Franklin County, Alabama - Biographies

Dr. James A. Glasgow an Educator foremost was also a Banker, Farmer and served as a Franklin County Commissioner. Dr. Glasgow received his B. S. degree from the University of North Alabama and M. A. degree from Vanderbilt University. He did advance work at Auburn University, the University of Alabama, Michigan State University and Columbia University in New York.

He worked as a teacher for six years, principal of Belgreen High School for four years and principal of Phil Campbell High School for four years. In addition he worked with the U. S. Department of Agriculture for three years and served as Branch Manager of the First National Bank (later Colonial Bank) at the Phil Campbell branch for six years.

In January of 1962 he accepted the responsibility for making all the plans and to implement these plans to create Alabama's first public junior college. Northwest Alabama State Junior College opened in September 1963 at Phil Campbell, Alabama with Dr. Glasgow as President. For two years, this was Alabama's only public junior college and set the standard for other state junior colleges which opened later.

Dr. Glasgow continued as President of Northwest Junior College for the next eighteen years until he retired. A copy of the honorary degree that Dr. Glasgow received explains in part the contributions Dr. Glasgow made to the Alabama State Junior College System.*

Dr. Glasgow is a Veteran of World War II having served aboard the USS San Francisco in the South Pacific. He was in four battles and is entitled to wear four bronze battle stars.

Among the many honors Dr. Glasgow has received are:

     1) President of Alabama Association of Junior Colleges
     2) President of Alabama Association of College Administrators
     3) Appeared in the 1967-68 edition of
         "Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Vol 10"
           published by Marquis Who's Who.
     4) The Northwest Alabama Community College library
          at Phil Campbell, Alabama was named the
          'James A. Glasgow Library' in his honor.
     5) Selected Alabama Tree Farmer of the Year in 1991.
     6) Received an award from the
         Alabama Forestry Planning Committee for owning
         a part of Alabama's first one and a million acres
         certified in the Treasure Forest Program.

*Below is a typed copy of the Honorary Degree awarded to James A. Glasgow:

Honorary Degree -- James A. Glasgow

In 1961, Northwest Alabama State Junior College was authorized by the Alabama Legislature under Act No. 888, approved September 8, 1961.

It was an historic first for the State of Alabama and gave impetus to the state system of junior colleges in 1963, a system which has meant much to the youth of Alabama who would not otherwise have had a chance to attend an institution of higher learning.

A pioneer in this movement and president then and now of the first of the junior colleges, James A. Glasgow has strived with every fiber of his being to help the junior college movement achieve the prestige and status accorded it. He has done this by guiding his college, Northwest Alabama State Junior College at Phil Campbell, from a modest institution holding classes in the high school and in one of the local churches to the splendid college it is today with its multi-million dollar modern, air-conditioned, and well-equipped building on a campus of 100 acres.

As the head of a team of administrators and faculty, President Glasgow saw his efforts crowned with success when the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools granted his college full accreditation, the first of the state junior colleges so recognized.

In the light of his diligent and tireless efforts in the cause of higher education, the Board of Trustees of the Jacksonville State University has authorized the conferring of the degree of Doctor of Laws upon James A. Glasgow, president of Northwest Alabama State Junior College.

Houston Cole
President

Jacksonville, Alabama
December 13, 1968

Northwest Alabama State Junior College is now called Shoals Community College and has campuses at Phil Campbell and Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Dr. James A. Glasgow is the son of Kemper Talmage and Lela Ross (TOMPKINS) GLASGOW, Sr. and the grandson of Spencer Lafayette and Sarah Jane (TODD) GLASGOW and John Christopher "Kit" and Welthy Jane (JAMES) TOMPKINS.

Dr. Glasgow married the former Ruby BRITTON, daughter of Noble Thomas "Tom" and Dessie (MITCHELL) BRITTON, granddaughter of John Horace "Johnnie" and Rhoda Ellen (NIX) BRITTON and Joseph Benjamin and Ida (GALLOWAY) MITCHELL.