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List of presidents of Centre College

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A brick building with white accents and six white columns
The president's office is located in Old Centre.[1]

Centre College is a private liberal arts college located in Danville, Kentucky, United States. It was founded by leaders of the Presbyterian Church, an affiliation it still loosely maintains, and was formally chartered by the Kentucky General Assembly on January 21, 1819. Isaac Shelby, the former governor of Kentucky, chaired the school's first board of trustees, which met for the first time in February 1819.[2] Centre's first president was James McChord; although he died two months after his election before actually having taken the role, he is still recognized as the school's first leader.[3] For much of the school's history, the college required its president and most of its board members to be Presbyterian; this requirement ended in 1969 during the tenure of Thomas A. Spragens,[4] one year after Centre withdrew from the Kentucky Synod.[5]

The close relationship with the church is evident in Centre's history, as Spragens, the school's seventeenth president, was the first who was not a member of the clergy; even then, he was a Presbyterian elder from age 29.[5] Fourteen of the school's first sixteen presidents were Presbyterian ministers (excepting only Ormond Beatty and Charles J. Turck),[6][7] though none since Spragens have been.[8] Michael F. Adams was the first who was not Presbyterian.[9] Three presidents—John C. Young, William L. Breckinridge, and William C. Young—held positions as moderator of the General Assembly in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.[10][11][12] Five Centre presidents have died in office: both Youngs, who were father and son, McChord, Lewis W. Green, and William C. Roberts.[3][13][14][15]

All Centre presidents since John C. Young have lived in either Hillcrest House (left, in 1927) or Craik House (right, in 2021).

John C. Young, who held office for nearly 27 years, is the longest-serving president in Centre's history. Spragens, who held the position for 24 years, and John A. Roush, who held it for 22 years, had the next-longest tenures in office.[16] The 21st and current president of Centre College is Milton C. Moreland, who has held office since July 1, 2020. He is an archaeologist by training and was formerly the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Rhodes College. In 2023, the president was the highest-paid employee at the school, with a total salary of $417,315.[17]

Craik House has been the residence of the college president for most of the time since the school bought the house in 1937.[18][19] Originally built in 1853, the Italianate-style home was first owned by William Moore, a Danville farmer, and later by George Welsh, a merchant and member of Centre's board of trustees.[18] When the college purchased the house using funds from a donation given by Henry Nelson Craik, an 1890 Centre graduate, the building was renamed for him.[19] President Robert L. McLeod was the first to occupy the house,[18] but during the 1940s consultants recommended the house be abandoned due to obsolete utilities and the inadequacy of its layout for hosting large receptions. For about ten years thereafter, the house was unused, until it was renovated in 1958 in preparation for the arrival of President Spragens to once again serve as the president's home.[19] It underwent further renovations in 1982 and 2021.[20][21] From 1831 to 1937, all presidents from John C. Young to Turck lived in Hillcrest House during their presidencies.[22] Hillcrest later served as a faculty residence, a student residence, and an academic building for various periods before being demolished in 1969.[22][23]

Presidents

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Portrait of John C. Young
John C. Young
Portrait of Thomas A. Spragens
Thomas A. Spragens
Photograph of John A. Roush
John A. Roush
Presidents
No. Name Term in office Notes Ref.
1 Rev. James McChord 1820 (1820)[a] Founder of Second Presbyterian Church (Lexington, Kentucky);[24] died before officially assuming the presidency, but still considered the first president [3]
2 Rev. Jeremiah Chamberlain 1822 (1822) – 1826 President of the College of Louisiana (1826–1828);[25] founding president of Oakland College (1830–1851)[26] [27]
3 Rev. Gideon Blackburn 1827 (1827) – 1830 [28]
4 Rev. John C. Young 1830 (1830) – 1857[a] Pastor of Danville Presbyterian Church (1834–1852);[29] moderator of the PCUSA General Assembly (1853);[10] Centre's longest-serving president[16] [30]
5 Rev. Lewis W. Green 1858 (1858) – 1863[a] Centre alumnus (1824);[31] president of Hampden–Sydney College (1848–1856);[32] president of Transylvania University (1856–1857)[33] [34]
6 Rev. William L. Breckinridge 1863 (1863) – 1868 Moderator of the PCUSA General Assembly (1859);[11] president of Oakland College (1860–1861)[35] [36]
7 Ormond Beatty 1870 (1870) – 1888 Centre alumnus (1835);[37] the first Centre president who was not a minister[6] [38]
8 Rev. William C. Young 1888 (1888) – 1896[a] Centre alumnus (1859);[13] moderator of the PCUSA General Assembly (1892);[12] son of fourth president John C. Young[13] [39]
9 Rev. William C. Roberts 1898 (1898) – 1903[a] President of Lake Forest University (1886–1892)[40] [15]
10 Rev. Frederick W. Hinitt 1904 (1904) – 1915 President of Parsons College (1900–1904);[41] president of Washington & Jefferson University (1915–1918)[42] [43]
11 Rev. William Arthur Ganfield 1915 (1915) – 1921 President of Carroll College (1921–1939)[44] [45]
12 Rev. R. Ames Montgomery 1922 (1922) – 1926 President of Parsons College (1917–1922)[46] [47]
13 Charles J. Turck 1927 (1927) – 1936 President of Macalester College (1939–1958)[48] [49]
14 Rev. Robert L. McLeod 1938 (1938) – 1945[b] [51]
15 Rev. Robert J. McMullen 1944 (1944) – 1946[b] Centre alumnus (1905);[52] president of Hangchow Christian College (1938–1942)[53] [52]
16 Rev. Walter A. Groves 1947 (1947) – 1957 President of Abadan Institute of Technology (1957–1961)[54] [55]
17 Thomas A. Spragens 1957 (1957) – 1981 President of Stephens College (1952–1957)[56] [56]
18 Richard L. Morrill 1982 (1982) – 1988 President of Salem College (1979–1982);[57] president of the University of Richmond (1988–1998)[58] [59]
19 Michael F. Adams 1988 (1988) – 1997 President of the University of Georgia (1997–2013)[60] [61]
20 John A. Roush 1998 (1998) – 2020 [62]
21 Milton C. Moreland 2020 (2020) – present [63]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Died in office
  2. ^ a b Robert L. McLeod and Robert J. McMullen served as co-presidents from September 1944 to November 1945, while McLeod was on a leave of absence serving as a chaplain in the United States Navy.[50]

References

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  1. ^ "Old Center [sic]". CentreCyclopedia. Centre College. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Weston 2019, p. 16.
  3. ^ a b c "James McChord, Centre College President (1820)". CentreCyclopedia. Centre College. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Weston 2019, p. 103.
  5. ^ a b Brock, Herb (November 15, 1981). "President Spragens recalls his career at Centre College". The Advocate-Messenger. Danville, Kentucky. pp. 19, 26. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Story continued on page 26 here (Archived here)
  6. ^ a b Weston 2019, p. 42.
  7. ^ "Charles J. Turck, Centre College President (1927–1936)". CentreCyclopedia. Centre College. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  8. ^ Weston 2019, p. 89.
  9. ^ Weston 2019, p. 119.
  10. ^ a b "Presbyterian General Assembly – (Old School.)". The New York Times. May 23, 1853. p. 8. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b Weston 2019, p. 41.
  12. ^ a b Shepardson 1927, p. 329.
  13. ^ a b c Johnson, Diane (April 8, 2015). "The story behind the name: The Youngs of Young Hall". Centre College. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022.
  14. ^ Weston 2019, p. 38.
  15. ^ a b "William C. Roberts, Centre College President (1898–1903)". CentreCyclopedia. Centre College. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Weston 2019, p. 138.
  17. ^ "Nonprofit Explorer: Centre College of Kentucky". ProPublica. May 9, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c "Craik House". CentreCyclopedia. Centre College. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Craik House, Centre presidents' home, now completely remodeled, inside and out, and ready for another century of use". Courier Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. October 26, 1958. p. 138. Retrieved February 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  20. ^ "Centre opens houses to benefit United Way". The Advocate-Messenger. Danville, Kentucky. November 2, 1997. p. 3. Retrieved February 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. ^ "Coffee with the Miltons: Craik House". Centre College. February 6, 2021. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Hillcrest House". CentreCyclopedia. Centre College. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  23. ^ "'New look' at 150-year-old Centre College". Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. March 14, 1969. p. 9. Retrieved February 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  24. ^ Combs, Jim (March 22, 2010). "History: 1813–1820, The Early Years". Second Presbyterian Church. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  25. ^ Sloane 2000, p. 1.
  26. ^ "Jeremiah Chamberlain (1794–1851)". Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections. Dickinson College. 2005. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  27. ^ Weston 2019, p. 17.
  28. ^ Nichols, David A. (October 8, 2017). "Gideon Blackburn (1772–1838)". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Tennessee Historical Society. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  29. ^ Weston 2019, p. 26.
  30. ^ Weston 2019, pp. 24, 29.
  31. ^ "Lewis W. Green, Centre College President (1857–1863)". CentreCyclopedia. Centre College. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  32. ^ Halsey 1871, pp. 43–44, 52.
  33. ^ Halsey 1871, pp. 52–55.
  34. ^ Weston 2019, pp. 31, 38.
  35. ^ Memoirs of Mississippi 1999, p. 310.
  36. ^ Waugh, Barry (November 2, 2015). "William L. Breckinridge, 1803–1876". Presbyterians of the Past. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  37. ^ Nevin & Nevin 1884, pp. 62–63.
  38. ^ Lewis 1899, p. 119.
  39. ^ Lewis 1899, pp. 121, 122.
  40. ^ "History of the College". Lake Forest College. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  41. ^ Brower 1942, p. 7.
  42. ^ "Frederick W. Hinitt, Centre College President (1904–1915)". CentreCyclopedia. Centre College. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  43. ^ Weston 2019, pp. 59, 64.
  44. ^ Weston 2019, p. 69.
  45. ^ Weston 2019, pp. 65, 69.
  46. ^ Parsons 1925, p. 144.
  47. ^ "Centre College president resigns; act expected to end bitter campus strife". The Lexington Herald. Lexington, Kentucky. March 10, 1926. p. 1. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  48. ^ Gonzalez-Campoy, Rebecca (May 1, 1997). "Charles Turck: He raised the flag of internationalism" (PDF). Macalester Today. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Macalester College. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  49. ^ Stahl, Matt (January 15, 1989). "Charles Joseph Turck, ex-Centre president, dies". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. p. 48. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  50. ^ Weston 2019, p. 88.
  51. ^ "Ex-Centre president Robert McLeod dies". Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. September 1, 1998. p. 14. Retrieved March 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  52. ^ a b "Ex-Centre president dies in North Carolina". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. October 28, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  53. ^ "Biographical Index of Presbyterian Church U.S. Missionaries to China - McMullen, Rev. Robert Johnston, D.D." Presbyterian Heritage Center at Montreat. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  54. ^ "Walter A. and Estelle Crawford Groves Papers: 1925–1930" (PDF). Skillman Library. Lafayette College. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  55. ^ Groves, Walter (April 22, 1983). "Dr. Walter Groves: Oral History Interview, Part 1" (PDF) (Interview). Interviewed by LeDoux, John. Danville, Kentucky. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  56. ^ a b Davis, John T. (February 13, 2006). "Thomas Spragens, Centre 'giant,' dies". The Advocate-Messenger. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  57. ^ "12 still in running for Salem presidency". Winston-Salem Journal. Winston-Salem, North Carolina. February 13, 1982. p. 9. Retrieved March 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  58. ^ "President to step down at University of Richmond". The Virginian-Pilot. Hampton Roads, Virginia. March 8, 1997. p. B5. Archived from the original on November 16, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  59. ^ "Morrill picked as UR president". Danville Register & Bee. Danville, Virginia. April 23, 1988. p. 5. Retrieved March 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  60. ^ Jackson, Tom (May 3, 2012). "UGA president Adams announces plans to step down next year". UGA Today. University of Georgia. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  61. ^ Weston 2019, pp. 119, 124.
  62. ^ "OU honors John Roush with degrees". The Advocate-Messenger. Danville, Kentucky. June 23, 2020. p. A5. Retrieved March 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  63. ^ "Centre College names Milton Moreland as new president". AP News. February 5, 2020. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2020.

Bibliography

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