Mercer University and its Acting President W. H. Kilpatrick

William Heard Kilpatrick, Acting President 1903-1905

• Educator, author (1871-1965); A.B., A.M., Ph.D., LL.D. degrees; married to Mary Beman Guyton (1898), Margaret Marigault Pinckney (1908), and Marion Y. Ostrander (1940)
• Served as acting president while teaching mathematics from 1897-1906
• Stated at Charles Lee Smith's inauguration: "There is now at Mercer University an ideality, a spiritual force which takes such strong hold of the students as to make them feel forever indebted to the college for the best single thing in their lives....Our work, then, is to preserve this inheritance."

Mercerian, "Editorial Views — Our President's Home-coming," December 1903:

The president's entire duties, however, are not yet to be taken up. Part of the work will remain in the hands of Vice-President Kilpatrick, who, with the excellent cooperation of the other members of the faculty, has been the faithful leader for the students and the ready promoter of every business interest of the institution during Dr. Pollock's absence.

Mercerian, "Editorial Views — Commencement Changes," March 1904:

"Commencement exercises for the present collegiate year will mark the advent of the academic cap and gown at Mercer University."

Mercerian, "On the Campus," February 1906:

"Professor Kilpatrick (in Ethics class): 'Mr. Bernd, when Eve ate the apple was that a case of inner or outer intention?'
Bernd: 'I don't know, sir, but I think the apple was inner (in her).'"