We've all heard the legend of Jefferson Davis being first offered the presidency of A&M. While digging around through newspaper archives, I came across this from June 1875:



And Davis declines:


Also found an alternate version of that wire story:

"Jefferson Davis has declined to accept the presidency of the Texas Agricultural and Mechanical college, which position was lately tendered to him, with a salary of $4,000 and residence. He assigns inadequate acquirements and a shattered constitution as the reasons of his declination."

I'm guessing the last bit refers to his own financial mess.

Probably speaking more to his physical health, than his financial health, as a $4K salary would have solved that problem. He was a sick man as president and even sicker after spending time in prison.

I am just thankful that there is one less statue for the social justice warriors to tear down.

Seriously, did Jeff Davis have any experience running a nascent land grant college, or was this offer intended to be a "splash hire"?

dcbowers said:

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I am just thankful that there is one less statue for the social justice warriors to tear down.

Seriously, did Jeff Davis have any experience running a nascent land grant college, or was this offer intended to be a "splash hire"?

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He was a West Point graduate, a plantation owner, a former U.S. Senator and the Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce. Substitute "successful businessman" for "plantation owner" and you have given the resume of most modern major college presidents.

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Good thing for A&M that that P.o.S.

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Way too harsh.

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Way too harsh.

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I would tend to believe the majority living in the southern states in 1861 would agree with you.

aalan94 said:

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One thing I learned at the Museum of the Confederacy was that Davis was something like 5' 11" and 145 lbs. Dude was a rail. It wouldn't take much to shatter that constitution.

Good thing for A&M that that P.o.S. never came here. Sully's a much better human.

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Harsh indeed. Davis tried like the devil to avoid secession and war.

ChiliBeans said:

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Wow.. The names listed in this article are some big names for the University. Several buildings namesakes in there

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Yeah, fascinating. Trying to sort through some of those:

The all-male dormitory was named for Gen. George F. Moore, class of 1908. Moore was commandant of the Corps from 1937 to 1940.

DeWare Field House:

The field house was originally named Memorial Gymnasium, but was renamed in 1939 for Charles DeWare Sr., class of 1909. DeWare was considered "one of the all-time greats in A&M football history," according to A Centennial History of Texas A&M University by Henry Dethloff. DeWare was president of the Association of Former Students from 1921-1922.

Above quoted from MyAggieNation.

Utay:

Utay was the captain of the 1907 football team. He was the assistant coach and athletic director in the 1910s. He served on A&M Board of Directors, founded the Southwest Football Officials Association in 1912 and was a charter member of National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.
https://12thman.com/hof.aspx?hof=243

Leggett Hall was named for K.K. Leggett who was chairman of the board at this time, so maybe related to the player mentioned.

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I was living in dorm 12 ( Utay Hall) in 72-73 when a very old man came around one afternoon escorted by some bulls and suits . He was introduced to us as Joe Utay. Great honor to meet the gentleman a few years before his death .

Watson:

I have no doubt you think anyone who believed in a right to secession was a "fireeater," but Davis was far from one. His speeches in the lead up to War were very much against the disunion. He was one of the last Deep South senators to leave his seat and worked to reconcile the two factions. But he did believe in the right of secession but he was far from a Yancey or Rhett.