Dr. Stuart Chilton, Sr.

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(May 27, 1927 – October 18, 2015)

STEPHENVILLE – Services for Dr. Stuart Chilton Sr., retired educator/journalist, will be on Tuesday October 20, 2015 at 2 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm until 7:30 pm Monday at Stephenville Funeral Home. The long-time Stephenville resident died Sunday at 5:30 am at Scott and White Hospital in Temple while undergoing treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Dr. Chilton played a pivotal role in Tarleton State College (now Tarleton State University) becoming a state-supported, four-year college. Until 1959, Tarleton State had been a fully-state supported junior college in the Texas A&M College System. As a four-year college, Tarleton remained a part of the Texas A&M College System. He accompanied then Tarleton President E. J. Howell to Austin on many trips in behalf of Tarleton’s efforts to become a senior college in 1955, 1957, and 1959.
He frequently commented, “The year, 1959, was one of the most significant years in the history of Tarleton and Stephenville. We finally overcame many of the disappointments we experienced in 1955 and 1957 with the Texas Legislature, especially in the State Senate. It took team work and dedication on the part of many citizens of Stephenville and over the entire state to gain the four-year college status for Tarleton. The growth of our local university and this community is due in large part to Tarleton advancing from a junior college to a four-year college with graduate programs.” In 1962, upon Dr. Chilton’s insistence and direction, a degree in elementary education was added, which today is one of the largest Tarleton degree programs.
The former Tarleton dean was born May 27, 1927, in Marlin (Falls County). His parents were Albert and Ethel Stuart Chilton, both members of pioneer families in Falls County.
He graduated from Marlin High School in May, 1944. A veteran of World War II, Dr. Chilton volunteered at the age of 17 for service in the United States Navy. Upon his honorable discharge in August, 1946, he enrolled at Baylor University the following month, pursuing a major in journalism and minors in English and history. Dr. Chilton was an active participant in various campus activities including serving as president of his senior class. He graduated in May, 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He immediately went to work for The Texarkana Gazette and Daily News. In September, 1950, he began teaching journalism, English, and history at Falfurrias High School in the Brooks County ISD. He also served as the faculty advisor for the student newspaper and yearbook. The following fall he met Ann Negy, who had come to Falfurrias to teach home economics. The couple were married on December 27, 1951, at the Little Chapel in the Woods on the campus of Texas Woman’s University in Denton. This marriage lasted almost 53 years until Mrs. Chilton’s death on May 28, 2004.
In September, 1952, Dr. Chilton accepted a teaching position at Abilene High School. He taught journalism and English and sponsored the student newspaper. He also worked as a reporter on The Abilene Reporter News. While in Abilene, a son, Brad, was born to this union. Just prior to moving to Stephenville in late August, 1954, Dr. Chilton completed the master’s degree at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.
On September 1, 1954, he became director of public information and assistant professor of journalism at then Tarleton State College.
Dr. Chilton was named Registrar and Dean of Students at Tarleton on August 1, 1957. He remained in this position until November 1, 1964, when the duties were divided into two positions – dean of student personnel services and registrar. Enrollment growth dictated that the position be separated into these two distinct jobs. Dr. Chilton was promoted to the new dean’s position. Under this new arrangement, the registrar, dean of men , dean of women, director of the Tarleton Student Center, director of student job placement, campus security, student health services and other student-life activities, including housing on and off-campus reported to Dr. Chilton. Just prior to this administrative change, Dr. Chilton received the doctorate in May, 1964 from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) at Denton. He became the first individual in the central administration at Tarleton to hold the doctorate.
The family departed Stephenville on August 31, 1966, for Commerce, where Dr. Chilton accepted a professorship in the department of educational administration at the East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce).
During his tenure at ETSU, he was the major advisor for 35 completed doctoral dissertations and served as a minor advisor or member on numerous doctoral and master degree committees. He was the first faculty member to serve as president of the ETSU Faculty Senate, 1975-1976.
While in Commerce, Dr. Chilton was a member of numerous boards, including Chairman of the Administrative Board of the First United Methodist Church in Commerce, 1990-1992. He taught the Dough Rollins Sunday School class at the church for 26 years, 1966-1992. He also served on the Board of Directors for three banks – First National Bank, Commerce; United Bankers, Waco; and Bank One, Greenville-Commerce Branch.
In 1978, he began writing a weekly column for The Commerce Journal. The column was entitled, “Commerce Corner,” and the column was written for 18 years. Then when he and Mrs. Chilton returned to Stephenville in 1996, he began writing a weekly column for The Stephenville Empire-Tribune. This column was continued until February, 2015. He used the pen name of “Ye Old Columnist (YOC).”
After teaching and serving in various administrative positions for 34 years, Dr. Chilton opted to take an early retirement in 1984. That same year, the ETSU’s Board of Regents conferred upon him the title, “Professor Emeritus of Educational Administration.”
His retired years found him devoting time to family business interests and writing. At Baylor University, he was most active in the Baylor Alumni Association.
Dr. Chilton was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Stephenville, a member of the Stephenville Masonic Lodge, a 32nd degree Mason in the Scottish Rite, and a member of Hella Shrine in Dallas. He also held memberships in the Stephenville Lions Club and the American Legion. He maintained affiliations in Sigma Delta Chi, national honorary journalism fraternity; and Phi Delta Kappa, national honorary fraternity in education.
After a 30-year absence, Dr. and Mrs. Chilton returned to live in Stephenville in July, 1996. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December, 2001.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Brad Chilton and his wife Caryl of Stephenville; a grandson, Stuart III and his wife Lauren Oxford of Keller; a sister, Mrs. Ethel Chilton Rentfro of Belton; two nieces and four nephews.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Stephenville or the Ann and Stuart Chilton endowed Scholarship Fund, Development Office, Texas A&M University-Commerce, TX 75429.