By Greg Russell - University of Memphis

1912. West Tennessee State Normal
School begins its first regular session
on Sept. 10 with Seymour A. Mynders
as president and 200 students.
1913. John Willard Brister is named
the second president after Mynders
unexpectedly passes away.
1914. The first student
publication is a monthly journal,
The Columns.
1915. Under a new law, the State
Board of Education is established.
Portrait perfect: McMahan paints a president
Holding eyeglasses in his right hand and papers in his left,
University past president Andrew A. Kincannon looks as though he
may step right out of the portrait and frame.
“It gives a little glimpse of him as if you had walked into his office
at the University,” said Mary Ann Griesbeck, great-granddaughter
of Kincannon, who was president of then-West Tennessee State
Normal School from 1918 to 1924. “He just comes to life.”
The portrait of Kincannon, commissioned by the U of M to
artist Jamie McMahan (BS ’65), will be added to the University’s
collection of past and current presidents that hangs in the
Administration Building’s atrium.
McMahan has painted seven other portraits of past presidents
as well as official portraits and private works for people across the
country, including Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alex Haley. He also
was commissioned by the Georgia Legislature to paint a portrait of
John Ross, who was chief of the Cherokee nation during the Trail of
Tears relocation.
Prior to putting the first brushstroke on a canvas, McMahan met
with two of Kincannon’s relatives: great-granddaughter Griesbeck
and granddaughter Charlotte Westenberger, both of Memphis.
Kincannon, known as “Dear” to his immediate family, held a
master’s degree from National Normal University in Lebanon, Ohio.
He also served as chancellor of the University of Mississippi and
superintendent of the Meridian City Schools in Meridian, Miss.
“He was a wonderful grandfather,” Westenberger said. “He had
a great sense of humor. He came from a big family and I never
heard him say a bad word, never heard him talk about anybody in a
derogatory way. He was just wonderful.”
Westenberger and Griesbeck met at least three times with
McMahan, sharing stories, family photos and Kincannon’s personal
possessions, such as letters and watch fob.
“[McMahan] was interested in all of our stories, and we talked and
laughed and had such a memorable time recalling those things,”
Griesbeck said.
After understanding Kincannon as a person, McMahan went to
his studio to begin the portrait. Because Kincannon was not alive to
pose for the portrait, McMahan hired a stand-in.
“All I had to work with was a picture of his face, head and
shoulders,” McMahan said. “I got a model to wear a suit and vest
with a watch fob. I tried to give it a suggestion of something dated,
but something dignified nonetheless.”
1916. The DeSoto yearbook
begins publication.
Artist Jamie McMahon has painted several past presidents, and used a
stand-in for his most recent work, Andrew A. Kincannon.
Nothing in the portrait is arbitrary. From the crisp blue of
Kincannon’s eyes to the royal purple on the hood of his robe,
McMahan incorporated items as extensions of Kincannon’s
character. The background of the portrait is of an office or library
setting, adding to Kincannon’s academic nature.
McMahan then brought a “rough study,” or small-scale draft
portrait, for comments from Griesbeck and Westenberger about
Kincannon’s physical positioning, facial features and expression.
“I almost cried when I saw it,” Westenberger said. “It was so
moving because it was so like him. It looked like he was going to
say something.”
After three months of research and painting, McMahan contacted
Westenberger and Griesbeck to view the completed portrait. Both
women were in awe.
“We were so pleased with the study, we couldn’t imagine
anything better,” Griesbeck said. “But to look at the finished portrait
was magnificent. It truly captures his spirit. It’s a magnificent treasure
for our families and a lasting treasure for future generations.”
McMahan studied fine arts and mathematics at the U of M, while
also playing basketball for the Tigers. He was the Tigers’ leading
rebounder and second-leading scorer in 1965. He worked in
marketing for IBM until becoming a full-time artist about 22 years ago.
— by Laura Fenton
SUMMER 2011 NEWSBITS 3