Robert I. Watson

The Noble Nine supported from the start Robert Lee Madison's dream of training teachers to spread educational opportunities throughout western North Carolina. Madison was about to leave in 1889 to take a job in Raleigh, but they pledged to devote their time and money to realization of his "Cullowhee Idea." They were named trustees of the newly chartered Cullowhee High School in 1891. The rest is history – the development of Madison's and the Noble Nine's one hundred twenty-five year old idea into Western Carolina University.