Inauguration of Walter Lee Smith As Seventh President of Florida
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A" Inaa2, G Y---OePi YMZIA a/y~~n A YeaeenZ Wd02 4mt~~aand SATURDAY, THE TWENTY-SECOND OF APRIL NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-EIGHT UNIVERSITY QUADRANGLE TALLAHASSEE The Seventh President Dr. Walter L. Smith tive bargaining at the University of Chicago's DR. WALTER L. SMITH will be inaugurated to- Center for Continuing Education. Dr. Smith also day as the seventh permanent president of Flo- has studied law at the Woodrow Wilson College rida A&M University. of Law, Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Smith was appointed to the position on A military veteran, Dr. Smith is also a August 11, 1977 by the Florida Board of Regents, graduate of the U. S.Army Leadership Academy and he assumed the presidency on September 1. at Fort Lee, Virginia. Among his diverse work A true son of Florida A&M, Dr. Smith spent experiences are positions as ateacher of chemistry much of his youth in Tallahassee in the home of and biology in Tampa, management trainee for IBM, provost his grandfather just south of the campus, and he and chief negotiator for earned two degrees from the institution-the Hillsborough Com- munity College in Tampa, and executive with the Bachelor of Arts in biology and chemistry, and Florida and National Education Associations. the Master of Education in administration and supervision. Additionally, Dr. Smith served as Dr. Smith is credited with establishing the assistant to the dean of FAMU's School of Educa- first statewide center for human relations in tion from February 1972, through January 1973. Florida under sponsorship of the Florida Educa- tion Association. The FEA presented him its Dr. Smith is proud of his FAMU connections leadership award in human relations in 1973. He and sees them as a basis for the very diverse has published and edited several papers and educational and professional background that other works, and holds membership in Phi Delta paved his path to the presidency of his alma Kappa. His other affiliations and memberships mater. include the National Council on Research and Development, the Board of Education Advisors In addition to earning the doctorate in of the Permanent Charity Foundation, and the higher education administration from Florida board of directors of the Council of Black State University in 1974, Dr. Smith has received American Affairs. extensive specialized preparation. He com- pleted specialized training in Improving Teacher He has served as court appointee of the Competencies at the Northwest Regional Educa- Citywide Coordinating Council of Boston, tion Laboratories, Portland, Oregon, and earned Massachusetts, and as Governor's appointee on a certificate in African Culture and History at the the Post-Secondary Education Commission of African universities of Legon and Ibadan. He Massachusetts. received additional specialized training as a graduate of the Educational Training Con- Dr. Smith is married to the former Jeraldine sultants Program of the Institute for Applied Williams of Tampa, and they have four children, Behavioral Science, Bethel, Maine, and collec- John, Andre', Salesia, and Walter, II. WALTER LEE SMITH Seventh President FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY Historical Sketch Florida A&M University 'FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY was established University was admitted to membership in the by constitutional provision and legislative enact- American Association of University Women in ment in 1887 as the Colored Normal School. It 1959. became a university on September 1, 1953 as a The University went on year-round opera- result of a bill passed by the State Legislature on tion with the trimester system in 1963-64, and April 28. changed again to the quarter system in 1967-68. The University is divided into seven schools Dr. Walter L.Smith became the seventh per- and colleges-the College of Education, College manent president on September 1, 1977. There of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of have been three acting presidents. Science and Technology, School of Architec- In 1970, by authorization of the Board of ture, School of Business and Industry, School of Regents, FAMU became the first and only uni- Nursing, and School of Pharmacy. In addition, versity in the state to offer a major in Afro- FAMU has 11 academic and related service American Studies. functions-Academic Computer Services; Basic Several projects have been either recently Studies; Continuing Education, Evening and completed or are currently under way for the Weekend College; Cooperative Education; continued improvement of the University's Graduate Studies; Honors Program; Instruc- physical plant. Foremost among these is the re- tional Media Center; Libraries; Sponsored cent completion of a multi-million dollar Research; Summer Quarter; and Test Service women's apartment complex. More recently the Bureau. University Commons and the central library The spacious campus is spread over an area both have undergone extensive renovation. Also, a $2 million building to house the School of of 404 acres. The main campus is located on the Pharmacy was completed and occupied. highest of seven hills in the State Capital City of Tallahassee. The validity of the investment in. physical-ex- pansion and development has been justified by a The campus is made very picturesque by significant record of educational growth massive oaks, broad, green lawns, beautiful reflected in the development of educational tropical shrubbery, red brick buildings, and programs, the increase in student enrollment, well-placed concrete walks. The location and at- and a corresponding increase in staff. mosphere are most ideal for an educational in- The necessity to expand the offerings of the stitution. It is a Land Grant institution and one of University has generally coincided with the Florida's nine state-assisted universities. physical expansion. The University holds membership in all of Under the leadership of Dr. Smith, FAMU the leading accrediting and professional agen- enters a new era, and the University takes on cies, including full membership in the Southern added significance as it meets the educational Association of Colleges and Schools. A chapter needs of its students and continues to move of Phi Delta Kappa, a professional fraternity for forward in giant strides as an institution of higher men in education, was established in 1964. The learning. The Programs/Schedule of Events INAUGURAL SYMPOSIUM (Retirees and Alumni) IVA Wednesday, April 19, 1978 PROGRAM Event: "TWENTY-ONE BELL SALUTE" Coffee Hour and Viewing of Historical Exhibits to the Time: 9:00-9:20 Presidents of Florida A&M University FAMUana Room and Lobby from 1887 to 1978 Black Archives Center President Thomas D. Tucker Event: Honored by Mr. George W. Conoly Inaugural Symposium Retired Professor of Agricultural Education and former Alumni Executive Secretary Time: 9:30 - 10:45 President Nathan B. Young Place: Honored by Dr. Fred Matheus Front Porch and Lawn Former Business Manager and Professor of Latin and Black Archives Center English President J. R. E. Lee, Sr. Presiding: Honored by Mrs. Johnny V. Lee Rev. Moses G. Miles Retired Professor of Music Retired Professor of Mathematics President William H. Gray, jr. and Dean of Students Honored by Mr. T. T. Lewis Retired Professor of Horticulture Invocation: President George W. Gore, Jr. Dr. James Hudson Honored by Mr. John W. Riley Retired Professor of Philosophy Retired Professor of History and former Head of the and Religion and University Chaplain Department of History and Geography Occasion: President Benjamin L. Perry, Jr. Honored by Mr. Maxwell S. Thomas Mr. J. C. Adderley, Class of 1954 Retired Coordinator of Planning and Development Retiree, Leon County Public Schools and former Dean of the Vocational-Technical In- stitute Speakers: President Walter L. Smith Dr. L. H. B. Foote Honored by Mr. Anatole E.Martin, Jr. Retired Director, FAMU Hospital Retired University Union Recreation Supervisor and Student Clinic Mrs. Irene DeCoursey Remarks: Retired Professor of Education and former Dean of Women Dr. Walter L. Smith President, Florida A&M University Mr. E. E. Ware Retired Professor of Biology and Mr. Roger Cobb former Head of the Biology Department President, Student Government Association FOUNDERS' OBSERVANCE ALL-UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION Wednesday, April 19, 1978 Lee Hall Auditorium 11:00 A.M. Presiding: Mrs. R. R. Caswell Director of Alumni Affairs PRELUDE: "Chorale in A Minor" .............................................................. Cesar Franck HYMN: "Faith of Our Fathers" .................................................................... Audience SELECTION: "Overture, La Gazza Ladra" ................................... Gioacchino Rossini arr. Lucien Cailliet University Symphonic Band Dr. William P. Foster, Conductor; julian E.White, Associate Conductor THE O CCASIO N ............................................................................. M rs. Alice Peacock MEMORIAL DEDICATION: "Lest We Forget" ................. Dr. Herbert C. Alexander INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER .................................................... Dr. Walter L. Smith President, Florida A&M University ADDRESS ............................................................................ Dr. Cleveland L. Dennard President, Atlanta University RECOGNITION AND REMARKS .............................................. Dr. Fredrick T. Milton Southeastern Regional Vice President FAMU Alumni Association ALMA MATER PO STLUDE: "Flourish and Fugue" ............................................................... John Cook STUDENT SYMPOSIUM Wednesday, April