Former ETSU President Delos Poe Culp, who was instrumental in establishing the medical school, died Friday morning at Johnson City Medical Center.
Culp, 89, served as ETSU’s fourth president from 1968-1977. During his tenure, several major construction projects were completed including the D.P. Culp University Center, which bears his name, Memorial Center, the Kingsport Center, two apartment dorms and married student housing.
“The James H. Quillen College of Medicine will stand as a lasting legacy and forever symbolize one of D.P. Culp’s greatest acomplishments during his presidency at ETSU,” said Dr. Ronald D. Franks, ETSU dean of medicine and vice president for health affairs.
The medical school, then called the Quillen-Dishner College of Medicine, graduated its first class in 1982 after Culp’s retirement in 1977.
“We will always be grateful for the vision and strong desire he shared for bringing a medical school to this region,” Franks said.
During his nine years as president, Culp saw the making of a championship football team, the establishment of WETS-FM public radio and the university foundation, and the creation of 250 new faculty and staff positions, computerized registration and doctoral programs in education and biomedical sciences.
“Dr. Culp’s administrative leadership and tenacity brought important opportunities and developments to our campus and to our region,” ETSU President Paul Stanton said.
“From academic programming to new physical facilities to public radio to the establishment of our College of Medicine, Dr. Culp exerted a special vision for ETSU and the Tri-Cities – a vision that continues to build upon itself today,” he said.
“The news of Dr. Culp’s passing has brought a deep sadness to the university community that he served so well with unwavering commitment and personal strength,” Stanton said.
On March 12, 1999, Franks said, the Culps returned to campus for the Founder’s Day celebration commemoratoring the medical school’s 25th anniversary – “a day that never would have been realized if not for Dr. Delos Poe Culp.”
Before coming to ETSU, Culp had distinguished himself in various educational positions. He had served as superintendent of schools for Chilton and Butler counties, and as a division director for the Alabama State Department of Education.
In higher education, he organized Auburn University’s doctoral program, served as president of Livingston State College and later as president of Alabama College, now the University of Montvallo.
Culp earned a diploma from Jacksonville (Ala.) Normal School, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Auburn University and an Ed.D. from Columbia University.
“We will miss President Emeritus Culp, his singular presence, and his love for this university, and we extend sincerest sympathy to Mrs. Culp and the entire family,” Stanton said.

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