Henry G. Bennett

Henry G. Bennett (December 14, 1886 – December 22, 1951) was a prominent educational figure in Oklahoma. He served as the president of both Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma State University. He was appointed by President Harry S. Truman as the first director of the Point Four Program, a technical assistance program for developing nations.

Early life and education Henry Garland Bennett was born in Nevada County, Arkansas on December 14, 1886, to Baptist preacher Thomas Jefferson and Mary Elizabeth Bright Bennett. He had three sisters. Although his family moved to Texas before he was one year old, he returned to Arkadelphia, Arkansas before school age. Bennett attended Ouachita Baptist College and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1907.

Career After earning his bachelor's, he accepted a position at a business college in Texarkana, Arkansas. He eventually quit to become a textbook salesman, and in 1906, he moved to Boswell, Oklahoma to become a teacher. He became a superintendent of Choctaw County in 1909 and a superintendent of Hugo Public schools in 1910.

Southeastern Oklahoma State presidency He remained as superintendent of Hugo schools until 1919 when he accepted a presidency offer from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Under his presidency, the university expanded from a campus with one main building to one with four education buildings, a gymnasium, and a library; enrollment also tripled from 1921 to 1928.

Death Bennett died in a plane crash near Tehran, Iran, while serving on an official visit to discuss U.S. technical aid with Iranian officials. His wife was also with him and was killed in the crash. Bennett was returning to a student event at Oklahoma State University. Secretary of State Dean Acheson spoke at a memorial event in Washington D.C for Bennett. He was interred at Highland Cemetery, Durant, Oklahoma. The Bennett Memorial Chapel at Oklahoma State University serves as a memorial to Bennett and his wife, and to the students of Oklahoma A&M College who were killed in World War I and World War II.