Walter Durham
Tennessee State Historian Walter Durham was recognized by Tusculum College on July 18 for his lifetime of achievements and his dedication to service of others with the presentation of an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters
Durham, who lives in Gallatin, was presented an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters during a brief ceremony, with Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody presiding. The presentation took place in the home of his daughter, Anna Durham Windrow.
Durham’s has several ties to the college. His wife, Anna, is a 1949 alumna of the college and a descendent of its co-founders, the Rev. Samuel Doak and the Rev. Samuel Witherspoon Doak. His son, James Durham, is a 1979 alumnus of the college and a current member of its Board of Trustees.
In presenting the honorary doctorate, Dr. Moody outlined Durham’s notable professional achievements and his service in the community.
About 50 guests attended the presentation of the honorary doctorate.
Durham is the award-winning author of 21 books, including “The Great Leap Westward,” “Old Sumner” and “Rebellion Revisited.” His latest book, “Grasslands, A History of The Southern Grasslands Hunt and Racing Foundation, 1929-1932,” was published in December. He has also been published in numerous periodicals, including “Tennessee Historical Quarterly.” Durham has received the Tennessee History Book Award given annually by the Tennessee Historical Commission and the Tennessee Library Association and the Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History for earlier books.
He is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, a member of the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, a member of the statewide committee on The War of 1812 Bicentennial and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee Preservation Trust.
In addition to his support of Tusculum College, including more than 100 special edition titles that he donated to the Thomas J. Garland Library, Durham has been a member of the Monmouth College Senate, a trustee of Monmouth College, a member of the President’s Advisory Committee at Volunteer State Community College and a member of the Vanderbilt Alumni Board of Directors.
A veteran, Durham served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943-46, including overseas service in Italy and Africa. He attended University of Wisconsin and Vanderbilt University. Durham earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Vanderbilt, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha honorary societies and Sigma Nu fraternity.
Durham built a successful business as partner in Durham Building Supply Company. Additionally, he has served the business community as the former chairman of First and People National Bank in Gallatin and as a member of the Advisory Board of First American National Bank.
He was a founder and, later, president of Gallatin Aluminum Products Co., Inc., a manufacturer of aluminum and glass fenestration products. He served as a member of the board of directors, treasurer and division vice-president for Architectural Aluminum Manufacturers Association, a national trade association.
Making a commitment to serve others using his expertise, Durham served on the Tennessee State Industrial Development Commission, was a 10-year member and chairman of the Tennessee Historical Commission, was a member of the Tennessee Historical Records Advisory Board and served as a civilian delegate to the Air Force National Security Forum.
He has also served his community through support and involvement in the Middle Tennessee Council, Boy Scouts of America. In addition, he has served as president of the Gallatin Chamber of Commerce and Gallatin Lions Club. He was recognized for his service in 2002 with the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award.
Upon presentation of the diploma, Dr. Moody stated that “upon the recommendation of the Tusculum College Board of Trustees, and by the power vested in me by the Board of Trustees, I am honored to confer upon Walter T. Durham the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of his contributions to historical preservation and his meritorious service to his country, to the State of Tennessee and to the civic arts, with all right privileges and honors thereunto appertaining.”