Henry King Stanford
Encyclopedia
Henry King Stanford was President of Georgia Southwestern College (now known as Georgia Southwestern State University
), President of Georgia State College for Women (now known as Georgia College & State University
), President of Birmingham Southern College, the 3rd President of the University of Miami
, and 19th President of the University of Georgia
.
. He received his Bachelor of Arts
in history and German from Emory University
, a Master of Science
in government and management from the University of Denver
(where he was an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Fellow
), and a PhD
in political science and public administration from New York University
. He was also the recipient of thirteen honorary doctorates from universities across the world.
, and from 1950 to 1952 he was Director of the University Center in Georgia. The Board of Regents elected Stanford as President of Georgia State College for Women in 1953. Before going to GSCW, Stanford had worked for a year as the Assistant Chancellor
of the University System of Georgia
. Newspaper reports state that he was sent to GSCW by the Board of Regents to deal with GSCW's difficult problems such as the declining enrollment and the movement to make GSCW a coeducational institution.
During his short tenure of three years at GSCW, Stanford managed to raise morale and stop declining enrollment. Herty Hall was also completed during Stanford's tenure. Many of the other buildings on campus, however, continued to suffer. Stanford suggested during his presidency that Chappell Hall be torn down. At the same time, much of Atkinson Hall was abandoned due to the building's poor condition. Despite Stanford's requests for funding, much of the campus remained in disrepair until the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1956 the Board of Regents granted Stanford a leave of absence so that he could serve as Chief of the New York University
Mission in Turkey
. His original plan was to return to the college in June 1957. Before he left for Turkey, however, he took a position as president of Birmingham Southern College and resigned as president of Georgia State College for Women in the spring of 1956. He was president of Birmingham Southern from 1957 until 1962.
from 1962–1981. He was known as much for his trademark jacket lapel, always accessorized with a fresh and colorful carnation, as for his leadership and personal commitment to the University's students. He would breakfast with student groups every two weeks, and frequently invited student leaders to his home to dialogue with himself and his wife, Ruth King Stanford, over dinner. He often visited the residence halls unannounced to talk with students or spontaneously joined them for lunch. Another notable trademark was his remarkable and uncanny ability to remember years later, the names and circumstances under which he had met students just once. Accordingly, his tenure is also remembered for his ubiquitous campus presence.
Stanford's presidency at the University of Miami saw increased emphasis on research, reorganization of administrative structure and construction of new facilities. Among the new research centers established were the Center for Advanced International Studies (1964), the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Evolution (1964), the Center for Theoretical Studies (1965), the James M. Cox, Jr. Science Building, (1967), and the Institute for the Study of Aging (1975).
Stanford led the University through the national turbulence of the 1960s, and guided it through the largest era of growth and expansion in the University’s history. New buildings sprung up as quickly as new programs and degrees
. Four 12-story residence halls were among the dozens of new buildings, and reflected the University’s growing enrollment of out-of-state students. One of those residence halls, the Henry King Stanford Residential College today bears his name.
Beginning with 1968 fall football season, the University of Miami, at Stanford's insistence, became one of the first Southern United States
institutions to ban the playing of "Dixie
" by the University band. To prevent the kind of disruptive and violent demonstrations such as the tragedy at Kent State University
, he orchestrated larger roles for students and faculty in university governance and allowed all a greater freedom of choice. Minority rights and representation at all levels of University life also became characteristic of the Stanford presidency. He initiated the tradition of dinners for foreign students at his home, and encouraged diversity throughout the University.
Stanford also led the University through the difficult era of the 1970s, when the entire country was feeling the effects of the prolonged national inflation, and the general discrediting of higher education institutions, since during a time when jobs were scarce, a college degree was no longer an automatic assurance of a successful career and a secure future. It was also during this time that use of the University’s former post-war nickname of “Sun Tan U” ended due to Stanford's efforts. In his honor, the University of Miami has named several awards, scholarships, and endowed chairs, a road way, a residence hall, and other items.
In April 2007, the AMIGOS Board of Directors of the University of Miami’s Libraries Cuban Heritage Collection (CHC) established the “AMIGOS of the University of Miami Cuban Heritage Collection Henry King Stanford Award”, named for the third president of UM, and presented the former president with its first award. The award was created to honor those individuals who have “greatly contributed” to the work of the AMIGOS and the CHC.
in Athens, Georgia
on an interim basis, while the Georgia Board of Regents conducted a search for a permanent president. He served from 1986 to 1987.
Stanford served during a period of turmoil. The reputation of the University had been sullied as a result of an unfavorable ruling by a federal jury in a case brought by Jan Kemp
, who had asserted that she was unlawfully fired for speaking out against alleged preferential academic treatement for athletes. Stanford was instrumental in moving the University forward and restoring optimism.
Upon his departure from the University of Georgia, the Georgia Board of Regents
named him president emeritus of the University of Georgia.
in 1988 at the age of 72. He died at the age of 92 at his home in Americus
, Georgia
, on New Year's Day
, 2009.
Georgia Southwestern State University
Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the University System of Georgia.-The College of Arts and Sciences:The College of Arts and Sciences at GSW offers undergraduate degrees in art Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the...
), President of Georgia State College for Women (now known as Georgia College & State University
Georgia College & State University
Georgia College & State University is a public liberal arts university in Milledgeville, Georgia, United States, with approximately 7,000 students...
), President of Birmingham Southern College, the 3rd President of the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
, and 19th President of the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
.
Early years and education
Stanford was born and raised in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history and German from Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in government and management from the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
(where he was an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic non-profit organization in the United States. It was established in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors.-Overview:...
Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
), and a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in political science and public administration from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He was also the recipient of thirteen honorary doctorates from universities across the world.
Small college presidencies
From 1948 to 1950, Stanford was President of Georgia Southwestern College, now known as Georgia Southwestern State UniversityGeorgia Southwestern State University
Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the University System of Georgia.-The College of Arts and Sciences:The College of Arts and Sciences at GSW offers undergraduate degrees in art Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, is a school in the...
, and from 1950 to 1952 he was Director of the University Center in Georgia. The Board of Regents elected Stanford as President of Georgia State College for Women in 1953. Before going to GSCW, Stanford had worked for a year as the Assistant Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of the University System of Georgia
University System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
. Newspaper reports state that he was sent to GSCW by the Board of Regents to deal with GSCW's difficult problems such as the declining enrollment and the movement to make GSCW a coeducational institution.
During his short tenure of three years at GSCW, Stanford managed to raise morale and stop declining enrollment. Herty Hall was also completed during Stanford's tenure. Many of the other buildings on campus, however, continued to suffer. Stanford suggested during his presidency that Chappell Hall be torn down. At the same time, much of Atkinson Hall was abandoned due to the building's poor condition. Despite Stanford's requests for funding, much of the campus remained in disrepair until the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1956 the Board of Regents granted Stanford a leave of absence so that he could serve as Chief of the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
Mission in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. His original plan was to return to the college in June 1957. Before he left for Turkey, however, he took a position as president of Birmingham Southern College and resigned as president of Georgia State College for Women in the spring of 1956. He was president of Birmingham Southern from 1957 until 1962.
University of Miami
Stanford was the president of the University of MiamiUniversity of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
from 1962–1981. He was known as much for his trademark jacket lapel, always accessorized with a fresh and colorful carnation, as for his leadership and personal commitment to the University's students. He would breakfast with student groups every two weeks, and frequently invited student leaders to his home to dialogue with himself and his wife, Ruth King Stanford, over dinner. He often visited the residence halls unannounced to talk with students or spontaneously joined them for lunch. Another notable trademark was his remarkable and uncanny ability to remember years later, the names and circumstances under which he had met students just once. Accordingly, his tenure is also remembered for his ubiquitous campus presence.
Stanford's presidency at the University of Miami saw increased emphasis on research, reorganization of administrative structure and construction of new facilities. Among the new research centers established were the Center for Advanced International Studies (1964), the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Evolution (1964), the Center for Theoretical Studies (1965), the James M. Cox, Jr. Science Building, (1967), and the Institute for the Study of Aging (1975).
Stanford led the University through the national turbulence of the 1960s, and guided it through the largest era of growth and expansion in the University’s history. New buildings sprung up as quickly as new programs and degrees
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
. Four 12-story residence halls were among the dozens of new buildings, and reflected the University’s growing enrollment of out-of-state students. One of those residence halls, the Henry King Stanford Residential College today bears his name.
Beginning with 1968 fall football season, the University of Miami, at Stanford's insistence, became one of the first Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
institutions to ban the playing of "Dixie
Dixie (song)
Countless lyrical variants of "Dixie" exist, but the version attributed to Dan Emmett and its variations are the most popular. Emmett's lyrics as they were originally intended reflect the mood of the United States in the late 1850s toward growing abolitionist sentiment. The song presented the point...
" by the University band. To prevent the kind of disruptive and violent demonstrations such as the tragedy at Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
, he orchestrated larger roles for students and faculty in university governance and allowed all a greater freedom of choice. Minority rights and representation at all levels of University life also became characteristic of the Stanford presidency. He initiated the tradition of dinners for foreign students at his home, and encouraged diversity throughout the University.
Stanford also led the University through the difficult era of the 1970s, when the entire country was feeling the effects of the prolonged national inflation, and the general discrediting of higher education institutions, since during a time when jobs were scarce, a college degree was no longer an automatic assurance of a successful career and a secure future. It was also during this time that use of the University’s former post-war nickname of “Sun Tan U” ended due to Stanford's efforts. In his honor, the University of Miami has named several awards, scholarships, and endowed chairs, a road way, a residence hall, and other items.
In April 2007, the AMIGOS Board of Directors of the University of Miami’s Libraries Cuban Heritage Collection (CHC) established the “AMIGOS of the University of Miami Cuban Heritage Collection Henry King Stanford Award”, named for the third president of UM, and presented the former president with its first award. The award was created to honor those individuals who have “greatly contributed” to the work of the AMIGOS and the CHC.
University of Georgia
Five years after Stanford's retirement from the University of Miami, he took the position of president of the University of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
on an interim basis, while the Georgia Board of Regents conducted a search for a permanent president. He served from 1986 to 1987.
Stanford served during a period of turmoil. The reputation of the University had been sullied as a result of an unfavorable ruling by a federal jury in a case brought by Jan Kemp
Jan Kemp
Jan Kemp was an American academic and English tutor who exposed the bias in passing college football players and filed a lawsuit against the University of Georgia....
, who had asserted that she was unlawfully fired for speaking out against alleged preferential academic treatement for athletes. Stanford was instrumental in moving the University forward and restoring optimism.
Upon his departure from the University of Georgia, the Georgia Board of Regents
Georgia Board of Regents
The Georgia Board of Regents oversees the University System of Georgia as part of the state government of Georgia in the United States. The University System of Georgia is composed of all state public institutions of higher education.-History:...
named him president emeritus of the University of Georgia.
Retirement and death
Stanford climbed Mount EverestMount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
in 1988 at the age of 72. He died at the age of 92 at his home in Americus
Americus, Georgia
-Early years:Americus, Georgia was named and chartered by Sen. Lovett B. Smith in 1832.For its first two decades, Americus was a small courthouse town. The arrival of the railroad in 1854 and, three decades later, local attorney Samuel H. Hawkins' construction of the only privately financed...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, on New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
, 2009.