Sailing seas not well charted: John Daniel Runkle, 1822–1902

Following his collapse in October 1868, William Rogers chose John Runkle to fill in as president. Runkle had been his trusted right hand, a reliable, organized attendant to detail, while Rogers concentrated on the larger picture—relations with the state legislature, fundraising, faculty and student recruitment, the creative side of educational policy. They had bonded, too, on a personal level. Rogers depended on Runkle’s readiness for duty day or night, but also on his loyalty as a friend. Runkle had been there from the start: secretary to the founders’ group in 1861, aide in mapping out the school’s inaugural curriculum,