William Lincoln Giles (July 5, 1911 – May 13, 1997) was president of

Mississippi State University Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university adjacent to Starkville, Mississippi. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Unive ...

from 1966–1976. Giles was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the

University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas (U of A, UArk, or UA) is a public land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and the largest university in the state. Founded as Arkansas ...

and a Ph.D. in botany at the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Universit ...

Early life and career

Giles served in the army during World War II, and worked at the Soil Conservation Service in Kansas and the Agricultural research Center in Maryland before coming to Mississippi State University in 1949. At that time is served as the University's Seed Technology Laboratory manager, a position he kept for three years before moving to the Delta Branch Experiment Station in Stoneville, MS. He was appointed the Vice President for Agriculture and Forestry at MSU in 1961. In the 1960s, Giles garnered numerous awards and accolades. These included being names the "Man of the Year in Agriculture" by

Progressive Farmer ''Progressive Farmer'' is an agricultural magazine, published 14 times a year by DTN. The magazine is based in Birmingham, Alabama. History Founded in Winston, North Carolina, in 1886 by North Carolina native Leonidas Lafayette Polk (1837–18 ...

in 1960 and the "Conservationist of the Year" by the American Society of Soil Conservation in 1963. In 1966, he was elected the 13th president of Mississippi State University. During his tenure, he was responsible for a large building program that included the addition of a new student union, chapel (built from the remains of

Old Main Old Main is a term often applied to the original building present on college or university campuses in the United States. The building serves today as home to administrative offices, such as the president or provost, but in its early inception may ...

), student health center and over 35 academic buildings that were either constructed, enlarged or renovated. Enrollment also increased from 8,000 to 12,000 students.

Later life

Bill Giles retired in 1976 to his farm near Starkville, MS. He was married to Jean Presson Giles. They had one daughter, Ginger, and two sons, Richard and John. Giles died on May 13, 1997 at the age of 85.

Honors

The William L. Giles Distinguished Professor Award at Mississippi is named in his honor. Giles Hall which houses the Mississippi State University College of Architecture, Art, and Design is named in his honor.

References

External links

Mississippi State University General InformationGallery of the PresidentsW.L Giles Distinguished Professors
{{DEFAULTSORT:Giles, William L. Presidents of Mississippi State University 1911 births 1997 deaths University of Missouri alumni University of Arkansas alumni Mississippi State University alumni United States Army personnel of World War II 20th-century American academics