Dodson, William Rufus;  Belton, TX; now East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller




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Dodson, William Rufus, dean of the College of Agriculture, and director of
experiment stations Louisiana State university, was born at Belton, Tex., July
17, 1867, son of Jesse Allen and Mary Elizabeth (Scott) Dodson.  Both parents
were natives of Tennessee, and were of Scotch lineage.  The father was a
farmer by occupation, and a veteran of the Civil war, having served in a Texas
company of the Confederate army.  He was a "Forty-niner," going to California
in 1849 in search of gold.  Returning in 1852, he settled in Texas, from
whence he removed in 1869 to Barry county, Mo., where he remained only 1 year,
then removing to Carroll county, Ark., in which locality he remained resident
until the time of his death.  In Carroll county, Ark., and Barry county, Mo.,
William Rufus Dodson, the son, passed the days of his youth in the activities
of farm life.  His early education was obtained at the country schools of
these localities.  Later he attended Clark's academy, at Berryville, Ark., and
still later the high school at Columbia, Mo.  In 1890 he received his degree
of Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri.  During his senior
year at the university he was employed as an assistant teacher, and for 3
years following his graduation he continued as an instructor in the University
of Missouri.  Following this, on leave of absence, he went to Harvard
University, where he specialized in botany, and in 1894 obtained the degree of
bachelor of arts.  He then came to Louisiana state university as professor of
Botany and botanist of the experiment stations.  In 1902 he was made assistant
director of experiment stations, at which time he gave up the teaching of
botany.  In 1905 he was made director of experiment stations, and in 1910
became dean of the College of Agriculture and director of experiment stations,
Louisiana state university.  Prof. Dodson is a member of the Knights of
Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.  He affiliates
with the Christian church.  In 1896 Prof. Dodson was married to Miss Minnie
Pettengill, of Centralia, Mo.  Prof. and Mrs. Dodson have 4 living children,
namely, Rogers, Joe, Alma, and William Rufus, Jr.  The family resides at Baton
Rouge.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp.
127-128.  Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century
Historical Association.