Dr. Edward J. Scanlon, prominent educator, Holyoke native and retired president of Westfield State College, died Friday in Noble Hospital, Westfield. He was 74 years old and resided at 69C Court St., Westfield.

Dr. Scanlon was a brother of the late Atty. Gregory J. Scanlon, mayor of Holyoke in 1926 and longtime clerk of the Holyoke District Court, and Rev. John J. Scanlon, pastor of St. Cecilia's Church, Wilbraham, who died Jan. 15.

He retired from the presidency of Westfield State College in March of 1961 after serving there for 23 years.

His career in education covered a period of 46 years including: high school teaching, school principal and college president. A veteran of World War I, he had been associated with the Holyoke public school system for 18 years prior to becoming head of Westfield State College.

During his years at the Westfield college, he established a national rating for the college and had been credited with being the driving force behind the establishment of new buildings and campus on Western Ave., Westfield, which were completed in 1956.

Son of the late John J. and Catherine (Lynch) Scanlon, he was born in this city, Jan. 29, 1893 and grew up here. His elementary education was received at Sacred Heart Grammer School and after graduating from Holyoke High School in 1911, he enrolled at Holy Cross College from which he was awarded an A.B. degree in 1915. That same year he completed a course at Post's Business College in Worcester.

He was awarded a master of education degree from Boston Univ. in 1936, and for his efforts in the field of education, the Portia Law School and the Calvin Coolidge College of Liberal Arts in Boston, bestowed an honorary doctor of education degree on him in 1956. He studied at Fitchburg Teacher College, Columbia Univ. and North Adam's Teachers College.

Dr. Scanlon began his teaching career at Williamsport High School in Williamsport, Pa. A short time later he joined the faculty of Meriden High School, Meriden, Conn., but his duties there were interrupted when he entered service in World War I.

In October of 1917 he joined the Emergency Fleet Corps and the following years was in Foreign Service with the Adjutant General's Dept. in France.

Upon his return to this country after the war, he became head of the Commercial Dept. at the Wilby High School in Waterbury, Conn., a post he held from 1919 to 1920 when he was named a commercial department head at Holyoke High School.

Four years later Dr. Scanlon was appointed director of the former Continuation School here, serving at the same time as H.B. Lawrence Evening School director. He was advanced to principal of Morgan Junior High School, in 1929 a position he held until Feb. 1, 1938, when he became president of Westfield State College.

His wife was the late Kathleen (Shanahan) Scanlon.

He leaves three daughters, Mrs. Kathleen King of Cheshire, Conn., Miss Mary Lou Scanlon, a teacher in the Springfield school system, and Mrs. Carole Ann Finn of Wheaton, Ill.; three sons, John F. Scanlon of the Registry of Deeds office in Springfield, William L. Scanlon, purchasing agent for the New York City Housing Authority, and Joseph D. Scanlon, employed by the Occidental Life Insurance Co. of Seattle, Wash.; two sisters, Rev. Sr. St. Gregory of the Sisters of St. Joseph stationed at St. Mary's Convent, Northampton; and Mrs. Ann Wirtella of North Wilbraham; eight grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Tuesday morning from the Robert E. Cusack Funeral Home, 94 Main St., Westfield, followed by a solemn high mass of requiem in St. Mary's Church, Westfield. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Westfield. Calling hours at the Cusack Funeral Home are tonight from 7 to 9 and Sunday and monday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. James P. Hobert & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. - An obituary appearing in a Springfield newspaper in February of 1967.

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Edward Scanlon was a Holyoke native who served as President of Westfield State College from 1938-1961....

Scanlon spent much of his tenure as President fighting political pressures to close the College. Once the future of the College was secured, deterioration of the College's downtown facilities led to legislative approval to build a new campus on 30 acres of city-donated land. Scanlon Hall (named after Edward Scanlon) was one of the two original buildings at this site. - From the Westfield State College webpage, found under the title "Residence Hall History" at http://www.wsc.ma.edu/prospective-students/campus-life/residential-...