Post Arsola Crawford (A.C.) Lovelace Fourth President, 1935-1936 A.C. Lovelace (1898-1956) was born in Rutherford County, N.C. He was the son of Cicero Crawford and Mary Elizabeth Carolina Flack Lovelace. Lovelace attended school at Pleasant Hill and graduated from Round Hill Academy; he taught there briefly before going to Wake Forest College in 1912. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post George Jackson Burnett Fifth President, 1936-1939 George Jackson Burnett, born in December 1874 in Auburn, Ky., became the fifth president of the college, beginning with the 1936-1937 school year at a salary of $2,000. Burnett, based on previous experience, was one of the best-qualified persons to have been president of the college. He held the Bachelor of Arts […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post John R. Cantrell Sixth President, 1939-1943 John R. Cantrell (1888-1967), was the sixth president of Gardner-Webb College and served during its final years as it carried the name Boiling Springs Junior College. He was born in State Line, S.C., in Cherokee County. In his mid-20s, “J.R.,” as he was known, was called to the ministry, and having been […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Philip Lovin Elliott Seventh President, 1943-1961 Philip Lovin Elliott (1891- 1961), English professor and college president, was born in Wayside, N.C., in a little hamlet nestled among the hills and valleys of the Great Smoky Mountains. Despite the poverty of the region, Elliott was possessed by a consummate desire for education, and at the age of 18 he enrolled […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post E. Eugene Poston Eighth President, 1961-1976 Before becoming the eighth president of Gardner-Webb, Dr. Eugene Poston had served as chairman of the religion department of the College. Dr. Phil Elliott had announced that he would retire on Aug. 1, 1961. A selection committee had recommended to the trustees that Poston become president upon Elliott’s retirement. The trustees unanimously […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Thomas J. McGraw Interim President, 1976 Tom McGraw (1925-2002), the son of James and Eva Wood McGraw, was born in Whitmire, S.C. He was one of 11 children. McGraw went to Ruth Elementary School and Kings Mountain High School. He served in the United States Navy in World War II and flew fighter planes during the War. He […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Craven E. Williams Ninth President, 1976-1986 Dr. Craven E. Williams, (1940-) the ninth president of Gardner- Webb University, is a native of Monroe, N.C. He received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, the Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Union Theological Seminary. Williams came to Gardner-Webb […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post M. Christopher White Tenth President, 1986-2002 Dr. M. Christopher “Chris” White (1943-) was born in Anderson, S.C., and grew up in Hartwell, Ga. He attended Hart County High School in Hartwell and graduated second (salutatorian) in his class in 1961. He graduated with an A.B. degree in 1965, with a major in mathematics and a minor in English […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post Frank R. Campbell Eleventh President, 2002-2005 Dr. Frank R. Campbell (1936-2016) was not a stranger to the life of Baptist colleges when he was called upon to lead Gardner-Webb University for a three-year period beginning in the fall of 2002. Campbell spent much of his life following the call of God through university settings, pastorships, Baptist life, and […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
Post A. Frank Bonner Twelfth President, 2005-2019 Born in Durham, N.C. (May 18, 1947), Frank Bonner grew up in Greenville, S.C. The son of Francis Wesley Bonner and Nilaouise Carnes Bonner, he was raised in a college environment, almost literally in the shadows of the campus of Furman University. His father served Furman for more than 30 years in […] Office of University Communications | August 25, 2022
