Philander P. Claxton Sr. graduated from UT in 1882. He was U.S. commissioner of education from 1911 to 1921. In 1909, Claxton accepted membership on the national Hook Worm Commission, a body of leading scientists and educators formed to expend John D. Rockefeller’s gift of $1,000,000 for the purpose of eradicating Hook Worm disease. The Claxton Education Building at UT in Knoxville is named for him. His son, C. Porter Claxton, also a UT graduate, was the first administrator of the University of Tennessee Junior College, forerunner of UT Martin.
