Archie Max Lennon (September 27, 1940–November 29, 2016) was an American academic who served as president of

Clemson University Clemson University () is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university near Clemson, South Carolina, United States. - The blue-shaded pattern denotes university property. This shows Clemson University is ''out ...

from 1986–1994 and of

Mars Hill College Mars Hill University is a Private university, private Christian Liberal arts education, liberal arts university in Mars Hill, North Carolina, United States. The university offers 35 undergraduate majors and includes a school of nursing and grad ...

from 1996–2002.

Early life and education

Lennon grew up on his family's farm in

Columbus County, North Carolina Columbus County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its county seat is Whiteville. At the 2020 census, the population was 50,623. History Early history The area comprising Columbus County was originally inhabited by the ...

. He attended the two-year Mars Hill College (as did his mother and some of his seven siblings), where he met his wife, Ruth. Lennon finished his

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

in animal science at

North Carolina State University North Carolina State University (NC State, North Carolina State, NC State University, or NCSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1887 and p ...

in 1962. After working on the family farm for several years, he returned to NC State and completed his doctorate in 1970.

Early career

Lennon's first academic position after earning his doctorate was at

Texas Tech University Texas Tech University (Texas Tech, Tech, or TTU) is a public university, public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and called Texas Technological College until 1969, it is the flagship instit ...

. He left in 1973 to take a position with

Central Soya Bunge Global SA (''BUN-ghee'') is a global agribusiness and food company, incorporated in Geneva, Switzerland and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. As well as being an international soybean exporter, it is also involved in f ...

, where he was quickly promoted to research director. He later returned to Texas Tech as head of the animal science department, and was later named dean of research for the College of Agriculture. In 1980 Lennon became the chair of the animal husbandry department at the

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

, and six months later was appointed dean of the College of Agriculture. In 1983, he moved to the

Ohio State University The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...

as vice president of agricultural administration and executive dean for agriculture, home economics, and natural resources.

University president

After two years at Ohio State, Lennon was chosen as the 11th president of

in October 1985. He began his tenure by emphasizing transparency, research, and a focus on academics, after a string of athletic scandals had dominated university politics in the early 1980s. Lennon organized a strategic planning commission, which determined four major focus areas: undergraduate education, environmental resources, composite materials, and agricultural biotechnology. Budget cuts from the state hampered progress, leading Lennon and the trustees to rely increasingly on private donations. The resulting fundraising campaign far exceeded expectations, and led to the construction of a performing arts center, engineering laboratory, and dormitories, as well as increasing endowed faculty positions and scholarships. Despite Lennon's successes, athletics threatened to steal focus once again. Recruiting violations led to the resignation and $1 million contract buyout of popular football coach

Danny Ford Danny Lee Ford (born April 2, 1948) is an American former college football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He then served as the head football coach at Clemson University from 1978 to ...

in 1990. Fans never accepted new coach

Ken Hatfield Kenneth Wahl Hatfield (born June 6, 1943) is an American former college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Air Force Academy (1979–1983), the University of Arkansas (1984–1989), Clemson Unive ...

, who left the school in 1993 with a $600,000 buyout of his own. Though the buyouts came from athletic funds, the overall budget cuts led to increases in tuition and decreases in faculty raises, making the buyouts a scapegoat. The threat of a no-confidence vote by the faculty led Lennon to announce his resignation in February 1994, eventually stepping down in July 1994. Lennon then became president and CEO of Eastern Foods, owned by Clemson alumnus and donor Robert H. Brooks. In 1996, he returned to Mars Hill and served as president for 6 years. After leaving Mars Hill, Lennon became president of the Education and Research Consortium of the Western Carolinas.

References

Works cited

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lennon, Max 1940 births 2016 deaths People from Columbus County, North Carolina Mars Hill University alumni Texas Tech University faculty University of Missouri faculty Ohio State University faculty Presidents of Clemson University