“There were giants in the earth in those days.”
Thomas W. Haught, in his book, West Virginia Wesleyan College: First 50 Years, 1890-1940, had that to say about those who were in leadership positions on the very first day (September 3, 1890). Quoting Genesis 6:4 seems very appropriate.
Today, I am focusing on one of these Giants — Frank B. Trotter. He was a major factor in the early success of the college.
Frank Trotter, born February 27, 1863, was only 27 years old on that opening day. He thought back to that time in an article, entitled Our First Years, which he wrote for the 1904 Murmurmontis. You can read the entire article here.
These were trying times compared with the present. Our equipment consisted of the main building, furnished with one piano, one organ, and about three hundred chairs. No window blinds, no office furniture, no carpet for rostrum or office, no library, no apparatus of any kind in the class rooms, no accomoations for the literary societies except the bare halls, and above all no money. But happily the teachers were ambitious to make the new work succeed; the students were patient and industrious, and the town people expecially kind and helpful. With perserverance the work was carried on, and before many months things assumed a better shape.
p.s. Frank B. Trotter is also the one who is credited with suggesting that the yearbook be called Murmurmontis, which means Voice of the Mountain in Latin.
Growth Years in Buckhannon
From 1890 to 1907, Frank B. Trotter continued to lead and to grow. Highlights of these years include:
- He continued his education with masters studies at Harvard University
- 1894 he became Vice President of the West Virginia Conference Seminary
- 1895 he married Lillian Steele. Lillian’s father, Rev. Samuel Steele had played an active role on the Conference committees leading up to the founding of the Seminary. The service was conducted by President Bennett Hutchinson.
- 1896 – Sister, Jessie Trotter, graduated from the Seminary. She then taught at the school from 1896-1911. She was so well-respected that she became the first woman to have a class named in her honor (1907).
- 1898 – Frank B. Trotter served as the Interim President of the College before President Simon Boyles arrived.
- 1905 – He was in charge on the day that the Seminary Building burned down as President Wier was in Charleston for some meetings. Frank Trotter wrote an article about it for the Pharos in the days following the fire. Through his account, we know much of what we know about that event. The article was titled Our Calamity. You can read the article here.
The alarm was at once given and classes were dismissed in a very orderly manner, there being about two hundred students at work at the time in the building. Everybody did all that was possible, but very little could be done on account of the impossibility of reaching the seat of the flames. The town fire company respondedd immediately and fought bravely, but to other hindrances was added that of frozen hose as the weather was intensely cold.
And much credit was given to students, fire company, citizens of Buckhannon.
Al the students in school deserve credit for their orderly conduct and good behavior, and our thanks are due to them, and to the fire company and to all the citizes who so kindly ame to our aid; also to all the pastors who so generously offered the use of their churches and their own services as teacheers if needed.
Frank Trotter served on the committee to rebuild, and thus had input on the building that we now know as the Lynch-Raine Administration Building. The work progressed quickly, as that building opened in 1906.
1907 and Beyond
In 1907, Frank B. Trotter resigned from Wesleyan to accept a position as the first professor of Latin at West Virginia University.
- In 1908, Frank’s brother, John Russell Trotter, joined the faculty as well, and taught in the School of Law.
- In 1910, Frank and John Russell were charter members of the WVU Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
- In 1911, Frank B. Trotter was named Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.
- In 1914, he was named Interim President of West Virginia University. He was called upon to lead West Virginia University through the difficult days of World War I.
- Also in 1914, West Virginia Wesleyan College honored Frank B. Trotter with a Doctor of Laws degree.
1916
1916 is the year that Frank Butler Trotter became President of West Virginia University, a position that he held until his retirement in 1928. That year, he retired from the presidency, but continued to teach Latin.
Dr. Trotter is a native of Ohio, but came to Preston County, this state, early in youth. As a young man he taught in the country and town schools. He is a graduate of Roanoke College, and later took his other degrees at Harvard University. He was Professor of Latin at West Virginia Wesleyan College before coming to the University as Professor of Latin in 1907. In 1911, he was made Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and became Acting President of the University in 1914. Dr. Trotter is an energetic administrator of the University affairs, and has a broad view of the scope of its activities.” (Monticola 1917)
His administration had a great impact on many things that have shaped the WVU that we see even today. For example:
- 1916 Harry Stansbury (WVWC class of 1916) was appointed Athletic Director at West Virginia University. He continued to serve in that position until 1937.
- 1925 The Old Mountaineer Field was completed. The first game played on that field was between WVU and WVWC with WVU coming out victorious 21-6.
- 1925 Frank Trotter moved to settle a dispute between the ROTC Band (started in 1901) and the Rebel Band (11 non-ROTC musicians). He had the Rebel Band to become an official university organization, and two years later the University Band that we know so well today was born by combining the two grous. (History–WVU Bands)
- 1926 West Virginia University joined the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities. President Trotter was adamant about academic standards of excellence.
- 1927 Clay Crouse was designated as a Mountaineer. It was not until the mid 1930s that this became an organized tradition at the university.
Strong Connections Remained
On the occasion of the West Virginia Wesleyan College’s 50 Year Celebration, Frank Trotter was invited to give the opening address at Founders Day on Setember 22, 1939.
He died six months after this talk, on March 7, 1940.
His wife, Lillian, died only two days later on March 9, 1940. A double funeral was held for them. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. W. Sproule Boyd (WVWC 1922), their pastor. The address was given by Rev. Joseph C. Hoffman (WVWC 1921) who was pastor of Christ Methodist Church in Charleston, WV.
Assisting in the funeral was Dr. Bennett W. Hutchinson, who had married them almost a half century before. The same Dr. Hutchinson who had brought Frank B. Trotter to Buckhannon in 1890.
Well done, Frank B. Trotter (Summa Cum Laude.)
5. Lois Murrel McCloskey (Home Economics 1922-29)
Rachel Ogden arrived on Wesleyan’s campus on February 1, 1926 to become the Dean of Women. She had heard of the wonderful leadership among women on this campus when she was a student at Allegheny College. While doing her graduate work at Columbia University, she had met alumni and faculty members from here. She admired the work of the previous Dean of Women, 
