Guy Potter Benton
Guy Potter Benton was born in Kenton, Ohio on May 26, 1865.
He received his A.B. degree from Baker University and his A.M. degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. At Ohio Wesleyan University he was a part of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, of which he was president from 1912-1914. He was also a part of the fraternities, Phi Beta Kappa, and Tau Kappa Alpha. In addition, he also studied at the University of Wooster and in Berlin. Dr. Benton was president of the University of Vermont, and while there, was active in religious work, both local and state-wide. For a number of years, he taught men's Bible class at the Methodist Episcopal Church. When the United States joined WWI, he was granted leave of absence from his duties to join the service. He was part of the Young Men's Christian Association in France. Dr. Benton was awarded the distinguished service medal by the president of the United States for war service in April 1920. He was president of the University of the Philippines from 1921-1925. When he was President of Miami University (1902-1911), he helped to co-found the Delta Zeta sorority in 1902. He was named Grand Patron and is the only man ever permitted to wear the Delta Zeta member badge. Dr. Benton married Dollar Konantz on September 4, 1889, and had two children. He died in Minneapolis, Minn on June 28, 1927. |
Compiled by the 2018 Historian, Amanda Hays '20.