William Stallcup Interview

Jim Early interviews William (Bill) Stallcup on November 20, 2000. Former biology professor and interim SMU president Bill Stallcup answers questions about his early years at SMU, activities during World War II, educational background, and variegated roles in SMU administration. He details the evolution and growth of SMU's biology department, particularly its shifting emphasis to molecular and cellular biology. Other topics he illustrates through anecdotes and examples include women's salaries, EEOC discrimination suits, colorful deans, pressures from various constituent groups, and challenges he faced at SMU in a multitude of administrative roles. In particular, he describes the impact of and details about the SMU football team's 'death penalty' for players receiving contracted payments. He highlights the creation and development of the SMU-in-Taos program at Fort Burgwin. He gives his opinion about SMU administrators and presidents, describing their personalities, achievements, and fallibilities. Throughout, Stallcup provides behind-the-scenes details of people and events that shaped his life, impacted his career and changed the face of SMU, from the 1930s through the 1980s. Stallcup passed away in June 2008.

Identifier: vas001

For more information, see: http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/vas/id/15