James Ralph Scales (May 27, 1919 – March 12, 1996) was president of

Oklahoma Baptist University Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) is a private Baptist university in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It was established in 1910 under the original name of The Baptist University of Oklahoma. OBU is owned and was founded by the Baptist General Convention of ...

(his alma mater), 1961–1965, and eleventh president of

Wake Forest University Wake Forest University is a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded in 1834, the university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina. The Reynolda Campus, the un ...

, from 1968-1983. He was a member of the

Cherokee Nation The Cherokee Nation (Cherokee: ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ ''Tsalagihi Ayeli'' or ᏣᎳᎩᏰᎵ ''Tsalagiyehli''), also known as the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It ...

and was active throughout his life in Cherokee affairs.

Background and career

Scales was born in

Delaware County, Oklahoma Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,487. Its county seat is Jay. The county was named for the Delaware Indians, who had established a village in the area prior to the ...

to John Grover, Senior, and Katie Scales. John Grover Scales, Senior, had been born in 1889 in Spavinaw Creek,

Indian Territory The Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the Federal government of the United States, United States Government for the relocation of Native Americans in the United St ...

and was a Baptist pastor until his death in 1971. Katie and Scales together had two sons, James Ralph and John Grover, Junior, who died in 1953 at age 30. Scales began his career in education after graduating with his undergraduate and master's degrees from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1939 and 1941. Scales then served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 during World War II, earning medals of honor and distinction for his service. Scales then followed his career in higher education as an associate professor and professor, from 1947 to 1961. He moved to college administration in 1950, moving to vice president (1950-1953), executive vice president (1953-1961), and president (1961-1965). In 1965, Scales became dean of the College of the Arts and Sciences and a professor of political science at

Oklahoma State University Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...

. While living in

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

, Scales was active in

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

politics, serving as an alternate for the 1956

Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 ...

. In 1967, Scales became the eleventh president of Wake Forest University. During his time at Wake Forest, Scales oversaw an increased undergraduate enrollment and an expanded academic curriculum. He was responsible for a fine arts center building project, later named the

James R. Scales Fine Arts Center The Scales Fine Arts Center is home to Wake Forest University Wake Forest University is a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded in 1834, the university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, ...

, and the acquisition of Worrell House in London, England, and Casa Artom in Venice, Italy. Scales resigned from the Office of the President in 1983. His wife, Elizabeth Ann (Randel) Scales was born in

Osage County, Oklahoma Osage County is the largest county by area in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Created in 1907 when Oklahoma was admitted as a state, the county is named for and is home to the federally recognized Osage Nation. The county is coextensive with the Os ...

. Known as Betty Ann, she earned a B.A. degree from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1939. Betty Ann helped lead various college, social, and Baptist organizations while raising two daughters, Ann Catherine, a notable lawyer who coined the term "feminist jurisprudence," and Laura Elizabeth Scales, who died at age 20 in 1969. Betty Ann died on August 11, 1992.

References

Oklahoma politics : a history / by Scales, James R. (James Ralph), 1919–
LAWTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. Accessed 2011-01-21.

. Accessed 2011-01-21.
A History of Wake Forest University Timeline
Wake Forest University Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives. Accessed 2018-10-19. {{DEFAULTSORT:Scales, James R. 1919 births 1996 deaths People from Delaware County, Oklahoma Presidents of Oklahoma Baptist University Presidents of Wake Forest University Military personnel from Oklahoma Oklahoma Democrats Educators from Oklahoma United States Navy personnel of World War II 20th-century American academics Native American academics Cherokee Nation academics Oklahoma Baptist University alumni