Bridgewater College: the First Hundred Years, 1880-1980 437
VIII The Presidency of Jacob Ira Baugher 1946-1948 The Choice of a New College Head In response to President Paul Haynes Bowman's formal resignation of his office on April 9, 1945, the college's board of trustees instructed its chairman, John C. Myers, to appoint a committee to search for and recommend a successor. The committeemen were Charles W. Wampler (chairman), Malcolm A. Long, R. Douglas Nininger, John A. Pritchett, and Isaac C. Senger.1 On November 6, 1945, the trustees, accepting the recommendation of its special committee, unanimously elected Jacob Ira Baugher as president of the college, and Dr. Baugher agreed to serve in the position, his term of office to begin on July 1, 1946. In choosing Dr. Baugher, the trustees had considered a statement, presented by Earl M. Bowman and Jacob F. Replogle (representing 16 Church of the Brethren clergymen of Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland), of what they believed to be desirable qualifications for a president of Bridgewater.2 The choice of Dr. Baugher was applauded by those who knew him. "I cannot think of anyone in the Church [of the Brethren], whom I would prefer having as my successor," declared President Bowman,3 who, in the intervening months, did all he could to help his successor make the adjustment to his new office, in the matter of making plans and faculty appointments for the coming session.4 Others who knew the president-elect also felt that his native ability, his training and experience, his character and personality eminently qualified him for the position to which he had been chosen.
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