Albert Matthew Francis Witte was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 25, 1923.
He first came to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to receive his Air Force training during World War II and later was assigned to duty in Italy.
After the war, he earned his Ph.B. and M.A. from the University of Chicago. Witte taught English literature at Ripon College before getting a law degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Law. In 1957 Witte became a professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law and remained a faculty member until his retirement in 1994.
He served as the president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association until he finished his term in 1990.
Witte passed away on December 23, 2015.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Al Witte and still frame from Pryor Center interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Al Witte's mother and great-grandmother in Buckley, Pennsylvania
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Al Witte as a child
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Al Witte pictured in front of his high school in Erie, Pennsylvania
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Al Witte's childhood home, Erie, Pennsylvania
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Al Witte in high school; Bottom right picture features him (third from left) in a chorus line
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: High school graduation photo of Al Witte
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Where Al Witte was when he heard FDR declare war; Erie, Pennsylvania
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Al Witte wearing his US Air Force uniform while he is on seventy-two hour leave
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Al Witte with his mother
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Al Witte pictured (left) with high school girlfriend and another friend
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Al Witte at the Isle of Capri during World War II, 1944
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: Al Witte in the Air Force
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Al Witte (back row, second from left) and his crew in Italy during World War II, July 1944
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Al Witte (center) and two crew members of the Sweet Sue in Italy during World War II
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Al Witte in Italy, January 1945
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Al Witte (right) with the pilot (center) of the Sweet Sue
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Al Witte in front of his corner-room accommodations in Italy during World War II, November 1944
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Al Witte immediately after waking up and covering his uncombed hair with a hat to have his picture taken, Italy; January 1, 1945
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Al Witte being awarded with a Distinguished Flying Cross for his Air Force service during World War II
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Al Witte (second from left) with his friends in a bar during World War II
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Photos of Al Witte's Air Force crew and leave pass
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#23: Photos of Al Witte in the Air Force; posing with his mother (top right photo) and with his high school friend, Bill (bottom right photo)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#24: Al Witte in his Air Force Uniform
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#25: Al Witte's University of Chicago student ID card
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#26: Al Witte (left)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Al Witte (right) with his best friend Bill Catrobone and Don Webb; Buffalo, New York, 1946
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Photo of Al Witte when he taught English literature at Ripon College
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#29: Al Witte at his ten-year high school reunion
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#30: Al Witte (left) with his friend, Spres (to Witte's back right), at the Elks Lodge initiation; July 20, 1959
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#31: Al Witte's mother (bottom row, left) and her siblings, most of whom Al Witte lived with growing up in his grandparents' home
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#32: Al Witte on the couch
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#33: Al Witte receiving recognition at the NCAA banquet with the Athletic Director of women's athletics at Tennessee (right) and Ronald Reagan (left); early 1990s
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#34: Al Witte at Butternut Lake in northern Wisconsin during his retirement
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#35: Al Witte's favorite painting; behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Al Witte; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#36: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Al Witte; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#37: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Al Witte; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#38: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Al Witte; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#39: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Al Witte; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#40: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Al Witte; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#41: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Al Witte; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#42: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Al Witte; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#43: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Al Witte; Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
