Thomas Hedley Reynolds

Background

Reynolds, Thomas Hedley was born on November 23, 1920 in New York City. Son of Wallace and Helen (Hedley) Reynolds.

Education

Graduate, Deerfield (Massachusetts) Academy, 1938; Bachelor of Arts, Williams College, 1942; honorary Doctor of Laws, Williams College, 1978; Master of Arts in History, Columbia University, 1947; Doctor of Philosophy in History, Columbia University, 1953; Doctor of Laws, University Maine, 1968; Doctor of Laws, Bowdoin College, 1969; Doctor of Laws, Colby College, 1969; Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Bates College, 1990; Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Middlebury College, 1992.

Career

He is known for widely expanding Bates" national reputation for scholarship and academic rigor. Reynolds increased faculty salaries exponentially and attracted many high quality professors. A pioneer of gender equality, he improved gender equity within the college administration as well as dramatically lowering the student to faculty ratio.

He was instrumental in the guidance of Bates College through the campus tensions of the late 1960s and 1970s with a emphasis on community engagement in the decision-making of the college.

He led Bates to strengthen its faculty and curriculum, add such key facilities as a modern library and arts center, diversify its student body and eliminate the SAT requirement. Thomas Reynolds was born in New York to Wallace and Helen (Hedley) Reynolds.

He attended The Browning School in New York City and graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1938. Reynolds earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Williams College in 1942 and then a Master"s (1947) and Doctor of Philosophy (1953) in American history from Columbia University.

During World World War II, Reynolds served as a tank commander in Europe and received various decorations for his service.

After obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy, Reynolds became an author and history professor at Middlebury College before becoming president of Bates College in 1967. Bates College

As president Reynolds hired dozens of new professors and expanded Bates" national reputation for scholarship. He led Bates to strengthen its faculty and curriculum, add such key facilities as a modern library and arts center, diversify its student body and eliminate the SAT requirementReynolds initiated Bates" Short Term and was responsible for building many buildings on campus such as the George and Helen Ladd Library and Merrill Gymnasium.

During the Vietnam era Reynolds joined with students in peacefully protesting the War.

Reynolds retired in 1989. The Thomas Hedley Reynolds history professorship was endowed in Reynold"s honor.

Reynolds died in 2009.

Achievements

• Thomas Hedley Reynolds has been listed as a noteworthy academic administrator by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Board advisors Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome project. Board directors Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, Inc. Member Vermont History Sites Commission, 1964-1966.

Member New England Colleges Fund, president, 1971-1972. Chairman Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability, since 1982. Trustee WCBB Educational television, since 1974.

Board directors National Association Indiana Colleges and Universities, 1977. Captain Army of the United States, 1942-1946. Colonel Reserve; Member American History Association, American Antiquarian Society, American Association of University Professors, Maine History Society, Vermont History Society, Maine Partners Alliance for Progress.

Connections

Married Jean Fine Lytle, April 24, 1943. Children: Thomas Scott, David Hewson, John Hedley, Tay.

Father:

Wallace Reynolds

Mother:

Helen (Hedley) Reynolds

Spouse:

Jean Fine Lytle

child:

Tay Reynolds

child:

Thomas Scott Reynolds

child:

David Hewson Reynolds

child:

John Hedley Reynolds