This Week in Texas Methodist History August 28 President Charles C. Selecman Gives Valedictory Address to His Last Graduating Class at SMU, August 1938 In August 1938 President Charles C. Selecman presided over his last graduation ceremony as President of SMU. The ceremony was shorter than usual since it conferred degrees on those graduastes who had finished their degrees in the summer term rather than one of the long terms. President Selecman used the occasion to deliver a valedictory address. He had resigned as President of SMU and was in the process of moving to Oklahoma City. He had been eleced bishop at the MECS General Conference of 1938 and was moving north to assume new responsibilities. Selecman was from Missouri, having been born in a small town in 1874. He attended Central College in Fayette, Missouri, (now Central Methodist Universtiy) but dropped out before receiving his degree. He was a star quarterback on the college football team and also a track star. He served Missouri churches and went as a missionary to Louisiana and took an extended trip to Europe in 1907. In1913 he moved to Los Angles as pastor of the new Trinity Methodist Church, housed in a non-traditional 9 story building that also housed concert halls and other venues. During World War I, he did YMCA work in Europe. In 1920 he accepted the call to First Methodist Dallas, and preached his first sermon there in June of that year. On a personal note, my grandfather, W. W. Hardt was attended the course of study at SMU that month. One Sunday he intended to go to the German Methodist church in Dallas, but on a last second impulse went to First Methodist instead. He commented favorably on Selecman’s preaching, noting in a letter to his future bride, Ida Wilson that Selemn “Has a bright future.” He did not stay at First Methodist very long. In March 1923 he was hired as the third president of SMU, replacing Hiram Boaz who had been elected bishop in 1922. His appointment was somewhat controversial since he became a university president even though he did not hold an undergraduate degree. He had received two honorary doctrates so calleding him “Dr.” was acceptable. He used his valedictory speech to reflect upon his 15+ years at the head of SMU. His tenure had been marked by huge expansion. In 1923, there were three buildings. He had overseen the construction of 8 buildings including the iconic McFarlin Auditorium and Ownby Stadium. His tenure also dealt with significan controversies including a football scandal and a raging fundamentalist-modernist controvery. He also stood firm againt student dancing and had to call in the police when students staged a “protest dance” . The faculty also rebelled in the 1930-31 academic year. Selecman had been forced to cut faculty salaries, but his own was raised. Naturally the professors resented that action. Selecman returned to Dallas in 1944 as Bihop of the North Texas Confernce. He retired in 1948 and lived our his life across the street from SMU. His funeral service was conducted at First Methodist Church in March 1958. He was interred at Hillcrest Mausoleum.