 ention
the name Edwin Jackson Kyle to Aggies from the last three or four
decades and no doubt the imposing structure of Kyle Field comes to
mind (Texas Aggie: April, June, August & October
1996). Most, however, would know very little of the man
recognized as "Mr. Texas A&M" for most of his
career. His service to the school, state and nation made him
one of the giants in the history of Texas A&M. He was
born at Kyle, Texas on July 22, 1876, the son of Fergus and Anna
Moore Kyle. Ferg, as his father was known throughout the
state, served numerous terms in the Texas legislature. To
his undying credit, he co-sponsored the Alamo purchase bill, thus
playing an active role in saving the famed shrine of Texas
liberty.
E. J. Kyle attended a mixture of public and
private schools until he entered the sophomore class at the
Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas in the fall of
1896. He excelled at A&M in almost every endeavor.
Rising rapidly within the Corps, Kyle became the highest-ranking
cadet in the junior class. In his final year he was
"senior captain," then the highest rank in the Corps of
Cadets. In addition, he was class president, president of
the Y.M.C.A., and valedictorian. Even more amazing is that,
through an unexpected vacancy, Kyle became acting commandant for
one month. This office also made him a voting member of the
A&M faculty and the only student ever to serve in such
capacity.
After graduation from A&M in 1899, Kyle
entered Cornell University, where in 1901, he earned a Bachelor of
Science in Agriculture. He received a Master of Science in
Agriculture there in 1902. While at Cornell, he was actively
involved in the production of fruits and vegetables for the
Pan-American Exposition of 1900. Later in life, the
University of Arkansas recognized his many scientific and academic
contributions with an honorary PhD in 1941.
Kyle returned to A&M in June of 1902 and
embarked on a career of service to his school, his state and his
nation. Employed initially as an instructor in Horticulture,
he became department head and was promoted to full professor in
1905. When A&M established the School of Agriculture
in 1911, Kyle was the first dean. Forever after he was known
to thousands of Aggies simply as "Dean Kyle."
His list of accomplishments at A&M would
require a book length bibliography. In addition to basic
scientific research on vegetables, fruits and nuts, Kyle became a
promoter and champion of agricultural education in the public
schools. He wrote prolifically in his scientific field of
research and for the cause of education. In 1912, Texas
adopted his Fundamentals of Farming and Farm Life as a standard
elementary textbook. By the mid-1940s this text had sold
over 500,000 copies, an enormous publication run for the
era.
From his earliest days at A&M, Kyle
became actively involved with the athletic program of the
school. He was solely responsible for the location and initial
construction of the first stadium.
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As a student Kyle was Class President, Corps Senior
Captain, and Valedictorian.
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In 1908 the students recognized his tireless efforts in their behalf
by unofficially naming the playing ground Kyle Field. For
forty years A&M and former students repeatedly called upon his
services to bring stability to the athletic program.
Dean Kyle retired from Texas A&M in
1944. He then served briefly as Director of the Farm Credit
Administration at Houston. In January of 1945, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed him United States Ambassador to
Guatemala. As before, his accomplishments were too numerous
to list. After his resignation in 1947, Kyle was called back to
Guatemala to receive that nation's highest decoration, "The
Order of the Quetzal." At that time he was the only
American to be so honored.
He returned home to his beloved A&M in
1948, making his home in Bryan. Kyle died at his home on
December 26, 1963, leaving an unparallel legacy of service and
devotion. In the early history of the school, his influence
was immeasurable.
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