Sandford Sellers, Jr.

Sandford Sellers, Jr. (February 5, 1892 - January 27, 1982), was the third Superintendent of Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, Missouri, serving from 1923 to 1933.

Sandford Sellers, Jr. was born on the campus of Wentworth Military Academy on February 5, 1892. He graduated from Wentworth in 1908, then entered the University of Chicago. While at Chicago, he as an all-conference guard for Amos Alonzo Stagg’s powerhouse football team, was a member of the basketball team, played trombone in the University band, and won the Stagg Interscholastic Tennis Tournament. He was elected to all four class honor societies and was elected as University Marshall for his senior class. He also was a member of Beta Theta Pi. He graduated in 1913.

Upon his graduation, he returned to Wentworth. From 1914 to 1916, he taught math and science, coached football, basketball and track, and was athletic director and assistant commandant. He was serving as commandant of the school when World War I broke out. He attended Officer Training School at Fort Riley, Kansas and became a Captain in the United States Infantry. From 1917 to 1918, he served as company commander of the 342nd Machine Gun Battalion in the 89th Division, and participated in the Toul Defensive and the St. Mihiel Offensive. At the end of the war, he returned to Wentworth and served as Associate Superintendent until 1923, when he succeeded his father, Sandford Sellers, as Superintendent. He served as Superintendent until 1933, when he was succeeded by his younger brother, James M. Sellers.

In 1934, he received a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, then served as education advisor for the 6th U.S. Army Corps from 1934-1942. He served on the National Safety Council from 1942 to 1943, as headmaster of the Elgin Academy from 1943 to 1945, as superintendent of Morgan Park Military Academy from 1945 to 1949, and as Director of Education for the 4th U.S. Army Corps in San Antonio, Texas from 1950 to 1962. Sandford Sellers, Jr., died on January 27, 1982 in Lake Wales, Florida. He was buried in Macpelah Cemetery in Lexington, Missouri.

References

* The Story of Wentworth, by Raymond W. Settle, 1950, Spencer Printing Co., Kansas City.
* History of Wentworth Military Academy, by James M. Sellers, Jr., 1984.
* Wentworth Trumpeter, 1893-2007.
* Wentworth Military Academy, 125th Anniversary. Lil Touch Publishing. 2005.