Following the resignation of President Baker, Hutchison was unanimously elected the seventh president of Washington & Jefferson College on November 13, 1931; he was inaugurated on April 2, 1932, making him at 34 years old one of the youngest college presidents in the county.[3][4] Following the contentious tenure of President Baker, Time Magazine noted that Hutchison "pleased nearly everyone."[4] Hutchison, in his inaugural address, spoke out against the "false, materialistic doctrine" of going to college "because it pays."[4] Instead, he encouraged students to appreciate the oldtime college education, which was "inviting only to those who did not set profit or wealth as their main objectives in life."[4]
In an effort to strengthen the college's science department, Hutchison extended and expanded the southern portion of the campus, between East Wheeling and East Maiden Street.[3] This included the construction of the Jesse W. Lazear Chemistry Building and the final absorption of The Seminary.[3] The main seminary building was purchased, renovated, and re-dedicated as McIlvaine Hall.[3] The John L. Stewart Memorial bell tower was added to McIlvaine Hall.[3] The Reed residence on Maiden Street was purchased for use as a dormitory.[3] The old Seminary dormitory facing East Maiden Street was razed to make more open space.[3] Finally, the campus was re-oriented so the main entrance faced East Maiden Street, to allow tourists on U.S. Route 40 to see the college. The expanded campus was dedicated on October 26, 1940.[3] In 1943, Hutchison was appointed Director of Civilian Defense for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a cabinet-level position, by GovernorEdward Martin for the duration of the war.[3] He also served as director of the Pennsylvania United War Fund Program.[3] President Hutchison resigned May 7, 1945.[3]
Presidency of Lafayette College
Hutchison served as president of Lafayette College, his alma mater from 1945 to 1957.[5]
President of Lafayette College since 1945, Hutchison had conferred an honorary degree on Eisenhower after World War II and maintained a friendship with the General (Galambos, Chief of Staff, nos. 722, 1179). In 1949 Eisenhower had recommended him as a civilian member of the U.S. Air Force Academy planning board (Galambos, Columbia University, no. 322). He had visited Eisenhower the morning of February 26.[6]
Death
At the time of his death on March 15, 1966, he was president and executive director of Studies in Higher Education, a Philadelphia-based colleges and universities research firm.[1][3]
^Gendebein, Albert W. (1986). The Biography of a College: Being the History of the Third Half-Century of Lafayette College. Easton, Pennsylvania: Lafayette College. p. 643. ISBN99964-823-2-4.
