Preceded by James A. Beaver Name Edwin Sparks | Succeeded by John Martin Thomas | |
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Alma mater Ohio State University
University of Chicago Died June 15, 1924, State College, Pennsylvania, United States Books The Men who Made the Nation: An Outline of United States History from 1760 to 1865 Education Ohio State University, University of Chicago, Harvard University | ||
Mr. and Mrs. Polk’s War: A Presidential Partnership for Texas and Manifest Destiny
Edwin Erle Sparks (July 16, 1860 – June 15, 1924) was the eighth president of the Pennsylvania State University, serving from 1908 until 1920.
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Biography
Sparks was born in Newark, Ohio on July 16, 1860. After high school, he attended Ohio Wesleyan University for two years and the Ohio State University, Class of 1884. He was a Phi Beta Kappa, and received his M.A. from Harvard University, his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and his LL.D. from Lehigh University. He married Katherine Bullard Cotton on January 1, 1890.
Sparks became a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity at Ohio Weslayen and a founder and charter member of the Iota chapter at the Ohio State University. He served as the Grand Gamma (National Secretary) of the Fraternity and was also instrumental in bringing Chi Phi to Penn State just before his death in 1924. In his memory, Chi Phi established the Sparks Memorial Medal, presented to the undergraduate member in each chapter who had, during the preceding year, the highest grade point average.