J. Paschal Twyman was appointed President of The University of Tulsa in 1968 and served until he lost his battle with cancer in 1989. Twyman arrived at TU as Vice President for Research and Development, but held that role for less than a year before being appointed president. At the time, he was reportedly the youngest university president in the nation.
During his tenure, the University Senate was established (1969), and the Student Association drafted “The Statement of Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilities for Students” (1972). Campus infrastructure grew rapidly with the construction or renovation of several campus facilities, including the Twin Towers Dormitory, Westby Center (later the Allen Chapman Student Union), LaFortune Hall, sorority housing, the new Kendall Hall, Chapman Hall, the Mary K. Chapman Center for Communicative Disorders, an addition to Oliphant Hall, remodeling of Lorton Hall, and the renovation of John Mabee Hall and Lottie Jane Mabee Hall, among other building projects.
By 1972, all programs at The University of Tulsa were fully accredited, and Twyman helped develop McFarlin Library by securing funds for materials, nearly doubling the volume count in the library.
Dr. Twyman was born in Prairie Hill, Missouri, in 1933. He completed his academic work at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, earning his PhD in Education in 1962. He started his teaching career at Oklahoma State University in 1960 and became Associate Director of the Research Foundation in 1965. In 1966, he was appointed Director of Research at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. Dr. Twyman came to The University of Tulsa in 1967.
In 1989, the TU Alumni Association established the J. Paschal Twyman Award in his memory to annually recognize alumni, students, faculty, staff or friends of the university who have made contributions to TU that have gone “far and beyond the call of duty.” Each honoree possesses some of the qualities that President Twyman admired, including leadership and commitment.
Also in 1989, family and friends established the J. Paschal Twyman Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of Dr. Twyman. This important scholarship fund continues to provide assistance to deserving TU students while paying tribute to a distinguished and accomplished TU leader.
