The Faculty Portrait Series is a project taken on by the Alumni Executive Board to honor MUS faculty members that have given much of their lives in service to the school. With the many changes in the appearance of the campus, these portraits serve as a constant reminder to alumni, students, faculty, and friends that although the school may look different, it is the faculty that has always been the consistent and primary reason for MUS being the great school that it is. Each year, a new portrait will be unveiled at a reception, and the portrait hung in the Dining Hall.
To be considered for the Faculty Portrait Series, the following criteria must be met: The faculty member must be retired or deceased, he or she must have served MUS for a minimum of 15 years and left in good standing, and he or she may not be currently employed by MUS.
List of 20 news stories.
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Leigh W. MacQueen
Jamie McMahan, Portrait ArtistRead More
Citing his unparalleled contributions to the school and his legacy of educational excellence, the Alumni Executive Board voted Mr. Leigh W. MacQueen the subject for the inaugural portrait in 2005. MacQueen came to MUS in 1961 to teach science and direct the physical education program. In his 37 years at the school, he served as teacher, academic dean, Upper School principal, and associate headmaster. He designed the school seal and co-founded the Red and Blue Society. After officially retiring, MacQueen returned to organize and maintain the MUS Archives. -
John Murry Springfield
David Goatley, Portrait ArtistRead More
One of the most beloved figures in the history of MUS, John Murry Springfield taught math (among other courses) at MUS for 31 years, beginning in 1958. He conducted a seventh-grade choir and played the piano in daily chapel services and for yearly graduation exercises. An avid musician, he wrote the music for the MUS Alma Mater and collaborated on the MUS Fight Song. He was the chairman of the Fine Arts Department and, later, chairman of the Mathematics Department. In 1966, Colonel Lynn put him in charge of all MUS clubs with responsibilities for supervising activities and providing advisors. -
William R. Hatchett
Rich Nelson, Portrait ArtistRead More
The Alumni Executive Board honored William Hatchett in the 2007 installment of the Faculty Portrait Series. A beloved English teacher from 1957 to 1985, Hatchett was the first instructor to hold the school’s Sue Hightower Hyde Chair of English. He co-wrote the MUS Fight Song, instituted trips abroad for students for which he acted as a chaperone and tour guide for 14 summers, authored the first history of the school, and for years served as the school archivist. -
Jacob Courtnay Rudolph
William Benson, Portrait ArtistRead More
Coach Jake Rudolph’s portrait hangs in the Campus Center Dining Hall as the Alumni Executive Board’s selection for the 2008 faculty portrait. Rudolph’s impact on the school and on Shelby County football will not soon be forgotten. He retired from MUS in 1997 after 39 years and an overall record of 295-119-4, which included one state championship title, two state runner-up finishes, six regional titles, and ten district titles. Today, his record stands as the second highest number of career wins in Shelby County and the fifth highest number of career wins in Tennessee prep football. -
Betty Jo Higgs
Glenda Brown, Portrait ArtistRead More
The first woman to join the Memphis University school faculty, Betty Jo Higgs introduced thousands of boys to Latin and ancient Roman civilization, building a Latin program that had few peers in the nation. She was a formidable presence in the classroom at MUS for 27 years, and she provided leadership for the school as chair of the Foreign Languages Department for many years. -
Leslie C. "Skip" Daniel, Jr.
Kyle Keith, Portrait ArtistRead More
Skip Daniel's portrait now graces the Dining Hall. A Germantown native, he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Ole Miss. After working at Southern Bell Telephone Company, he came to MUS in 1967. Skip taught economics and geography, and coached eighth-grade football and basketball before he became business manager in 1970. He oversaw five expansion projects and a doubling of enrollment during his 30 years in this position. -
Michael R. Deaderick
Jennifer Welty, Portrait ArtistRead More
During his 21 years at the school, Michael Deaderick inspired a generation of students in his history classroom. He earned his bachelor's and master's in history from the University of Arkansas, and later worked on a Ph.D. at Louisiana State University. He joined the MUS faculty as chair of the History Department in 1970, held the Ross McCain Lynn Chair of History, and created many semester-length history courses covering Russian, Civil War, and Military History. -
H. Jerry Peters
Ellen Cooper, Portrait ArtistRead More
During Coach Jerry Peters legendary 52-year career, MUS basketball teams won more than 1,000 games and the 2007 state championship. The Alumni Executive Board honored Peters for these accomplishments and many more in the eighth installment of the Faculty Portrait Series. Peters came to MUS in 1960 and was named varsity basketball head coach in 1964. Peters also served as the varsity track and cross country coach from 1960-1978. In addition to coaching he was a full-time teacher of history, government, and international studies. -
John E. Harkins
Steve Moppert, Portrait ArtistRead More
Dr. John Harkins will always be associated with the history of Memphis University School, not only because he taught history here for 26 years and served as department chair for 19 years, but also because he produced the MUS Century Book (August House, 1993, 2002), telling the story of the school from its founding in 1893 through current times. Harkins, who serves as MUS archivist, held the endowed Ross M. Lynn Chair of History from 1992 until his retirement in 2009 and earned the school's Distinguished Teaching Award in 1996. -
James D. Russell
Jie Ruan, Portrait ArtistRead More
With his gentle and encouraging manner, English instructor Jim Russell offered inspiration and wisdom to hundreds upon hundreds of students for 48 years while also serving as a mentor to many a young faculty member. He earned his bachelor's degree from Tulane University and his master's degree from Vanderbilt University before joining the MUS faculty in 1965. He became chairman of the English Department in 1969, a position he held for the next 44 years. -
Andrew F. Saunders III
Sergei Chernikov, Portrait ArtistRead More
Many who encountered Andy Saunders’ prodigious talents considered him a Renaissance man. Equally skilled in front of and behind the Hyde Chapel curtain, he could act, sing, direct, and design and build sets. He also coached football and taught an eclectic array of subjects, including science, photography, mechanical drawing, religion, and astronomy. Saunders first came to MUS in 1968 as a theater graduate student to design the set for Charley’s Aunt. After serving in the Army, he joined the faculty in 1972. -
Terry N. Shelton
Chris Saper, Portrait ArtistRead More
The Alumni Executive Board honored Terry Shelton in the 2016 installment of the Faculty Portrait Series. Shelton joined the faculty of MUS in 1978 and retired in 2015. In his 38 years as an instructor in English he taught a variety of classes, including AP English, Twentieth Century Literature, Junior English Review, seventh- and eighth-grade vocabulary, and eighth-grade English. Shelton held the A. Robert Boelte, Jr. Chair of Excellence in Teaching and received other awards during his tenure, including the Presidential Scholars Distinguished Teaching Award in 1997 and the MUS Distinguished Teaching Award in 2006. -
Peter M. Bowman
Jeffrey Martin, Portrait ArtistRead More
The title of a 2017 Memphis College of Art retrospective on the late Peter Bowman, “Beloved, Quirky, and Covered in Paint,” aptly describes the unforgettable artist who taught at MUS for 29 years. A 1961 graduate of Corinth High School, Bowman went on to earn a bachelor of fine arts degree from Memphis Art Academy and a master’s degree from Montana State University. Arriving at MUS in 1979, he was already an accomplished artist with work on display in galleries. As the school’s lone art instructor during much of his tenure, he taught courses at all levels and worked with countless students in advanced, independent study. -
John F. Hiltonsmith
Bart Lindstrom, Portrait ArtistRead More
Students remember John Hiltonsmith for the love of music he instilled. Audiences at The Orpheum remember his artistry at the theater’s organ. Music professionals remember his technical skill at audio design and engineering and his ability to build, restore, and maintain pianos and organs. Friends and family remember a man of boundless energy who could deconstruct and reassemble a vintage car or a pipe organ. -
Reginald A. Dalle
Grace DeVito, Portrait ArtistRead More
Dr. Reginald Dalle taught French at MUS for 30 years, from 1981-2011, but he left lifelong impressions on students and faculty alike. In addition to teaching all levels of the language and serving as an ambassador of French culture, Dalle coached junior varsity soccer, advised the French Club, and chaperoned trips to Latin tournaments, Model U.N., and Youth Legislature. He served as the chairman of the Foreign Language Department from 1992-2009 and received the 1999 Distinguished Teaching Award. -
M. Vincent Mutzi
Fielding Archer, Portrait ArtistRead More
Growing up in an Italian-American family, Vince Mutzi had bilingual beginnings. He added a third language by earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Spanish from the University of Mississippi and completing graduate work at the Instituto de Monterrey, Mexico. Coming to MUS from Georgia Southern University in 1970, he helped usher the Language Department into a new age of technology, as it gradually evolved from cassette tapes to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. A passionate and dedicated teacher for 38 years, he taught three levels of Spanish, and his classes quickly filled. William Ruleman ’75 knows why: “Three years under Mr. Mutzi enriched my love and grasp of language in general.” -
William S. Taylor
Dawn Whitelaw, Portrait ArtistRead More
When Harold Adams Sparr graduated from MUS in 1912, he surely could not have imagined that grandson Bill Taylor would join the faculty in 1976, become the Ruth McCaughan Morrison Chair of Science, and coach one of the winningest tennis programs in Tennessee history. All of this would come after “Coach T.” had teamed up with the headmaster, Col. Ross Lynn, for a doubles match victory. -
A. Robert Boelte, Jr.
Linda Tracey Brandon, Portrait ArtistRead More
Bob Boelte (1937-2015) held administrative roles for a quarter century, but students in his English and history classes remember the passion and excitement for learning he instilled. -
Richard C. Broer
Carter Laney, Portrait ArtistRead More
Rick Broer brought wisdom, concern, and camaraderie to his role as teacher and administrator over 22 years at MUS. With a calm, level-headed approach, he emphasized scholarship and accountability as he challenged students to fulfill their potential. -
Richard E. Batey
Katherine Buchanan, Portrait ArtistRead More
It was the fall of 1991 when Casey Nolan ’93 first heard “Champions of Character,” Coach Eddie Batey’s charge to his cross-country runners. For Nolan and his teammates, it was more than a catchphrase – it was an ideal they incorporated into eight-mile training runs and sweltering races. Their adherence to the principle paid off in back-to-back state championships that year and the next.
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