Guy Everett Maxwell (September 10, 1870 – January 3, 1939) was an American educator who served from 1904 to 1939 as Winona State University's sixth president. He is its longest-serving president.
Biography Maxwell was born in Mason County, Illinois, on September 10, 1870. He moved to Appleton, Minnesota, in 1879, graduated from Hamline University in 1893, and taught in public schools until 1898. In 1895/6, he married Jeannette Evans. In 1900, he graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University. He taught at Winona State University (then the Winona Normal School) from 1900 to 1904.
Presidency
Maxwell was dedicated to strict discipline and the expansion of the university. He made graduating seniors remove dandelions from the campus before graduation, believing it instilled in them a "proper sense of humility". Maxwell oversaw two name changes while in office. When he took office, the school was called Winona Normal School. It became Winona State Normal School in 1905 and Winona State Teachers College in 1921. The name changes were a result of the Minnesota Legislature's growing investment in elevating the school in the higher education system, in close collaboration with Maxwell. Internal changes under his direction included issuing four-year degrees, making high school graduation mandatory for admission, and charging tuition, beginning in 1933.
Maxwell invested in the school's music program, notably supporting the Edstrom brothers, who founded Hal Leonard.
Maxwell died on January 3, 1939, while in office, of pneumonia. He is the namesake of Maxwell Hall and Maxwell Field.
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