John Grant Newman 1908-1912

The first man to become Western College’s president, John Grant Newman was born in 1863 in Tennessee. He was a Presbyterian Minister having received his training at the Union Theological Seminary in Union, New York. Newman was president from 1908 until 1912 when he realized he was happier as a minister in a church. After resigning from Western College, he became pastor of the Chambers Wylie Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia; in 1939 he became pastor emeritus. He passed away in 1956 at the age of 93. During his presidency academic standards were raised and the yearbook “Multifaria” was first published. The first issue of “Multifaria” was dedicated to President Newman.