Frank Hereford (UVa)
Encyclopedia
Frank Loucks Hereford, Jr. (July 18, 1923 September 21, 2004) was the president of the University of Virginia
from 1974–1985. He died in 2004 at the age of 81. Among the hallmarks of his presidency were a major capital campaign, which increased the University's endowment from $97 million to more than $250 million; and ending the traditional Easters Weekend party.
in the years after the war, and received his Ph.D. from the University. During the war years, he worked on research for the Manhattan Project
with Dr. Beams, who called him "one of the best all around physicists with whom I have ever been associated."
He subsequently became a professor at the University, then became head of the Physics Department and Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1962. He was appointed provost in 1966. He was appointed Vice-President of the University (one of five newly created VP-level offices) in 1970, but resigned his posts of Vice-President and Dean to return to research in 1971. He was elected president to succeed Edgar Shannon in 1973 and took office a year later on the condition that he only serve for ten years; he extended his term by one year to oversee the completion of the University's first capital campaign, which began in 1981.
At the University as an undergraduate, Hereford was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa
, T.I.L.K.A., and the Alpha Tau Omega
social fraternity, as well as the Raven Society
and Phi Beta Kappa. Upon his death, it was announced that Hereford had been a member of the Seven Society
.
He was also a member of the whites-only Farmington Country Club
. Where his predecessor Edgar F. Shannon, Jr.
had resigned from the club, Hereford stated that he preferred to remain and attempt to change the club from within. His membership caused controversy at the University in 1976, resulting in one faculty resignation. The incident became the catalyst for social change at the University including the establishment of an Office of Minority Affairs.
Hereford was a recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Award in 1966,, and the Raven Award. The Hereford Residential College at UVA is named after him.
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
from 1974–1985. He died in 2004 at the age of 81. Among the hallmarks of his presidency were a major capital campaign, which increased the University's endowment from $97 million to more than $250 million; and ending the traditional Easters Weekend party.
Biography
Hereford attended the University of Virginia as an undergraduate, where he wrote a sports column for College Topics (the precursor of the Cavalier Daily). He received a B.A. in Physics in 1943, became a Physics fellow working under Jesse BeamsJesse Beams
Jesse Wakefield Beams was an American physicist at the University of Virginia.Beams completed his undergraduate B.A. in physics at Fairmount College in 1921 and his master's degree the next year at the University of Wisconsin–Madison...
in the years after the war, and received his Ph.D. from the University. During the war years, he worked on research for the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
with Dr. Beams, who called him "one of the best all around physicists with whom I have ever been associated."
He subsequently became a professor at the University, then became head of the Physics Department and Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1962. He was appointed provost in 1966. He was appointed Vice-President of the University (one of five newly created VP-level offices) in 1970, but resigned his posts of Vice-President and Dean to return to research in 1971. He was elected president to succeed Edgar Shannon in 1973 and took office a year later on the condition that he only serve for ten years; he extended his term by one year to oversee the completion of the University's first capital campaign, which began in 1981.
At the University as an undergraduate, Hereford was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
, T.I.L.K.A., and the Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
social fraternity, as well as the Raven Society
Raven Society
The Raven Society is the University of Virginia's oldest honorary society. Founded in 1904 by University student William McCully James, and named in honor of the famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe .According to its constitution, one of the Raven Society's main goals is "to bring together the best men...
and Phi Beta Kappa. Upon his death, it was announced that Hereford had been a member of the Seven Society
Seven Society
The Seven Society is the most secretive of the University of Virginia's secret societies. Members are only revealed after their death, when a wreath of black magnolias in the shape of a "7" is placed at the gravesite, the bell tower of the University Chapel chimes at seven-second intervals on the...
.
He was also a member of the whites-only Farmington Country Club
Farmington Country Club
Farmington Country Club is a country club in Charlottesville, Virginia, near the University of Virginia. The octagonal east wing of the clubhouse, constructed in 1802 as an addition to the pre-1780 structure, was designed by Thomas Jefferson....
. Where his predecessor Edgar F. Shannon, Jr.
Edgar F. Shannon, Jr.
Edgar F. Shannon, Jr. was a professor of English and president of the University of Virginia from 1959 to 1974.-Biography:...
had resigned from the club, Hereford stated that he preferred to remain and attempt to change the club from within. His membership caused controversy at the University in 1976, resulting in one faculty resignation. The incident became the catalyst for social change at the University including the establishment of an Office of Minority Affairs.
Hereford was a recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Award in 1966,, and the Raven Award. The Hereford Residential College at UVA is named after him.