RU History
Presidents of Radford University
John Preston McConnell
1911-1937
State Normal and Industrial School for Women
1911-1924
Radford State Teachers College
1924-1937
| Dr. John Preston McConnell (1911-1937) was born in Scott County,
Virginia. He received both his
Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from Milligan College where he met and
married Clara Louise Lucas. The McConnells had five children: June
Evangeline, Robert Lucas, John Paul, Carl Hiram, and Annie.
After receiving his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia, McConnell served for nine years as a professor of history and economics and dean at Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia. In 1911, the Board of Trustees of the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Radford made Dr. McConnell their unanimous choice as the school's first president. Though his beliefs were unfashionable at the time, Dr. McConnell was a strong supporter of the need for quality education for women. His career at Radford was marked by efforts to ensure equal access to information, courses and materials for female students. McConnell Library, bearing his name, is a testament to his undying quest for excellent facilities on Radford's campus. View the official portrait of Dr. McConnell which is located on the wall in the Circulation Hall of McConnell Library above the Popular Reading Collection. Read the article about Dr. McConnell's official portrait that appeared in the May 15, 1931 issue of the Grapurchat (v. 10, #13, p. 1). Click the "Back" button on your browser to return to this page. |
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Last update: August 11, 2000
