Joel Sutton Kendall

Joel Sutton Kendall (November 4, 1849 – October 7, 1906) was an American educator and university president. He was the first president of North Texas Normal College, now the University of North Texas. He also served two terms as the Texas Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Early life Kendall was born in Wilkes County, Georgia on November 4, 1849. His father was Reuben Kendall. He attended local school and graduated from high school in Jonesboro, Georgia. He was also editor of the campus magazine.

In 1896, Kendall announced he was running for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of Texas as a Democrat. He ran again in 1898, receiving the endorsement of publications such as The Waco Times-Herald. He was elected the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Texas in 1898 and again in 1900. In this position, he oversaw a system that taught 700,000 students with a budget of more than $4 million ($ in 2023 money). He resigned from the position of superintendent as of July 1, 1901. In addition to overseeing the college, he was instrumental in securing additional state funding for new facilities and better sanitation in Denton. In 1906, the college's first yearbook was dedicated to Kendall.

Personal life On September 7, 1876, Kendall married Ellen Woodson of Honey Grove, Texas.

He was a founding member of the Texas chapter of the University of Virginia Alumni Association.

Kendall died from a tuberculosis hemorrhage at his home in Denton, Texas, on October 7, 1906.