Published: March 9, 2000
Biography
DR. WILLIAM P. HYTCHE
Dr. William P. Hytche retired in January 1997 as President of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore after serving 211/2 years. He was born in Porter, Oklahoma, and educated in the public schools of Fort Gibson and Tullahassee, Oklahoma. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Langston University and his Master of Science and Doctor of Education degrees from Oklahoma State University. He has also studied at Oklahoma University, Oberlin College (Ohio), the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and University of Heidelberg (Germany).
He came to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, then known as Maryland State College, in 1960 after having taught in the public schools of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State University. After coming to UMES, he served as an instructor of mathematics, Chairman of the Department of Mathematics, Dean of Student Affairs, and Chairman of the Division of Liberal Studies. He was appointed Acting Chancellor of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in July 1975 and was given a permanent appointment in June 1976. The title was subsequently changed to President.
Dr. Hytche was appointed by President Bush and served on the President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He was also appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture as co-chair of the USDA/1890 Task Force. In addition, he provided leadership for the 1890 Universities when he was Chair of the Council of 1890 Presidents/Chancellors from 1985 -1990. Dr. Hytche also holds, or has held, memberships in numerous organizations, among which are National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (immediate past secretary of the board), National Aquarium Advisory Board, Agribusiness Promotion Council, Department of Energy's Historically Black Colleges and Universities' Task Group, Federal Aviation Administration/Airway Science Task Force, Peninsula Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, Del -Mar -Va Advisory Council, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Phi Sigma Society, Phi Delta Kappa, and Phi Kappa Phi.
Additionally, Dr. Hytche is the recipient of numerous honors and awards. These awards include listings in the Personalities of the South, Outstanding Educators of America, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the East, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who Among Black Americans, Academy of Arts and Sciences Fellow (Oklahoma State University, 1978); and he was selected as the recipient of The Thurgood Marshall Educational Achievement Award for 1992 (sponsored by Johnson Publishing Company, Inc.). He was also honored by induction into the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association Hall of Fame in January 1993. In 1994 Dr. Hytche received the George Washington Carver Public Service Hall of Fame Award from Tuskegee University. Fisk University (Tennessee), Washington College (Maryland), University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Tuskegee University all bestowed upon him honorary doctorate degrees.
Dr. Hytche's published articles include "Information Technology and the 1890 Land -Grant Colleges and Universities, Journal of Agricultural & Food Information., 1993; chapter in book, A Century of Service, Land -Grant Colleges and Universities, 1890 -1990, 1992; article entitled, "Historically Black Institutions Forge Linkages with African Nations" in Educational Record, Spring 1990; and 1989 Justin Smith Morrill Memorial Lecture, A National Resource -A National Challenge, The 1890 Land -Grant Colleges and Universities, 1989. His most recent publication came off the press on September 14, 1999. His book is entitled Step By Step To The Top and subtitled The Saga of a President of a Historically Black University.
Dr. Hytche has traveled extensively throughout Africa and Asia. In 1998, he led a delegation of ten college presidents who observed the voting process in a national election in Nigeria. The trip was sponsored by an organization known as Americans for Democracy in Africa. Also, Dr. Hytche served as a Senior Associate for the American Council for Higher Education.
Dr. Hytche and his wife, the former Deloris Juanita Cole, have three children: Pamelia, Jaqueta, and William Jr., and four grandchildren, William III, J'Naudia, Jamison, and Devlin.
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