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Methvin Salter Obituary
Family-Placed Death Notice
SALTER, Tom TOM SALTER Methvin Thomson Salter III, 82, died in his sleep Sunday, October 5. The son of Dr. and Mrs. F.D. Salter, Tom was born in his family's home near the corner of Peachtree Road and Maple Drive on November 27, 1925. Tom was educated in the Fulton County Public Schools and graduated from North Fulton High School in 1943. He attended Emory University for a year before entering the U.S. Army in 1944. His military service included a tour of duty in the Philippine Islands. Reentering civilian life, he completed his BFA and MFA degrees at the University of Georgia in 1947 and 1950, respectively. Tom then began a teaching career that spanned forty years. His first teaching position was as an art teacher at Wardlaw Junior High School in South Carolina and then at La Grange High School in Georgia before he returned to Atlanta in 1953. For the next 10 years, he taught art at Southwest High. He then served as an art administrator for the Atlanta Public Schools from 1963-1966. During this time, he taught summer art classes at several Georgia colleges and took classes toward an EdS degree, which he received in 1970. Travel was one of Tom's great passions, and in 1966, he participated in the University of The Seven Seas World College Program as an art instructor where he took a six-month voyage around the world. When he returned Atlanta, Tom joined the first faculty of the newly created Kennesaw Junior College, later to become Kennesaw State University. Tom remained at Kennesaw until his retirement in 1990. In addition to his work as an educator, Tom was a great patron of the arts, especially in the Southeast. As President of the Georgia Art Education Association, Membership Secretary of the Southeastern Art Education Association, and a member of local and regional art organizations throughout the southeast, Tom made significant contributions to the art world. During the 1960s and 1970s, he helped operate the Atlanta's Artists Associate Gallery. Display of Tom's work included exhibitions at the High Museum Art Shop, the South Carolina Museum of Art, the Gertrude Herbert Art Institute, the McIntosh Gallery, and the Governor's office, among others. Tom's creative talents manifested themselves in many ways. In addition to creating hundreds of paintings and watercolors, he worked with ceramics, collage, and textiles. He journeyed to Cortona, Italy, to learn the technique of papermaking and studied bronze casting at the Instituto Allende in San Miguel, Mexico. Tom was an active member of the Friendship Force, traveling to South Korea, China, and Soviet Georgia with their program. Members of his Georgian host family were also extended guests in his Atlanta residence. Tom was a lifelong member of the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. Indeed, his mother was pregnant with Tom at the time that the church was organized in the Salter's home. He would be active in the church in many capacities, particularly as a member of his beloved Harmony Sunday School class. In terms of stewardship, teaching, and administrative contributions, Tom always strived to enhance the community of the church and took great pride in watching the church thrive and expand. Preceded in death by his sister, Cordelia Salter Barksdale. Tom is survived by a nephew Dr. Allen Barksdale and his wife Teresa Lyle-Barksdale, cousins Ann Salter and Ann Pregnall, and a number of other cousins. Tom will also be missed by a large group of friends and former colleagues who will always remember his enthusiastic creativity, sense of humor, and gentle spirit. His funeral will be held at H.M. Patterson and Son's Spring Hill chapel at 2:30 on Wednesday October 6, with interment to follow at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. The family will receive visitors at Patterson's one hour prior to the funeral. Contributions in Tom's memory should be made to the Thompson Salter - Salova King Art Scholarship at Kennesaw State University.
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Memories and Condolences
for Methvin Salter
Roberta Griffin
October 11, 2008
Thom Salter made me feel welcome as a colleague at Kennesaw College from the day I arrived to teach art in 1983. He generously shared his knowledge of the Marietta art community and encouraged faculty to develop the art program into a degree major.
His kindness, wit and genrosity were legendary. He inspired students in his art classes, yet was uncommonly modest about his own creative ccomplishments.
It was a revelation to curate a retrospective exhibition of his art in honor of his retirement in 1989. As an art historian and director of the gallery, I realized then how much superb work he had been quietly making and exhibiting over the years. His paintings were the equal of many more famous modernist artists.
He should be remembered, also, for the role he played in creating a permanent collection of art for the university. In his early years at Kennesaw he developed friendships with famous area art collectors, who donated many important 19th c. paintings that are the foundation of the extensive collection of American art at KSU.
After retirement, he continued for many years to donate to the art scholarship he founded with his aunt, Salova King, and to come to gallery openings. I will always value Thom's advice and friendship, and to remember him as an extradinary human being, artist and teacher.
Roberta Griffin
Assoc. Professor of Art Emerita
Mary Sayer Hammond
October 10, 2008
Mr. Salter was a very dear person to me, encouraging me through all of his art classes at Southwest High, and over the years, from undergrad and graduate work at UGA to a career in art education. He was the reason I became an art teacher, and my life has been blessed by having such a wonderful mentor and friend.
My deepest sympathies to his family. He wil be deeply missed.
Mel Jones
October 9, 2008
Tom Salter was my 8th grade art teacher at Southwest High School in 1955. I very much enjoyed his class.
Pam Rhyne
October 9, 2008
Tom was a faculty member at KJC when I first arrived in the early 70's. Over the years I had the opportunity to work and get to know him. It was a pleasure to be on committees with him and I enjoyed his quick wit, friendly smile and grasp of situations. He made the world a better place.
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Johh E. LaRowe
October 8, 2008
Tom Salter was the epitome of the "True Southern Gentleman". We are happy to have known him as a friend. Glen and John
Charlie Jones
October 8, 2008
Mr. Salter was a kind sweet man who always had the extra time for his students. I was honored to be one of those students at Southwest High School in the early 60's. I am sure he is painting angels in heaven.
Jan Wheeler
October 7, 2008
Mr. Salter was my art teacher at Southwest High School in the early 60's - one of my favorite classes. He had such good ideas and taught us all to see art in a new light. I will forever appreciate his teachings. He was the best.
Betsy Finnell Speer
October 7, 2008
My deepest sympathy to the family of Mr. Salter. I was his student in the 60's at Southwest high school and I remember him as a kind and encouraging teacher. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers at this time.
Chris Johnson-Cochran
October 7, 2008
I was saddened to hear of Mr. Salter's passing. I was a student of his at Kennesaw College in the late seventies. He was a great teacher with a wonderful sense of humor. I learned more from him then all of my art teachers put together. I still often think about him. He will be missed . To me his "having been must ever be".
Richard Tilley
October 7, 2008
I was a sudent of Mr. Salter in 1957 at Southwest High in Atlanta. He taught me to appreciate art and life itself. He was a friend as well as a dedicated teacher.
Carol Archer Freeman
October 7, 2008
My condolences to the family. Mr. Salter was my high school art teacher at Southwest High School. He was a very special person.
James Bryson Culp
October 7, 2008
Mr. Salter, Art Teacher at Southwest High School,
gave me very encouraging words in 1962 while I devised and constructed some cannon and plantation-columnar theatrical stage props for our Senior play with its Civil War theme.
He was a good and kind man, so thoughtfully very encouraging.
His encouragement and kind words were valuable and powerful to many youngsters.
He did such well.
David Salter
October 7, 2008
From my 'Big Brother' at the fraternity to a friend for life, Tom was indeed one of the most gentle and genteel people that I have had the pleasure of knowing. He will be sorely missed.
Tim Kedzierski
October 7, 2008
I was blessed to take my first college art course with Tom. He encouraged, inspired and gently guided us with his teaching. Although it has been years since I've seen him, I think of him often as a point of inspiration.
Joy Garmon Bolt
October 7, 2008
A wonderful teacher! A kind man with a great sense of humor. He will be missed.
KSU, Class of 1990
Dick Spargur
October 7, 2008
My late mother's first cousin, Tom Salter (or Tommy as we family members all referred to him), was a cousin, friend, uncle, mentor and fine person to me, one whom I cherish. I'll miss his calm personality, kind and courtly good humor and benevolent good will.
My condolences are offered to Allen and Teresa. You and we have lost a treasure.
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H.M. Patterson & Son-Spring Hill Chapel1020 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30309
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