Bowman Foster Ashe

Bowman Foster Ashe (April 3, 1885 – December 16, 1952) was a U.S. educator who served as the first president of the University of Miami.[1]

Bowman Foster Ashe
1st President of the
University of Miami
In office
1926 – November 1952
Succeeded byJay F. W. Pearson
Personal details
Born(1885-04-03)April 3, 1885
DiedDecember 16, 1952(1952-12-16) (aged 67)
Alma materUniversity of Pittsburgh
ProfessionCollege administrator

Ashe was born in the Pittsburgh suburb of Scottdale, Pennsylvania, on April 3, 1885, one of six sons of a Methodist minister.[2] He attended Mount Union College and then transferred to the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1910. After graduation, he took a job teaching English and history in public school. Ashe also worked as the educational/social director of Langeloth, a model town near Pittsburgh. Ashe's work eventually led him back to the University of Pittsburgh, where he became a faculty member and supervised the admission, transfer and academic progress of freshmen and sophomores.

The founders of UM hired Ashe from Pittsburgh to oversee the institution during its challenged infancy.[3] During Ashe's presidency, the university added the School of Law (1928), the School of Business Administration (1929), the School of Education (1929), the Graduate School (1941), the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (1943), the School of Engineering (1947), and the School of Medicine (1952).

In 1926, Ashe partnered with Seminole Tribe in building the Iron Arrow Honor Society. Iron Arrow Honor Society recognizes male high achievers. They were sued in 1976 by the honor society when they prohibited admitting women.[4]

In 1929, with the collapse of the economy, UM's financial plight was severe, and Ashe took over as chairman of its board of trustees. He later gave up that role but continued as president. He recruited Jay F. W. Pearson from the University of Pittsburgh to join him as a part of the charter faculty and as an administrator. Pearson took over as president in November 1952 upon the first of two debilitating strokes which led to Ashe's death the following month.[2][5] Ashe was inducted into the Iron Arrow Honor Society, the University of Miami's highest honor.

The University of Miami's administration building, the Bowman Foster Ashe Administration Building, and Bowman Foster Ashe Elementary School (located in West Kendall, Florida) are both named in his honor.

Ashe's grandson, Gary Dunn, was a nosetackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 12 seasons.

References
  1. "History of the University of Miami". University of Miami. Archived from the original on December 23, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2007.
  2. "President Ashe Dies at 67". The Miami Hurricane. Coral Gables, Florida. December 17, 1952.
  3. "Who is Bowman Foster Ashe?". Archived from the original on September 21, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2007.
  4. "Iron Arrow eliminates decades-old Native American traditions after two-year review". The Miami Hurricane. August 27, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  5. "Miami Mourning Death of Ashe". Kentucky New Era. Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Associated Press. December 17, 1952.
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