David Wiley Mullins (born August 11, 1906 in Ash Flat, Arkansas, died September 22, 1987) was an American academic. He was the president of University of Arkansas in
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville () is the second-largest city in Arkansas, the county seat of Washington County, and the biggest city in Northwest Arkansas. The city is on the outskirts of the Boston Mountains, deep within the Ozarks. Known as Washington until ...
from 1960 to 1974, the second longest serving president.
Early life and education
Mullins was born August 11, 1906, in Ash Flat, Arkansas, to Roscoe C. and Emma Matilda Mullins. He attended University of Arkansas, graduating
cum laude
Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sou ...
Great Depression
The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...
as a high school teacher in the small rural town of Lepanto, Arkansas, where he also as the superintendent of schools. He later became the chair of the department of educational administration for Alabama Polytechnic Institute, which would later become
Auburn University
Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a public land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama. With more than 24,600 undergraduate students and a total enrollment of more than 30,000 with 1,330 faculty members, Auburn is the second largest uni ...
. However, he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
After the war, Mullins returned to Alabama Polytechnic Institute as a vice president, serving from 1949 to 1960. However, his alma mater would soon need a new president. In 1959,
John Tyler Caldwell
John Tyler Caldwell (December 19, 1911 – October 13, 1995) was an American educator who presided over three universities, including North Carolina State University.
Early life
John Tyler Caldwell was born on December 19, 1911 in Yazoo City, Mis ...
left the Arkansas to become chancellor of
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The universit ...
. The university search committee named Storm Whaley as acting president. In 1960, Mullins was named the president.
During his presidency, the campus had tremendous growth. The student enrollment more than doubled, which lead to a massive construction phase. The university built new a student union, library, and communications building along with new residence halls. Among the new residence halls were Yocum, Humphreys, Fulbright, Hotz and Carlson Terrace. Much of the building was funded by private gifts to the university. However, similar to most college campuses during the 1960s, Mullins also presided over the tumultuous period that included the
Vietnam War protests
Protests against the Vietnam War took place in the 1960s and 1970s. The protests were part of a movement in opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War. The majority of the protests were in the United States, but some took place ar ...
.
Additionally, Mullins helped create the University of Arkansas System, brokering a series of mergers. First came Little Rock University in 1969, which became
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock) is a public research university in Little Rock, Arkansas. Established as Little Rock Junior College by the Little Rock School District in 1927, the institution became a private four-year ...
In August 1935, he married Eula Elizabeth Harrell. They had three children, Carolyn, David Jr., and Gary. His son,
David W. Mullins, Jr.
David Wiley Mullins Jr. (April 28, 1946 - February 26, 2018) was an American economist who served as the 14th Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve from 1991 to 1994. He previously served as an Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance i ...
, would go on to become the Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1991 to 1994.
In 1965, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Hendrix College. In 1969, the Arkansas Democrat named Mullins ''Man of the Year'' in Arkansas. In 1983, the University of Arkansas awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
He died on September 22, 1987, at age 81.
The main research library at the University of Arkansas was named the