History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 18

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Today, the B.A. Tolbert Memorial Fund is one of the UF emergency short-term
loans administered by Student Financial Affairs. From 1928 – 1960, financial aid
was one of Beaty’s specific duties. In fact, in his memoirs Beaty stated that his
greatest contribution at UF was helping students to finance college.
Beaty taught sociology classes in addition to his UF Student YMCA and Assistant
Dean of Students duties. Summer 1934 and Summer 1935, Beaty worked on his
advanced degree in sociology at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
His goal was to become a sociology professor as he felt there was no opportunity
for advancement at UF from his Assistant Dean of Students position. In 193536, President Tigert granted Beaty a leave of absence to become the National
Youth Administration (NYA) Director for Florida. The NYA was a Depressionera agency that provided work and education for 16 to 25 year-olds as part of
the Works Progress Administration (WPA). According to Beaty, “thousands of
young people were salvaged for society by the NYA work program. High school
students were able to attend school who otherwise would have been denied
this privilege. Over 3,000 students at UF alone went through school on NYA
work scholarships.” Beaty returned to UF in 1936 but continued supporting
NYA activities as “elected permanent chair” in Florida until 1943 when the NYA
closed at the outbreak of WWII.
Summer 1937, Beaty’s plan was to return to UNC-Chapel Hill through the 1937-38
academic year to complete his doctorate degree; however, in mid-July, Dean of
Students Tolbert suffered a fatal heart attack. By this time, Beaty had completed
the coursework and gathered material for his dissertation. When he returned to
Gainesville for Tolbert’s funeral, he spoke to President Tigert about completing
his sociology degree and returning to UF as a sociology professor. Beaty had
been promised the sociology department chair position in two years after the
current department chair retired. President Tigert convinced Beaty to accept
the Dean of Students position on an acting basis for one year. Beaty continued
his employment in various Student Affairs positions until 1960. According to
Beaty Towers building dedication materials from 1967, Beaty personally knew
and assisted thousands of UF students and was popular with students, faculty,
staff, and administrators. He initiated the publication of the original F Book in
1925. When Beaty retired, he was asked to lead the annual loyalty campaign for
the Alumni Association. He continued this commitment on a year-to-year basis
through 1964.

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