William J. Hale

William Jasper Hale (September 26, 1874 – October 5, 1944) was an American academic administrator. He was the first president of Tennessee State University, a historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee, from 1912 to 1943. Early life Hale was born in rural poverty in Marion County, Tennessee, on September 26, 1874. He was of mixed race, and was often mistaken for white. Hale attended Maryville College for several terms. Career Hale was a teacher in Coulterville, Retro and Chattanooga. From 1912 to 1943, he served as the founding president of Tennessee State University, a historically black university in Nashville, Tennessee. Thanks to his efforts, TSU was accredited in 1933. Hale expanded the campus, with the completion of six more buildings by 1935. He was succeeded as president by Walter S. Davis in 1943. He fundraised $40,000 for the War savings stamps of the United States.