SGC to Merge with Waycross College
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SGC to merge with Waycross College In January, the Board of Regents approved University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby’s recommendation to consolidate eight of the System’s 35 colleges and universities. Two of the colleges included in the proposal are South Georgia College (Douglas) and Waycross College (Waycross). The other six recommended consolidations are: Gainesville State College and North Georgia College & State University (Dahlonega); Middle Georgia College (Cochran) and Macon State College; and Augusta State University and Georgia Health Sciences University. “The Board’s approval now paves the way for us to proceed,” said Huckaby. “We will focus on how these consolidations enable us to better serve our students and areas of the state more efficiently and effectively. I look forward to working with the eight institutions on this process.” Now that the plan has board approval, Huckaby will begin to implement the plan, which is expected to take between 12-18 months to finalize. Dr. Virginia Carson, President of South Georgia College, commented, “I believe this proposal can further improve partnerships already in place among our respective institutions and offer additional economic impact for our region. SGC is a residential state college, which has been approved by the USG and SACS Commission on Colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees; this is just one example of how consolidating can enhance opportunities for students.” Campus working groups have been appointed by Huckaby and charged with developing detailed recommendations for consolidation. Huckaby said the campus committees will make recommendations on issues such as academic programs and financial aid. Implementation actions will be reviewed by the University continued on page 5 Regents announce statewide campus consolidation plans Collins Hall, Room 123: From the President Dr. Virginia M. Carson Ralph C. Moor Classroom New Beginnings and Legacies Following a recent ceremony If you blink you will miss something these days at SGC. We on the campus of South Georgia kicked off 2012 with several newsworthy events, including approval College, Room 123 in Collins Hall from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) will forever bear the name of Ralph for our bachelor of science in nursing degree, Georgia Board of C. Moor of Atlanta. Regents approval of a consolidation between Waycross College and Mr. Moor served as Academic SGC, new alumni recognition opportunities in the field of athletics, Dean at South Georgia College and a record spring enrollment. from September 1948 through While we are still in the beginning stages of conversations on October 1951. He then worked consolidation, I want to assure both communities and stakeholders, with the U.S. Office of Education our goal is to focus on how joining the two institutions can benefit and spent much of the rest of his our students and region during this challenging fiscal environment. career employed by the Georgia Our strong athletic heritage is the basis for our decision to State Merit System of Personnel, create an Athletic Hall of Fame at SGC. This program will be an from which he retired in 1975 as exciting way for us to pay tribute to the SGC players and coaches Commissioner of Personnel. Mr. who made important contributions to their respective sports and Moor received his undergraduate communities. Mark your calendars for our Inaugural Induction degree from Georgia State Ceremony set for May 31, 2012. University in 1937 and his master’s Speaking of legacies, all of us at SGC are saddened by the loss degree from George Washington of Coach George A. Cook and Coach Vince Gibson. Both men made University in 1947. a positive difference in the lives of many throughout their careers Joining Mr. Moor for the and are highly regarded for their service at SGC. We extend our festivities were his two sons, sympathies to their families during this difficult time. Carl and Larry, as well as Larry’s South Georgia College is experiencing a flurry of activity from wife, Julia, and their son, Michael. cultural events, campus organization projects, and spring athletics. Larry, Julia and Michael are all SGC I do hope you will visit the campus and enjoy these worthwhile alumni. events happening at your College. During the ceremony, Dr. As alumni, you know firsthand how important education is Virginia Carson shared the to our state’s future. By sharing our mission, you can help SGC following: “Mr. Moor has been achieve greater success! a dear friend to SGC and his generosity over the years has helped make a positive impact on countless students. We are delighted to have an opportunity to recognize him in this way and thank him for the important role he has played in our institution.” At the ceremony, Mr. Moor, who celebrated his 99th birthday in December, stated, “Even though my physical presence isn’t here anymore, my heart certainly is.” Left: Dr. Virginia Carson and Foundation President Shelly McLean (right) congratulate Mr. Ralph Moor, who is joined by family members at his classroom dedication. Page 2 Spring 2012 SGC Tiger Talk Dr. Denton Coker, 91, recalls 13 years as SGC President In the late 1960s, Dr. Denton Coker, then the Dean of Academic Affairs at Brunswick Junior College (now Coastal College of Georgia), found himself with an important decision to make. Chancellor George Simpson of the University System of Georgia presented Dr. Coker with a choice – he could remain at Brunswick Junior College or move to Douglas and take the presidency of South Georgia College. Dr. Pope Duncan left SGC in June of 1968, leaving a vacancy in Thrash Hall. Dr. Coker, who had been in Brunswick for three years, spent a great deal of time weighing the options. After careful consideration, he decided to take the job at South Georgia College. “It would have been easier to stay in Brunswick, but South Georgia had dormitories and I felt like we could impact the students more because of the dorms,” he recalled. Among those changes were “I didn’t know I would retire building new roads on campus, from education and go into real renovating virtually all of the estate developing,” Dr. Coker said, existing buildings, and constructing laughing. In July of 1968, Dr. Denton new dorms for men and women. A decade later, thanks to Coker became the fourth president Both the SGC Foundation and the over $30,000 in damages from of South Georgia College, and nursing program were born under Hurricane Earl, the Cokers moved spearheaded over a decade of Dr. Coker’s watch. into Azalea Trace Retirement progress that laid the foundation Of all his accomplishments, Center in Pensacola, where they for many of the advances that have though, Dr. Coker believes his currently reside. recently taken place on campus. greatest achievement came in the Dr. Coker, now 91 years old When Dr. Coker arrived, he recruitment of top-notch faculty. and in good health and spirits, saw an institution with a great He helped recruit a core group hasn’t been back to Douglas since deal of promise, but one that was of campus leaders, including 1982, but recalls his time at SGC behind the times in many areas. To Dr. Christian Sizemore, Carlisle with fondness. bring SGC up to speed, he needed Ramsey and Jim Pruitt, who “I consider my years at South to make changes, some of which helped strengthen SGC’s academic Georgia College as the height of were controversial. mission. (After Dr. Coker’s tenure my career. We were there for 13 “We made the changes that I ended in 1981, Dr. Sizemore years, and we lived on campus in felt would bring us into the 20th served as acting SGC president for what is now the Alumni House. My century,” he said. one year.) daughter hated it. She had to go “I’m proudest of the faculty we all the way across town to see her attracted,” he said. friends,” he said, smiling. “I wish I When Dr. Coker left SGC, he could do it all over again.” “The Cokers’ worked for one year at the System Even from Florida, Dr. Coker hospitality was office in Atlanta before taking has managed to keep up with unsurpassed. Their a Provost position at Stetson developments at SGC through University. He remained at Stetson the years. He is well aware of home on campus served until 1988, when he retired from the progress that the College as a wonderful tool to higher education. has enjoyed, and at least two Dr. Denton Coker and his wife, advances that took place during celebrate what SGC Octavia, have been married for 67 his presidency (the Foundation offers this region.” years. Mrs. Coker is from Milton, and the nursing program) are at HI Florida, a small community near the heart of SGC’s recent progress. Pensacola. “I’m very proud of the Mr. Bob Preston Upon retirement, the Cokers achievements of Dr. Carson,” he State Court Judge moved to the Pensacola area, said. “She is a true leader and Coffee County where Dr. Coker and his brother- scholar, and works well with the in-law developed a subdivision. System and the community.” SGC Tiger Talk Spring 2012 Page 3 Karl Enchelmayer celebrates the end of his bicycle journey in Miami, a long way from his beginning in Saving the Seattle (below right). World... one pedal by L.E. Terrell at a time The South Georgian While the HIV/AIDS epidemic He began received much notoriety and his ride in attention in the last half of the Seattle on 20th century, it seems to have September 1 faded into the background of our and ended it society as just another unfortunate in Miami just disease that many associate with in time to ring someone else.