Templeton, Arleigh B.

Arleigh Brantley Templeton was the first President of the University of Texas at San Antonio. With the help of the University of Texas Board Chairman Frank Erwin, Associate Chancellor for Business Don Walker, Texas House Appropriation Chairman Bill Healy and Lt. Governor Ben Barnes, Dr. Templeton raised the money for and organized the planning and development of UTSA.

Arleigh Templeton was born in New Waverly, Texas, April 18, 1916. He received his bachelor of science degree in 1936 at Sam Houston State. Dr. Templeton received his master’s of education in 1949, and his doctorate in education in1961 from the University of Houston.

At 19 years old, Dr. Templeton began his career as school principal and teacher of English, Spanish and Algebra at Willow Hole High School, Texas. From 1937-1940, Dr. Templeton was principal and teacher of Biology, Physics and Mathematics at League City High School, Texas. In the 1940s Dr. Templeton worked for Pan American Refining Corporation in Texas City, and served as Lieutenant in the United States Navy. Dr. Templeton served as Assistant Superintendent for Clear Creek Independent School District (1948-1951) and Superintendent of Schools for El Campo I.S.D. (1951-1954), both in Texas.

Dr. Templeton helped to build Alvin Junior College from the ground up as President (1954-1963). In 1963 he served as Executive Director on Texas Governor John Connally’s Committee on Education Beyond High School. He became the President of Sam Houston State University from 1963-1970, when he was asked to become the founding president of the University of Texas at San Antonio. He left UTSA in December 1972, succeeded by Peter T. Flawn. Templeton went on to serve as president of the University of Texas at El Paso, retiring in 1980.

Templeton died at age 90 in October 2006 in San Antonio, Texas. He was survived by his wife Maxie, son Earl Wayne, two grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

From the guide to the Arleigh B. Templeton Papers UA 99. 0001., 1965-1990, (University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections)