He was only 19 when he became a principal and simultaneously an English, Spanish and algebra teacher at Willow Hole High School in Texas.

After serving in World War II and working for an oil company, he became an assistant superintendent for several school districts in the Greater Houston area.

Sam Houston State's criminal justice programs were created during Templeton's time as president.

[2] Sam Houston State's criminal justice program offered the school's first doctoral degree.

[5] Templeton's 1972 appointment as UTEP's president has been cited as an example of the power struggles that can occur in multicampus university systems.