The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-12
DR.. R. ]. Alley RESIGNS AS
BUTLER University HEAD.
WILL Write AND TRAVEL
Named President Emeritus:
Served School Here
for Ten Years.
BOARD HIGHLY PRAISED
Educator Will End Duties
on July |; Wants Time
to Play

DR.. Robert ]. Alley, presi-
dent of Butler university for
ten years, today relinquished
his post, in a written resigna-
ton to the board of directors
of the university.
The directors, meeting this after
noon, accepted DR.. Alleys resigna-
ton, effective, July /, and named
him president emeritus of the in
Stitution.
DR.. Alleys resignation stated that
he has been active in educational
work for the last fifty-two years. He
passed his 68th birthday anniversary
Monday He said he wants an OPP
pOrtunity to write, travel and
play"
Predicts Great Future
In his statement to the board,
DR.. Alley praised highly the growth
of the university and predicted it
would continue to enlarge and there
would be great things in the days
ahead"
Hilton U. Brown, chairman of the
board, who accepted Alleys resig-
nation, lauded Alley and the edu-
cational work he has accomplished
in his ten years as head Of the In
dianapolis university
A committee of board members to
seek Immediately a successor to Alley
also was named. Board members
said they will accept an offer of
DR.. and Mrs. Alley that they take
over his home at $40 Hampden drive
as a permanent residence for the
active president of the school.
In the ten years I have spent
at Butler university, because of the
hard work Of the devoted board of
directors, and the splendid cooper
alton Of an unusually strong faculty,
the institution has prospered," de-
clared DR.. Alley.
Builds on Noble Past
"The new home at Fairview fur
nishes facilities and opportunities
unsurpassed. Butler is experience
ing a sound and sane development.
Her future is bright with promise,
for she builds on a noble past and
a sanely, active present. I wish to
remain until July l, the end of the
fiscal year. This will include COM
mencement and graduation of a
large class of men and women.
I have enjoyed greatly working
with the Butler board members.
Their devotion to the interests Of
the university, and their untiring
efforts in meeting its rapidly grow
ing requirements, are most COM
mendable. doubt if any board,
anywhere, has more devoted mem
bers. With such a board Butler
must continue to prosper and meet,
in full measure, its obligations to
the public
Alley was born in Coal City, Ind,
May II, 1863, and began his educa-
tional career as schoolmaster of
country schools near there. From
principalship Of Spencer high school,
in 1887, he went to Indiana univer-
sity as professor of mathematics,
and later was an instructor in Vim
cennes university.
State Head of Education
He was state superintendent of
public instruction in 1909 and 1910,
and subsequently became president
Of the University of Maine. Leaving
that institution in 1912, he became
president of Butler.
Alley took his bachelor Of science
degree from Valparaiso university,
and his bachelor of arts and master
Of arts degrees at Indiana uni
yersity. He was an assistant in
structor at Stanford in 1894 and
1895, and received doctor of laws
degrees from Franklin college and
the University of Pennsylvania.
He is married and has one son,
Maxwell.
Written Text Books
His writing carried him to the
mathematics editors chair of the
Inland Educator, and to the edi-
torship of the Educator journal. He
has written several text books and
treatiSes on mathematics, and COL
Elaborated with Max Alley to write
"A Story Of Indiana"
DR.. Alley was president Of the Ma
tional Education Association in
1916-1917, and belonged to several
other educational organizations.
He is a member of Phi Beta
Kappa, Sigma Xxi, Phi Kappa Phi,
Phi Delta Kappa fraternitieS, a
thirty-third degree Mason and a
member of the Disciples Of Christ
church.