William O. Hotchkiss

William Otis Hotchkiss (1878 - 1954) was the third president of Michigan Technological University and the twelfth president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on September 17, 1878. He earned a geology degree in 1903, a civil engineering degree in 1908 and a PhD in 1916, all from the University of Wisconsin. [http://www.lib.rpi.edu/dept/library/html/Archives/history/presidents/hotchkiss,wo.html William O. Hotchkiss] ]

He served as state geologist in Wisconsin between 1909-1925. He wrote publications including "Rural Highways of Wisconsin", "Limestone Road Materials of Wisconsin", and "Geological and Road Map of Wisconsin" and served on several state and federal geology committees, as well as president of the Association of American State Geologists. [ [http://www.uwex.edu/wgnhs/meohis2.htm History of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey: Part 2] ] The Wisconsin state highway commission was created during his tenure and he served on it between 1911-1925."Takes R.P.I. Post Tuesday", "New York Times", September 1, 1935] In 1925, he was appointed president of the Michigan Mining School. During his tenure, the school added programs in chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering and a program in forestry. [ [http://www.mtu.edu/mtuinfo/history.html MichiganTech History] ] In 1927. the school changed its name to the Michigan College of Mining and Technology and is now known as Michigan Technological University. [ [http://www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/magazine/dec05/archives.html Michigan Tech Magazine, December 2005] ]

In 1935, he was appointed president of Rensselaer. In 1943, he retired at the age of 65 but remained president emeritus. He died on June 20, 1954.

s-start s-aca s-bef|before=Fred W. McNair s-ttl|title=President of Michigan Technological University|years=1925 – 1935 s-aft|after=Grover C. Dillman s-bef|before=Palmer C. Ricketts s-ttl|title=President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute|years=1935 – 1943 s-aft|after=Livingston W. Houston end

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