David Wiley Mullins (born August 11, 1906 in

Ash Flat, Arkansas Ash Flat is a city in Fulton and Sharp counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas with a population of 1,109 in 2021. It is the county seat of Sharp County. History Ash Flat was established in 1856. The community was so named for a grove of ash ...

, died September 22, 1987) was an American academic. He was the president of

University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas (U of A, UArk, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. It is the Flagship campus, flagship campus of the University of Arkan ...

Fayetteville, Arkansas Fayetteville ( ) is the List of cities and towns in Arkansas, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Washington County, Arkansas, Washington County, and the most populous city in Northwest Arkansas. The city ...

from 1960 to 1974, the second longest serving president.

Early life and education

Mullins was born August 11, 1906, in

, to Roscoe C. and Emma Matilda Mullins. He attended University of Arkansas, graduating

cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sout ...

in 1931. In 1934, he earned a master's degree from the

University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, the University of Colorado Denver, and the U ...

. He received his doctoral degree from

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

in 1941.

Career

Began his teaching career during the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

as a high school teacher in the small rural town of Lepanto, Arkansas, where he also as the superintendent of schools. He later became the chair of the department of educational administration for Alabama Polytechnic Institute, which would later become

Auburn University Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a tota ...

. However, he served as a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

in the U.S. Navy during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. After the war, Mullins returned to Alabama Polytechnic Institute as a vice president, serving from 1949 to 1960. However, his alma mater would soon need a new president. In 1959, John Tyler Caldwell left the Arkansas to become chancellor of

North Carolina State University North Carolina State University (NC State, North Carolina State, NC State University, or NCSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and p ...

. The university search committee named Storm Whaley as acting president. In 1960, Mullins was named the president. During his presidency, the campus had tremendous growth. The student enrollment more than doubled, which lead to a massive construction phase. The university built new a student union, library, and communications building along with new residence halls. Among the new residence halls were Yocum, Humphreys, Fulbright, Hotz and Carlson Terrace. Much of the building was funded by private gifts to the university. However, similar to most college campuses during the 1960s, Mullins also presided over the tumultuous period that included the Vietnam War protests. Additionally, Mullins helped create the

University of Arkansas System The University of Arkansas System is a state university system in the U.S. state of Arkansas. It comprises six campuses; a medical school; two law schools; a graduate school focused on public service; a historically black college, statewide rese ...

, brokering a series of mergers. First came Little Rock University in 1969, which became

University of Arkansas at Little Rock The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock, UALR) is a Public university, public research university in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. Established as Little Rock Junior College by the Little Rock School District in 1927, the ...

, along with Arkansas A&M in 1971, which would be renamed

University of Arkansas at Monticello The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) is a public university in Monticello, Arkansas with Colleges of Technology in Crossett and McGehee. UAM is part of the University of Arkansas System and offers master's degrees, baccalaureate degree ...

, and Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal (AM&N), eventually renamed the

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is a Public University, public Historically black colleges and universities, historically black university in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Founded in 1873, it is the second oldest public college or univer ...

in 1972.

Personal life

In August 1935, he married Eula Elizabeth Harrell. They had three children, Carolyn, David Jr., and Gary. His son, David W. Mullins, Jr., would go on to become the Vice Chairman of the

Federal Reserve The Federal Reserve System (often shortened to the Federal Reserve, or simply the Fed) is the central banking system of the United States. It was created on December 23, 1913, with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act, after a series of ...

from 1991 to 1994. In 1965, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from

Hendrix College Hendrix College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas. Approximately 1,000 students are enrolled, mostly undergraduates. While affiliated with the United Methodist Chu ...

. In 1969, the Arkansas Democrat named Mullins ''Man of the Year'' in Arkansas. In 1983, the

awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. He died on September 22, 1987, at age 81. The main research library at the University of Arkansas was named the David W. Mullins Library in his honor.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mullins, David Wiley 1906 births 1987 deaths University of Arkansas alumni University of Colorado alumni Columbia University alumni Auburn University faculty Leaders of the University of Arkansas People from Sharp County, Arkansas People from Lepanto, Arkansas Military personnel from Arkansas 20th-century American academics