David Edgar Guyton

David Edgar Guyton
Born	Template:Birth date Guyton, Tippah County, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	April 16, 1964(1964-04-16) (aged 84) Blue Mountain, Mississippi, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Educator, journalist, poet, banker
Years active	c. 1903–1964
Known for	First blind full professor at a fully accredited institution serving sighted students; president of the Bank of Blue Mountain; Rotary International district governor

David Edgar Guyton (February 21, 1880 – April 16, 1964) was a multifaceted American professional known for his contributions as an educator, journalist, poet, and banker. Despite losing his sight at the age of 12, he achieved two bachelor's degrees and a master's degree, dedicating five decades to teaching at Blue Mountain College (BMC). He holds the distinction of being "the first blind individual appointed as a full professor at a fully accredited institution serving sighted students."

Early years

David Edgar Guyton was born in Guyton, Tippah County, Mississippi, to Captain J. J. Guyton and Callie Hoyle Guyton. At the age of 12, an accident resulted in total blindness. His early education began locally before he attended a specialized school for the blind in Jackson, Mississippi for one year, supplemented by private tutoring. Subsequently, his family and aides facilitated continued home-based instruction.

Guyton matriculated at BMC, where he became the institution’s inaugural male graduate in 1903, earning a bachelor of arts degree. He was then appointed as an instructor in German and French, eventually advancing to professor of English. Furthering his studies, he attended the University of Chicago and obtained a bachelor of science degree from the University of Mississippi (UM) in 1911. During his time at UM, he expanded his academic pursuits by studying law for one year and actively participated as editor of the weekly newspaper, assistant editor for both the monthly magazine and yearbook, and as a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Returning to BMC to teach history, Guyton pursued graduate studies at Columbia University (CU), where he earned a master of arts degree in 1914 with an emphasis on American history complemented by courses in economics, sociology, and Victorian English literature. He was notably the first blind graduate from UM and the first to receive a master’s degree from CU. Throughout his time at Columbia, L. T. Lowrey assisted him by taking notes and reading lectures aloud.

Career

Initially focusing on French and German instruction at BMC, Guyton later expanded his teaching portfolio to include English, education, history, and economics.

In journalism, he contributed as a correspondent for The Commercial Appeal and the Jackson Daily News, mainly producing Sunday feature articles and covering breaking news stories. His bylines also appeared in The Times-Picayune, The Birmingham Age-Herald, and The Southern Sentinel. His association with The Commercial Appeal lasted over half a century, culminating in his designation as correspondent emeritus in 1959.

Guyton’s poetic works were featured in various anthologies, periodicals, and newspapers. He authored a single book titled Mother Berry of Blue Mountain, published by Broadman Press in 1943—a biography chronicling the life of Modena Lowery Berry. The publication received acclaim for its candid depiction of a resilient personality.

On January 17, 1933, Guyton was elected president of the Bank of Blue Mountain. Despite assuming this leadership position, he maintained his engagement with both academia and journalism. Eventually, he advanced to serve as the bank’s chief executive officer.

Civic activities

As president of the Rotary Club in Ripley, Mississippi, Guyton guided the organization to earn the President's Award. He served as district governor for Rotary International during 1951-1952—the first blind individual to hold this office. His addresses frequently intertwined scholarly knowledge with religious conviction; for instance, his 1947 speech before the Jackson (Tennessee) Rotary Club discussed economic conditions while underscoring ethical principles in business practices.

In June 1936, Governor Hugh L. White appointed Guyton to serve a four-year term on Mississippi’s State Blind Commission. That same month saw Lieutenant Governor J. B. Snider designate him as Mississippi’s representative on the National Poetry Council and as a delegate to the Congress of American Poets.

Depot Bible class

For more than three decades, Guyton led a men's Bible study held at the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad depot, where he was a devoted member of Lowrey Baptist Church in Blue Mountain for 72 years. Even after the trains stopped servicing the depot in 1954 and following his retirement from the university, he maintained his role as the class leader each week. The attendees were a diverse mix of local merchants, farmers, truck drivers, and coworkers. Each session began with a discussion of recent national and international news, proceeded with Scripture examination and a Sunday School lesson, and ended with a hymn before participants attended morning worship. This longstanding fellowship was regarded as a tradition "worthy of preservation and appreciation."

Personal life and death

Guyton married Corrine O'Neal Rogers on September 10, 1925; she was an educator at BMC and had been his elementary school classmate. The couple resided close to the college and did not have children. Guyton passed away in Blue Mountain on April 16, 1964, at the age of 84, and was interred at Blue Mountain Cemetery.

Recognition

In 1938, Guyton was distinguished as one of only five individuals nationwide—and uniquely the sole recipient in the Southern United States—to receive an accolade from the Brooklyn Institute for the Blind for "notable accomplishments uncommon among the blind."

The Guyton Library on the BMC campus, dedicated on November 1, 1957, commemorates both Dr. and Mrs. Guyton. Paul Flowers, book editor of the Commercial Appeal, delivered the dedication address. An editorial published in The Clarion-Ledger lauded their impact as an honor to the college, state, and higher education as a whole. In 1960, the college conferred upon Guyton an honorary LL.D. degree.