James Powers

James Knox Powers (born August 15, 1851 in Lauderdale County; ) was the 11th president of the University of Alabama.

Powers was the son of William and Rosanna Reeder Powers and grandson of Thomas Powers who left North Carolina to settle in Lauderdale County in 1820. He was educated in the county schools and in 1867 began to study in Florence under S. P. Rice. He transferred to the Florence Wesleyan University until 1871, serving as a tutor during the last year.

Powers then enrolled in the University of Alabama and completed his master of arts in 1873 and was given a professorship in mathematics at the Alabama State Normal College in Florence which was set to open that fall. He rose to president of the college in 1888, and served until 1897 when he was appointed to succeed Richard Jones as president of the University in Tuscaloosa. During his four year term, Powers succeeded in increasing enrollment and faculty appointments to record levels. After he resigned William Wyman was appointed to take his place.

After leaving Tuscaloosa, Powers took a position with the B. F. Johnson Publishing Company in Richmond, Virginia.