Franklin B. Gault

Gault, a mathematician, earned his BS, Master of Science, and Master of Arts degrees from Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa.   He received an honorary doctorate form Wooster University in Ohio. Prior to coming to USD, Gault had extensive experience in public schools and was president of two institutions, the State University of Idaho and Whitworth College in Tacoma, Washington.  Gault had been president at Whitworth College for seven years when he accepted the presidency at USD.   During his administration, the scope of the university expanded through the establishment of a College of Medicine, and the emergence of the College of Engineering, and three new buildings were added to the physical plant.  Although diligent and conscientious in his duties, Gault was not a dynamic personality that students or faculty gravitated toward.  He announced his resignation in May 1913 due to increasing factionalism among faculty and staff.  He returned to Washington where he taught high school math until his death on March 16, 1918.