Title
George Hutcheson Denny 1870-1955
Subject
College presidents
University of Alabama
Denny, George Hutcheson, 1870-1955
Presidents of the University of Alabama
Description
George Hutcheson (Mike) Denny is best known for his 25-year tenure as president of the University of Alabama during its most significant period of growth and its football program successes.
Denny was born on December 8, 1870, in Hanover County, Virginia, the son of Rev. George and Charlotte Wright Denny. He earned a B.A. and M.A. in classics from Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1896. He taught Latin at Hampden-Sydney (where he also served as the head football coach) and at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia prior to serving as president for the next decade.
Denny assumed the presidency of the University of Alabama in 1912 and served until his retirement due to poor health in 1936. When his successor, Richard Foster, died suddenly in 1941, Denny returned briefly to resume the presidency.
In October 1920. The football field, known as University Field, was renamed Denny Field in honor of his support of football. So pleased with Denny’s presidency were students, alumni, and friends of the university that they donated $100,000 in 1928 for the construction of a bell tower, Denny Chimes, in honor of his service. In 1929 the new football stadium was named Denny Stadium (now Bryant-Denny Stadium).
Denny was married to Jane Strickler Denny, with whom he had four children. After his retirement he moved back to Lexington, Virginia, where he died on April 2, 1955 and is buried in the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery.
Denny was inducted into the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame posthumously in 2007.
For more information see Encyclopedia of Alabama http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3595
Denny was born on December 8, 1870, in Hanover County, Virginia, the son of Rev. George and Charlotte Wright Denny. He earned a B.A. and M.A. in classics from Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1896. He taught Latin at Hampden-Sydney (where he also served as the head football coach) and at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia prior to serving as president for the next decade.
Denny assumed the presidency of the University of Alabama in 1912 and served until his retirement due to poor health in 1936. When his successor, Richard Foster, died suddenly in 1941, Denny returned briefly to resume the presidency.
In October 1920. The football field, known as University Field, was renamed Denny Field in honor of his support of football. So pleased with Denny’s presidency were students, alumni, and friends of the university that they donated $100,000 in 1928 for the construction of a bell tower, Denny Chimes, in honor of his service. In 1929 the new football stadium was named Denny Stadium (now Bryant-Denny Stadium).
Denny was married to Jane Strickler Denny, with whom he had four children. After his retirement he moved back to Lexington, Virginia, where he died on April 2, 1955 and is buried in the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery.
Denny was inducted into the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame posthumously in 2007.
For more information see Encyclopedia of Alabama http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3595
Source
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Contributor
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
216
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph
Physical Dimensions
8 inches by 10 inches