Robert L. Sumwalt (academic)

Robert Llewellyn Sumwalt (July 8, 1895 – January 24, 1977) was an American engineer and academic, who was President of the University of South Carolina.

Robert L. Sumwalt
President of the University of South Carolina
In office
1957–1962
Preceded byDonald S. Russell
Succeeded byThomas F. Jones
Personal details
Born(1895-07-08)July 8, 1895
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedJanuary 24, 1977(1977-01-24) (aged 81)
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
SpouseCaroline Causey
RelationsRobert L. Sumwalt (son), Robert L. Sumwalt III (grandson)
Alma materUniversity of Delaware, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Professionengineer

Sumwalt was born in Baltimore[1] on July 8, 1895.[2] He began undergraduate studies at Delaware College in 1914, belonged to the Sigma Nu fraternity there,[3] and received a B.S. degree in 1918, for which his thesis was "The Design of A Type Emergency Mill Building".

Background

In 1919, he was serving in the Engineers Corps.[3] He received from University of Delaware (the successor to the college) a professional degree for which he wrote a 1921 thesis on the construction of a mental hospital.

Pierre S. du Pont, who was a patron of the university, had in 1918 begun a correspondence with Sumwalt (which continued for decades, into the year of Du Pont's death), and assisted Sumwalt financially while he was earning his SBCE at MIT.

Sumwalt married Caroline Causey by 1927,[4] and his son, Robert Llewellyn Sumwalt Jr, was born the next year.[5]

Sumwalt joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina as assistant professor in 1926, becoming full professor in 1931 and dean of the School of Engineering in 1943. He became the university's acting president in 1957, then president in 1959 and continuing to 1962.

After 36 years working at the university, he retired and was employed on the professional staff of the Senate Post Office and Civil Service Committee.[1]

UofSC has established chairs in mathematics and chemistry bearing his name and named a building within the college of engineering in his honor. Sumwalt died on January 24, 1977.[6]

References
  1. "Dr. Sumwalt to Join Staff of Senate Postal Committee", The News and Courier, December 20, 1962
  2. "Dr. Sumwalt Appointed President of Carolina", Aiken Standard And Review, May 8, 1959
  3. The Delta of Sigma Nu fraternity. Vol. 36. 1919. p. 146 – via Google Books.
  4. "Description" of "Caroline Causey Sumwalt Portrait", P.S. du Pont / Longwood Collection
  5. "Description" Archived 2012-07-07 at archive.today of "Robert L. Sumwalt Jr. Baby Portrait", P.S. du Pont / Longwood Collection
  6. "SUMWALT, Robert Llewellyn". The National Cyclopædia of American Biography: Being the History of the United States as Illustrated in the Lives of the Founders, Builders, and Defenders of the Republic, and of the Men and Women who are Doing the Work and Moulding the Thought of the Present Time. 1982. pp. 183–4. ISBN 9780883710364.
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