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Guy Potter Benton (May 26, 1865 – June 29, 1927) was an American educator who was president ofUpper Iowa University,Miami University, theUniversity of Vermont, and theUniversity of the Philippines. He was instrumental in the founding ofDelta Zeta sorority at Miami University in 1902.

Benton was born inKenton, Ohio. His parents were Harriet (née Wharton) and Daniel Webster Benton.He attended Ohio Normal University (nowOhio Northern University),Ohio Wesleyan University,Baker University and theCollege of Wooster. At Ohio Wesleyan, he was a member ofPhi Delta Theta fraternity.

After college, Benton became an ordainedMethodist minister. He served as superintendent of schools atFort Scott, Kansas from 1890 to 1895. He became assistant state superintendent of public instruction inKansas from 1895 to 1896.

He was a professor of history and sociology atBaker University from 1896 to 1899. He became president ofUpper Iowa University in 1899, serving until 1902 when he became president of Miami University. While at Miami, he helped form the Delta Zeta sorority in 1902. He left Miami in 1911 to become president of the University of Vermont from 1911 to 1919.

He was the educational director of theThird Army occupying Germany followingWorld War I. For his service during the war, he was awarded theArmy Distinguished Service Medal and his commendation reads, in part, "As Director in charge of the Educational Work undertaken in the Third Army of the American Expeditionary Forces, by his marked ability, untiring energy, and loyal devotion to his task, Dr. Benton contributed in a large measure to the successful results obtained in this vast undertaking. Through his great work among 10,000 illiterate soldiers over 8,000 of them were taught to read and write. By his efforts, he has rendered services of particular worth to the American Expeditionary Forces."

He served as the third president of theUniversity of the Philippines from 1921 to 1925

• Benton was named Grand Patron of the Delta Zeta sorority; he was the only man permitted to wear the Delta Zeta member badge.
• Two buildings on the Miami University campus have been named for Benton. First was the administration building and auditorium now known as Hall Auditorium and the currentBenton Hall is an engineering building.

In 1889, Benton married Dolla Konantz ofArcadia, Kansas. They had two daughters, Helen Geneva (Mrs. Dwight E. Minnich) and Pauline Corinth.

Benton was the national president of Phi Delta Theta from 1912 to 1914. He was also a member of the forensics honoraryTau Kappa Alpha and served as its national president from 1915 to 1917.

Benton died inMinneapolis, Minnesota and is buried next to his wife in the Miami University plot of the Oxford Cemetery and his headstone indicates that he was "President of Miami University" and "National President of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity."

• Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. Dodge. Burlington: Ullery, 1912, p 118-119

• "GUY POTTER BENTON, EDUCATOR, IS DEAD; Former Head of Universities of Philippines and Vermont a Sleeping Sickness Victim. ACTIVE IN Y.M.C.A. WORK Spent Two Years With A.E.F. -Was Ex-President of Upper Iowa and Miami Institutions -- Was 62".New York Times. 1927-06-30. Retrieved2008-01-07.
• Guy Potter Benton atFind a Grave

• 1865 births
• 1927 deaths
• People from Kenton, Ohio
• Ohio Northern University alumni
• Ohio Wesleyan University alumni
• Baker University alumni
• College of Wooster alumni
• Presidents of Miami University
• Presidents of the University of Vermont
• Upper Iowa University
• University of the Philippines people
• Baker University faculty
• Burials at Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, Ohio
• Delta Zeta
• Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
• Presidents of universities and colleges in the Philippines
• Phi Delta Theta members

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