Albert Matthew Francis Witte was born in Pittsburgh, P ennsyl v ania , on Oct ober 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, h e earned his Ph.B . and M.A. f rom the University of Chicago . Witte taught English literature at Ripon College before getting a law degree from the Universi ty of Wisconsin School of Law . In 1957 Witte became a professor at the University of Arkansa s School of Law and remained a faculty member until his retirement in 1994 .
He served as the president of the National C ollegiate 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
