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.
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 ...
. 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