Rex Putnam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles A. Sprague
Earl Snell
John H. Hall
Douglas McKay
Paul L. Patterson
Elmo Smith
Robert D. Holmes
Mark Hatfield
Rex Putnam | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
| In office September 1, 1937 – January 31, 1961 | |
| Governor | Charles Martin Charles A. Sprague Earl Snell John H. Hall Douglas McKay Paul L. Patterson Elmo Smith Robert D. Holmes Mark Hatfield |
| Preceded by | Charles A. Howard |
| Succeeded by | Leon P. Minear |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 7, 1890 |
| Died | May 17, 1967 (aged 76) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Elinor |
| Occupation | Educator |
Rex Putnam (June 7, 1890 – May 17, 1967) was an American educator from the state of Oregon. A former classroom teacher and district superintendent, Putnam served as Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction for nearly 25 years, the longest-serving state school superintendent in Oregon history.[1] Following his retirement in 1961, a new high school in his adopted hometown of Milwaukie, Oregon was named Rex Putnam High School in his honor.
Born in Buffalo Gap, South Dakota, Putnam received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oregon in 1915 and began teaching in Springfield, Oregon that year.[1][2] He taught high school science in Tacoma, Washington for five years before returning to Oregon, where he became superintendent of the Redmond School District in Redmond in 1923. He received a master's degree from the University of Oregon in 1929, and in 1932, he was named superintendent of schools in Albany.[1][2] He would later receive a doctorate from Lewis & Clark College in 1945.[1]
