Donald Dedmon
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2011) |
Donald Newton Dedmon | |
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4th President of Radford University | |
In office March 20, 1972 – August 15, 1995 | |
Preceded by | Charles Knox Martin, Jr. |
Succeeded by | Douglas Covington |
Acting President of Marshall University | |
In office July 1970 – March 1, 1971 | |
Preceded by | Roland Nelson |
Succeeded by | John G. Barker |
Personal details | |
Born | Donald Newton Dedmon August 13, 1931 Ph.D ) |
Donald Newton Dedmon (August 13, 1931 – February 13, 1998) was an American academic administrator and communications consultant.
Early life and education
Dedmon was born in Wright County, Missouri, and received his undergraduate degree English and speech from Southwest Missouri State College (now Missouri State University) in 1953, and taught high school before earning a Master of Arts degree in speech in 1956 and a PhD in oral education from the University of Iowa in 1961.
Career
He taught at
Dedmon became the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at
Dedmon became president of Radford University on March 20, 1972, and served for more than twenty years, during which time the University experienced rapid growth and a major transition from a small women's college to a co-ed institution, before reaching university status in 1979. The enrollment tripled during his tenure.[2]
Dedmon spent much of the early 1990s away from Radford University on
Due to ill health Dedmon announced his retirement from Radford University in June 1994, but officially held the presidency while on medical leave until August 1995. His last public appearance at Radford University was in September 1995, when he spoke at the inauguration of his successor, Douglas Covington.
The Dedmon Center at Radford University was named in his honor. The 58,000-square-foot athletic center opened in 1981 and was renovated in 2009.[3]
In 2018, Dedmon was posthumously inducted in the Radford University Athletics Hall of Fame.[4]
Personal life
Dedmon married Geraldine Mary Sanders, a native of Canada in 1957. They had two daughters. After retiring from Radford University, Dedmon moved to South Florida where he spent the remainder of his life. He died in Naples, Florida in 1998 at the age of 66.[5]
References
- ^ Withers, Bob. "The story of the 1970 Marshall Plane Crash." 19 Dec. 2006 Herald-Dispatch [Huntington]. 19 Dec. 2006 [1][permanent dead link].
- ^ "Donald Newton Dedmon". www.marshall.edu. Archived from the original on 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
- ^ "Donald N. Dedmon Center at Radford University - Projects - Birdair, Inc". www.birdair.com. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
- ^ Times, The Roanoke (3 July 2018). "In the region: Radford University names new members of athletic hall of fame". Roanoke Times. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
- ^ "Obituaries in the News". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2019-10-13.