Brigham Young University - Banyan Yearbook (Provo, UT)

Page 24 text:

Earl C. Crockett, acting president of Brigham Young University, was installed as such by the General Authorities when former President Ernest L. Wilkinson resigned in January. There is a pleasant, courteous calm about President Crockett ' s office that somehow belies the organizational problems that he must encounter in the machinery of running a university. With a background in education, having been on the faculty of and chairman of the economics department of the University of Colorado, President Crockett came to his work at Brigham Young capable of meeting people and meeting problems. Pres- ident Crockett ' s devoted leadership continued as it did under the previous administration with an emphasis on effective usage of university faculty and facilities. BYU was already far ahead of other schools in many of these aspects. It utilized more space than ninety per cent of other universities, and if the Church gatherings were counted as well as school functions, one hundred and five per cent-comparatively speaking-of the space would be used. President Crockett, as a capable unifying force is felt throughout the university in the people to people contact made in faculty meetings, assemblies, and wards and stake organizations. Ben E. Lewis Vice President, Auxiliary Services William E. Berrett Vice President, Seminaries and Institutes University Administration

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The Wilkinson Era The man whose visions became realities at Brigham Young University was Dr. Ernest L. Wilkinson. Chancellor of the Uni- fied Church School System and president of Brigham Young from 1951 to 1963, he was responsible for the growth of this university to the largest in the state. This man who led BYU to its present size and stature remains somewhat of a con- troversy in the minds of those who were under his leadership. The analytical mind of a builder which dominated President Wilkinson ' s administration sparked the frequent critical dis- cussion of him. He became a legend during his own adminis- tration. However, faculty growth and a greater stress on academic excellence were not overshadowed by the bricks and mortar of the mushrooming physical facilities. President Wilkinson was not a figurehead. He seemed to be every- where at once with his questions and suggestions flowing daily from his desk to every part of the campus. His resig- nation as president took place near the end of the first semester. Yet his life of service to the public was far from over in that he chose to pursue a political career.

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An additional change that took place with the resignation of President Ernest L. Wilkinson was the splitting of the presidency of the university and the chancellorship of the Unified Church School System. The General Authorities appo inted former vice-president Harvey L. Taylor as acting Chancellor of the Unified Church School System. As such he is con- cerned with 127,000 students involved in the system, 81,000 of these being part time students involved in institutes of religion connected with colleges and universities and high school seminaries. The rest of the students are in church schools in both the United States and Mexico. President Taylor loves his work, and fittingly enough, those involved with the work love him. His long hours of work and concern for the best way to do his work are gratifyingly rewarded to both him and those students to whom he is so close. His office door is always opening to someone who needs the help he generously gives. His position takes him traveling to visit the schools that are growing rapidly even as the Church itself grows. Yet even with these travels, President Taylor always re- turns to BYU with the love and friendship he finds throughout the Church, focused in intensity here at the university. Joseph T. Bentley Comptroller