RU History

Jayne Shumate Whitt
Professor of English

Jeremy Pate Whitt
Registrar

  

 
Of the many administrators that have served Radford College and Radford University over the past 90 years, Jayne and Jeremy Whitt may have served longer than any other couple. 

Jayne Shumate Whitt was  born in Danville, Kentucky and served as the head of the English Departments at Sullins College (Bristol, Virginia) and Milligan College (Milligan, Tennessee).  She was also Dean of Women at Milligan College where she met and married Jeremy Pate Whitt.

Jeremy Pate Whitt was born in Meadow Creek (Montgomery County), Virginia.  He attended Milligan College, apparently at the same time as John Preston McConnell.  Whitt received an A.B. (Bachelors) and A.M. (Masters) from Milligan and prior to his years in Radford, Whitt taught in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Louisiana.

Jayne and Jeremy Whitt moved to Radford in 1910.  Jayne became principal of Radford High School and Jeremy became Superintendent of Radford City schools, serving in that post until 1921. A year or so after the  State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Radford opened for classes in 1913, Jeremy Whitt was listed in the school's annual catalogs of the 1910s and 1920s in the unexplained position of "Local Manager".  In the years to come Mr. Whitt taught history during the school's summer sessions and Latin during the regular academic year from 1915 to 1920; served as director of the Training School; and as director of the school's Extension Department which administered correspondence courses and  a "study center" system in which students would travel to a central location for instruction.  Mrs. Whitt was a member of the English Department for several years in addition to serving as Faculty Secretary.

It was apparently in the Registrar's office that the Whitts had the most impact.  Whitt's longest tenure, 30 years, was as Registrar.  In 1920, President McConnell reorganized the school's administration, transferring Registrar duties from his secretary to Joseph Avent, a professor in the English Department while Whitt prepared for his new position by attending Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee.  Whitt relinquished his position as superintendent of Radford's schools and took over from Professor Avent in 1921, serving as Registrar until 1951.  Jaynie Whitt was his assistant for several years.

In addition to fulfilling his registrar duties, Whitt served as interim president of the school during the search for a successor to Dr. McConnell and again after the sudden death of David Peters in 1951.  

In his final years, Jeremy Whitt was honored several times.  The Beehive editors was "particularly happy" to dedicate the 1946 yearbook to,

 

 "a couple whose sincere devotion, amiable spirit, and loyal service to the college and the students have endeared them to the hearts of all of us.  One has been the official problem-settler in arranging classes, credits, and schedules for generations of students.  These tasks so ably done, as well as the perennial joy which he spreads around the college, call for our most sincere recognition.  The other has been his helper, always at his side, to give students and faculty service, ever gracious, painstaking and meticulous.

Therefore, it is with great pleasure and pride that we dedicate the BEE HIVE of 1946 to our beloved Registrar, Mr. Jeremy Pate Whitt and to his loyal and devoted helpmeet, Mrs. Jayne Whitt."

In 1950, in recognition of Whitt's 35 years of service to the college, his portrait was painted by Roanoke artist David Silvette.  Sadly, Jayne Whitt died just days after the portrait was  unveiled in McConnell Library.  

Jeremy Pate Whitt suffered a stroke in October, 1951 and died in January, 1952. In a final eulogy, the Grapurchat editors commented that, "His 'Hi Chicken', genial manner, wholesome jokes and conscientious work with each individual student will be a lasting measurement to him in their hearts forever."

In February, 1952,  the faculty honored Jeremy Pate Whitt by renaming the renovated McGuffey Training School in his honor.

The Whitts are buried in Sunrise Cemetery in Fairlawn, Virginia.

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