After Guy E. Maxwell passed away suddenly in 1939, the State Teachers College Board appointed Professor French to act as president.

French had joined the faculty in 1918 and was a professor of mathematics for many years before becoming vice president of the college under Maxwell. He was well respected and a person in whom the faculty had a great deal of confidence.

The members of the State Teachers College Board concluded that Mr. French was too close to retirement in 1939 to give him a full time appointment as president.

Several years later, after Dr. Mehus resigned the presidency, Arthur T. French was again asked to step in to that position. This time, the Board gave him permanent status until the time of his retirement, which was in 1944.