Rudolph B. Welch

Rudolph B. Welch
4th President of the Kansas State Normal
In office August 20, 1879 – June 30, 1882
Preceded by	Charles Rhodes Pomeroy
Succeeded by	Albert R. Taylor
Personal details
Born	Rudolph Bair Welch (1850-07-23)July 23, 1850 Spencerville, Indiana
Died	October 12, 1906(1906-10-12) (aged 56) Topeka, Kansas
Resting place	Topeka, Kansas
Spouse(s)	Margaret Hammond (m. 1870–1906)
Alma mater	Illinois Wesleyan University
Occupation	Educator, attorney

Rudolph Blair Welch (July 23, 1850 – October 12, 1906) was an American educator and attorney most notable for serving as the fourth president of the Kansas State Normal School (KSN), now known as Emporia State University, in Emporia, Kansas.^[1]

Biography

Early life and career

Rudolph Blair Welch was born on July 23, 1850 in Spencerville, Indiana. Welch graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1877 with an education degree.^[2] After graduating, Welch immediately became the superintendent of schools in Pontiac, Illinois, serving for 12 years.

Kansas State Normal presidency

On August 20, 1879, just fourteen days after Charles Rhodes Pomeroy's resignation, Welch became the fourth president of the Kansas State Normal School.^[3] In 1878, a year before he became president, a fire and tornado struck the administration building on campus.^[4] Shortly after taking over as president, the school built two temporary buildings due to the tornado and fire the previous year.^[5]

Welch traveled the state of Kansas to promote the school and under Welch's guidance, enrollment grew. On March 6, 1882 Welch resigned to practice law, which would be effective June 30, 1882.^[6][7]

References