Rightmire, George W. (George Washington), 1868-1952

Sixth president of The Ohio State University (1926-38) and Professor of Law; acting president (1925-26) OSU alumnus (Ph.B., 1895, M.A. 1898).

A native of Center Furnace in Lawrence County, Ohio, George Rightmire was born on November 15, 1868. He graduated from high school in Wheelersburg, Ohio, at the age of 16. He spent the next four years teaching at a country school in Scioto County. He used the money he earned as a teacher to enter The Ohio State University in 1889. His college career was one full of fits and starts; he ran out of money after his first year and went back to teaching in Scioto County, before spending two years teaching and working in a bank in Del Norte, Colorado. He returned to Ohio State in 1893 and graduated in 1895. While at Ohio State, he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a track athlete and president of the Political Science Association. He would later become graduate manager of athletics. After graduation, he taught history, civics and Latin at Columbus North High School for seven years while working towards his law degree, which he earned in 1898. He was admitted to the bar in 1902, the same year he joined Ohio State as an assistant professor in American history and a law instructor. He practiced patent law, trademark law, and copyright law in Columbus from 1904-1919. He later became full professor, and in 1908-09 was acting dean of the law school. Rightmire was named acting president of OSU upon William Oxley Thompson's retirement in 1925, and he was named president shortly after due to his performance as acting president. He is the only OSU graduate to hold this position. Rightmire instituted a number of significant changes to the University during his presidency. He instituted Freshman Week (now Orientation and Welcome Week). He reduced the size of classes and appointed Junior Deans in the five largest colleges to assist students. The Student Senate and Student Court were created during his presidency. His administration also established the Stadium Dormitories to provide reasonably-priced room and board to students who lacked the funds necessary to attend. During the Depression-era budget cuts, Rightmire cut his own salary by 33 percent over the protests of some members of the Board of Trustees. After his retirement in 1938, he continued studying ancient English law, one of his favorite subjects. He died December 23, 1952.