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Dr. Henry Kirby Taylor was a seasoned
education professional who was president of Wesleyan College in
Kentucky before accepting the Fifth District Normal School’s
offer to come to Maryville. His first task was to staunch the
flow of red ink and orchestrate a return to sound financial policy.
As soon as he could, Dr. Taylor began paying back salary owed
to faculty, even though the president apparently went without
pay himself for several months. He also worked to resolve fiscal
squabbles that had delayed completion of the Administration Building.
Finally, after two years of struggle, salaries were fully restored
with checks being issued through accounts tied to regular appropriations.
In March, 1912, Dr. Taylor told the Board of Regents the school
was out of debt and meeting expenses. He then turned his attention
to the academic program, reestablishing much of the rigor and
organization originally instituted by President Frank Deerwester.
Dr. Taylor also demonstrated a knack for delegating authority
and hiring gifted subordinates, such as George H. Colbert, the
first dean of faculty, and Alice R. Perrin, who served many years
as dean of women. Illness forced Dr. Taylor to resign in 1913.
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