Former Headmaster Dr. Charles Hawkins Dies at 88

Posted Aug 06 2012

Baylor School’s fourth headmaster, Dr. Charles Hawkins, passed away July 16 at the age of 88.

Dr. Hawkins was born on October 18, 1923 in Atlanta, and spent his early years in Tennessee and Kentucky. He enlisted in the Naval Officers Training Program in 1943, and served during World War II as navigator aboard the USS Wasatch, the flagship of the Seventh Fleet. After the war, he returned to Vanderbilt University, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in English Literature in 1948. One year later, he received his master’s degree, also from Vanderbilt.

He began his teaching career at the University of Cincinnati in 1949. In 1952, he joined Baylor’s faculty where remained for 18 years, serving as headmaster from 1964 to 1970 and earning his doctorate in education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga during his tenure. A superb teacher, he focused on the academic mission of the school and urged flexibility as the school faced the tumult of the 1960s. With the complexities of the Vietnam War and a strong anti-establishment movement among young people serving as a backdrop, he led the discussion about the fate of the school’s military program. He resigned in 1970 as the school continued to debate whether to drop that program.

He later served in administrative positions at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta and Darlington School in Rome, Ga. He moved to Albany in 1981, to become the Middle and Upper School Director at Deerfield-Windsor. At the age of 65, he retired from his administrative duties but continued to teach English and Bible at Deerfield until age 81.

During his career, Dr Hawkins served as President of the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools. He was a member of the Headmasters' Association and a founding member of the Southern Headmasters' Association.

He is pre-deceased by his wife, Helen C. Hawkins. He is survived by daughters Anne S. Hawkins of Athens and Jane H. Inscoe of Athens, a son, Dr Charles E Hawkins of Albany; son-in-law Dr John C Inscoe of Athens; daughter-in-law, Dr Peggy M Hawkins of Albany; grandchildren, Margaret C Inscoe of Athens, E. Clay Inscoe of Athens, Margaret "Lucie" Hawkins of New York, NY, Laura M. Hawkins of Albany; Caroline H Hawkins of Albany; and a sister, Mildred Jones of Decatur, GA.

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