Frederick Middlebush (October 15, 1890 – June 8, 1971) [1] was an American educator and thirteenth president of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri from 1935 to 1954. [2] His presidency was the longest term ever served at the University. [3] His presidency included the completion of the Memorial Union and a tripling in enrollment after World War II. [4] Middlebush Hall, on the Columbia campus, is named after him. [3] He is buried in Columbia at the Columbia Cemetery. [5]
Middlebush played a key role in continuing segregation on the University of Missouri campus prior to 1950. He was instrumental in working to try to deny African-American applicant Lloyd Gaines admission to Missouri's law school in the mid-1930s. Documents in the University Archives show that Middlebush and administrator Thomas Brady worked to prevent Black students from coming to the university to participate in a United Nations conference held in 1947. [6]