Hiram Abiff Boaz (1866–1962) was the President of Polytechnic College (now Texas Wesleyan University) from 1902 to 1911, and of Southern Methodist University from 1920 to 1922.[1][2] He then became an American bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.[1]
Early life and education
Hiram Abiff Boaz was born in Murray, Kentucky, on December 18, 1866.[1][2] He graduated from the Sam Houston Normal Institute in 1887, and Southwestern University, from which he received a B.S. in 1893 and an M.A. in 1894.[1][2] In 1894, he married Carrie Browne, daughter of a Methodist preacher. They met while both were attending Sam Houston Normal School; the couple later had three daughters. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order.[2] He became a Methodist pastor and served in Fort Worth, Abilene, and Dublin.[1][2]
Academic career
From 1902 to 1911, Boaz served as the president of Polytechnic College in Fort Worth, Texas.[1][2] In 1911, he briefly became the first vice-president of Southern Methodist University before returning to Polytechnic College for five more years.[1][2] From 1918 to 1920, he served as the secretary of the Methodist Board of Church Extension in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] From 1920 to 1922, he served as the second president of Southern Methodist University.[1]
In 1922, Boaz became a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.[1] He served in the Far East, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico.[1] He retired in 1938, and became a trustee of Southern Methodist University and Southwestern University.[1]
Personal life
Boaz was a freemason and later affiliated his masonic membership to Hillcrest Lodge, which at that time was located on Hillcrest Avenue across the street from SMU.[3]
