James Daughdrill became president of Rhodes College in 1973 to 1999, a time when the college was struggling financially. While Daughdrill was President, he aided into he growth of the student body from 980 students to 1,450 students. The college endowment skyrocketed to $200 from $6 million, all while maintaining a balanced budget. Daughdrill was instrumental in changing the college’s name from Southwestern at Memphis to its current be Rhodes College, to honor former college president Peyton Nalle Rhodes.