| Wins against Kentucky - 0 | Losses against Kentucky - 1 |
Alma Mater: Kentucky Wesleyan [1912] (*)
Date Born: May 12, 1886
Date Died: November 5, 1968

Obituary - Jackson (TN) Sun (November 6, 1968)

Dean Marvin Eagle of Lambuth Dies

Dr. Marvin Edward Eagle, 82, educator, nationally known historian, former academic dean and athletic director of Lambuth College and church leader, died at 5:35 p.m. Tuesday at the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital where he had been a patient since Monday morning.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday from the Lambuth College Memorial Chapel with Dr. Paul T. Lyles and the Rev. Frank S. Cerveny officiating. Burial, with Smith Funeral Home in charge, will be in Pulaski Tenn.

Dr. Eagle was born in Hicksville, Bland County, Va., son of the late Hiram and Maria Maxwell Eagle.

He attended Kentucky Wesleyan College where he was awarded a B.A. degree. Dr. Eagle received an M.A. degree from Vanderbilt University and did advanced graduate study at the University of Chicago, George Peabody College for Teachers, University of California and Oxford University, England. While at Peabody College he was Phi Delta Kappa.

Dr. Eagle was the recipient of an honorary LL.D degree conferred by Lambuth College.

During World War I Dr. Eagle had infantry combat service in France and was wounded just prior to the Armistice. He was able to gain a leave of absence from his Army unit for study at Oxford University in England. While at Oxford, he had as his advisor the leading authority on American history research. As a member of the varsity baseball team at Oxford, he helped to win the championship of the British Isles for the university.

Dr. Eagle, for whom the Lambuth Eagles were named, holds varsity letters in football, baseball and basketball from Kentucky Wesleyan College.

He came to Lambuth College in 1924 from the University of California. He was the college's first athletic director and head coach in addition to his duties as a history professor.

At that time varsity athletics at Lambuth included football and baseball for both men and women and operated a nine-hole golf course on campus.

Dr. Eagle began his well known Pilgrimages to Shiloh in the spring of 1925 and continued these annual trips through this year, with the exception of 1967 when illness forced him to omit the trip that year.

He was recognized internationally for his knowledge of Shiloh in the August 1967 issue of the "International Journal of Adult Education Association" as being a "great teacher." Author of the article, Jesse Burt, former Lambuth academic dean, said, "Just this year a historian of the National Park Service, which maintains the battle field (at Shiloh) told me that he knew of no one man who knew as much about the Battle of Shiloh as Marvin Eagle."

Dr. Eagle also helped to obtain statewide recognition of the famous Pinson Indian Mounds near Jackson.

Very active in the Masonic bodies, Dr. Eagle was made a Master Mason in Tazewell Lodge No. 62 at Tazewell, Va., on May 29, 1908. He was a member and Past High Priest of Clinton Chapter No. 9, Royal Arch Masons; member and Past Illustrious Master of Jackson Council No. 13, Royal and Select Masters; and a member and Past Commander of the Jackson Commandry No. 13, Knights Templar.

Dr. Eagle was a past Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Tennessee and was a member of the Tennessee Priory No. 15, Knights of the York Cross of Honor.

He was a 32nd degree and life member of the Memphis Consistory, Scottish Rite and Freemasonry. He was also a member of the Hickman Lodge No. 72, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Winchester, Ky., and the John A. Deaver Post 12, American Legion.

Dr. Eagle was a past president of the Tennessee College Association, past president of the Shakespeare Circle of Jackson and of the Jackson Golf and Country Club.

As a tribute o the memory of Dr. Eagle, Lambuth College will dismiss classes on Thursday. Members of the student body conducted a memorial service for Dr. Eagle at 10 a.m. today in Memorial Chapel.

Of Dr. Eagle, Lambuth College President James S. Wilder Jr. said today, "Lambuth College has lot a great teacher, a loyal members of the Lambuth community and a distinguished Christian gentleman. Marvin Eagle played a major role in making Lambuth College what it is today. His dedication to the principles of Christian higher education and his sacrificial labors helped bring Lambuth triumphantly through some difficult days."

"Marvin Eagle will always be remembered as one of God's most gifted and inspiring teachers of history and of life. He was a great athletic coach and an avid sportsman. He always played hard, giving his very best and expecting everyone else o do the same. Dean Eagle was a man's man! He played life to win and he did."

"But with it all, Marvin Eagle was God's man. He played on God's team to the very end and gave life every ounce of his strength."

"Lambuth will miss a man like this, but we shall never forget him. His mark has been indelibly stamped on this institution."

Dr. Eagle was married Aug. 9, 1919 to the former Lela Mae Booth of Pulaski, Tenn., who survives.

Other surviving include: two daughters, Mrs. Frank Caldwell Jr. of Jackson and Mrs. Donald Cloughley of Winter Garden, Fla.; and six grandchildren, Constance Booth Caldwell, Ellen Eagle Caldwell and Jennifer Caldwell of Jackson, James Eagle Cloughley, Ellen Eagle Cloughley and Megan Leah Cloughley of Winter Garden.

His body will remain at the funeral home until 9 a.m. Thursday at which time it will be taken to Memorial Chapel where it will remain until time for services at 10 a.m.

Pallbearers to server will be Lambuth College history majors: Joe Lewis, James Moss, Lloyd Ramer Jr., Ken Baker, Tom Taylor and James Taylor.

Memorials for the establishment of a Marvin E. Eagle Chair of History may be sent to Lambuth College.

This page was made with a Macintosh
What Flavors Your Mac ?