Dr. Edward Franklin Overton
Professor of Education 1946-1978
Comments made by Dr. Fred Anderson upon the addition of Dr. Overton to the University of Richmond Trustees' Honor Roll of Distinguished Faculty, Administrators and Staff, January 8, 2006.
Edward Franklin Overtonwas born in that cradle of Baptists and that nursery of old Richmond College, the county which produced so many Baptists and Spiders, old King and Queen County, Virginia, at a place called Indian Neck. He was the son of a Baptist minister and found his way to the Baptist school in Richmond. Once he was bitten by the education spider, he never really turned away. He made education his life’s pursuit and the pursuit of education for others as his burning desire.
After earning his bachelor’s at Richmond, he pursued the master’s and doctorate at the University of Virginia. In the Thirties, he began his long education career at schools at Hot Springs and Clifton Forge as well as a brief time as director of instruction for the Fredericksburg schools.
He returned to his alma mater in 1946 as a professor of education, chairman of the education department and dean of the summer school. He remained with the education department until his retirement in 1978.
Dr. Overton probably knew more about the inner workings of the public schools of Virginia than anyone outside of the State Department of Education. He frequently served on accreditation teams that visited the schools. He had assisted many of the teachers when they were students in his education program. And thus in a sense our Ed Overton of the University of Richmond was an influence upon the public school experiences of thousands of young Virginians, thereby helping to shape future generations.
Phil Cumbia, who was a beloved minister at the First Baptist Church of Richmond, once referred to Dr. Overton as one of those “warm and bright lights [which] from time to time shine among us.” In his church, Dr. Overton was the model churchman – a deacon, Bible teacher and steady presence in the life of the church.
I remember Dr. Overton as one of those gentle souls which populated this place. He made the newcomer, whether freshman or faculty or staff, feel welcomed. He took a genuine interest in each person as if your conversation, your interests, your problems were the most important thing at that moment. I shall never forget his kind disposition and warm smile. He personified the University of Richmond.
Dr. Overton died in 1986 at age 75.