William H. Masterson (1914-1983) was the president of the University of Chattanooga (1966-1969) and Chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1969-1973 following the merger of UC into the UT system. He left UTC to accept a position as President of Rice University in Houston, Texas, but four days later resigned following protests related to the hiring process for his position. He returned to UTC to become a history professor until his retirement in 1979. He then retired to Texas, but tragically died in an automobile accident in March of 1983. Masterson was married to Orvetta (Vetta) Talbott Weston in 1945 and had 2 daughters, Amanda and Aileen.