 = President of [[Upper Iowa University]]

| term_start4 = 1898

| term_end4 = 1902

| birth_name = Guy Potter Wharton Benton

| birth_date = May 26, 1865

| birth_place = [[Kenton, Ohio|Kenton]], [[Ohio]], U.S

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1927|6|29|1865|5|26}}

| death_place = [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], U.S

| alma_mater = Ohio Northern University<br />Ohio Wesleyan University<br />Baker University<br />College of Wooster.

| residence =

| profession = College president and educator

| occupation =

| religion =

| website =

}}

The Reverend Dr. '''Guy Potter Wharton Benton''' (born [[May 26]], [[1865]] – June 29, 1927) was an American educator who served aswas president of [[Upper Iowa University]], [[Miami University]], fromthe 1902-1911[[University of Vermont]], and the [[University of the Philippines]] from 1921-1925. He Whilewas at Miami University, he is credited with being instumentalinstrumental in the founding of [[Delta Zeta]] Sororitysorority at Miami University in 1902.

==Early life==

He was born to Daniel Webster and Harriet (Wharton) Benton in [[Kenton, Ohio]]. After serving as superintendent of schools at [[Fort Scott, Kansas]] (1890-95), he became asistant state superintendent of public instruction in [[Kansas]] (1895-96). He was professor of history and sociology at [[Baker University]] (1896-99) and assumed the presidency of [[Upper Iowa University]] in 1899 and served until 1902 when he became president of Miami University. He left Miami to become president of the [[University of Vermont]] 1911-1919. He was educational director of the Third Army occupying Germany following WWI. He served as the third president of the American University of the Philippines from 1921-1925.

Benton was born in [[Kenton, Ohio]]. His parents were Harriet (née Wharton) and Daniel Webster Benton.He attended Ohio Normal University (now [[Ohio Northern University]]), [[Ohio Wesleyan University]], [[Baker University]] and the [[College of Wooster]]. At Ohio Wesleyan, he was a member of [[Phi Delta Theta]] fraternity.

== Career ==

He was an ordained [[Methodist]] minister.

After college, Benton became an ordained [[Methodist]] minister. He served as superintendent of schools at [[Fort Scott, Kansas]] from 1890 to 1895. He became assistant state superintendent of public instruction in [[Kansas]] from 1895 to 1896.

He was a professor of history and sociology at [[Baker University]] from 1896 to 1899. He became president of [[Upper Iowa University]] in 1899, serving until 1902 when he became president of Miami University. While at Miami, he helped form the Delta Zeta sorority in 1902. He left Miami in 1911 to become president of the University of Vermont from 1911 to 1919.

Benton was a graduate of [[Ohio Wesleyan University]] where he was a member of [[Phi Delta Theta]] fraternity, of which he was later national president.

===Sources===

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. Dodge. Burlington: Ullery, 1912, p 118-119

{{US-academic-bio-stub}}

He was the educational director of the [[Third United States Army|Third Army]] occupying Germany following [[World War I]]. For his service during the war, he was awarded the [[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] and his commendation reads, in part, "As Director in charge of the Educational Work undertaken in the Third Army of the American Expeditionary Forces, by his marked ability, untiring energy, and loyal devotion to his task, Dr. Benton contributed in a large measure to the successful results obtained in this vast undertaking. Through his great work among 10,000 illiterate soldiers over 8,000 of them were taught to read and write. By his efforts, he has rendered services of particular worth to the American Expeditionary Forces."

He served as the third president of the [[University of the Philippines]] from 1921 to 1925

{{start box}}

== Honors ==

* Benton was named Grand Patron of the Delta Zeta sorority; he was the only man permitted to wear the Delta Zeta member badge.

* Two buildings on the Miami University campus have been named for Benton. First was the administration building and auditorium now known as Hall Auditorium and the current [[Benton Hall (Miami University)|Benton Hall]] is an engineering building.

==Personal life==

In 1889, Benton married Dolla Konantz of [[Arcadia, Kansas]]. They had two daughters, Helen Geneva (Mrs. Dwight E. Minnich) and [[Pauline Benton|Pauline Corinth Benton]].

Benton was the national president of Phi Delta Theta from 1912 to 1914. He was also a member of the forensics honorary [[Tau Kappa Alpha]] and served as its national president from 1915 to 1917.

Benton died in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]] and is buried next to his wife in the Miami University plot of the Oxford Cemetery and his headstone indicates that he was "President of Miami University" and "National President of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity."

===Sources===

*Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. Dodge. Burlington: Ullery, 1912, p 118-119

==External links==

* {{cite web| last =| first =| authorlink =| title =GUY POTTER BENTON, EDUCATOR, IS DEAD; Former Head of Universities of Philippines and Vermont a Sleeping Sickness Victim. ACTIVE IN Y.M.C.A. WORK Spent Two Years With A.E.F. -Was Ex-President of Upper Iowa and Miami Institutions -- Was 62.| work = [[New York Times]]| date =1927-06-30| url =https://www.nytimes.com/1927/06/30/archives/guy-potter-benton-educator-is-dead-former-head-of-universities-of.html| doi =| accessdate = 2008-01-07}}

*{{Find a Grave|27703233}}

{{s-start box}}

{{succession box|title=[[Miami University|President of Miami University]]|before=[[David Stanton Tappan]]|after=[[Raymond M. Hughes]]|years=1902 &ndash; 1911}}

{{succession box |

before= [[Ignacio Villamor|Ignacio B. Villamor]] |

title= [[University of the Philippines|President of the University of the Philippines]] |

after= [[Rafael Palma|Rafael V. Palma]] |

years= 1921&ndash;1925 |

}}

{{s-end}}{{University of Vermont presidents}}{{UP}}{{Authority control}}

{{end box}}

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:Miami University presidents|Benton, Guy Potter]]}}

[[Category:1865 births]]

[[Category:1927 deaths]]

[[Category:People from Kenton, Ohio]]

[[Category:Ohio Northern University alumni]]

[[Category:Ohio Wesleyan University alumni]]

[[Category:Baker University alumni]]

[[Category:College of Wooster alumni]]

[[Category:Presidents of Miami University]]

[[Category:Presidents of the University of Vermont]]

[[Category:Upper Iowa University]]

[[Category:University of the Philippines people]]

[[Category:Baker University faculty]]

[[Category:Burials at Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, Ohio]]

[[Category:Delta Zeta]]

[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]

[[Category:Presidents of universities and colleges in the Philippines]]

[[Category:Phi Delta Theta members]]