Students and professors have seen J. Fred Corriher Jr. wandering around the brick buildings of Catawba College for nearly six decades.
On Tuesday, Corriher said although he plans to retire in a year, he won’t disappear from campus completely.
“I don’t want to be in anybody’s way,” said the college’s president of nine years. “But I’ve been on this campus almost 60 years. I’ll still return to see plays and athletic games.”
Standing with his wife, Bonnie, Corriher addressed a ring of students and faculty Tuesday morning who thronged around a fountain in front of the student center in a cool, autumn breeze. Corriher, 63, said he plans to retire on Sept. 1, 2002.
The news shocked professors such as Dr. John Wear Jr., chairman of the environmental science department.
“I hate to hear that,” he said. “I’ve never seen anybody who gave of himself so totally to the college at all times. He really helped put this college on the map.”
But the news should come as no surprise to at least a few on campus. Corriher said he told a committee of trustees a year ago that he wanted to begin planning to leave his post. Some students also said they had heard recent rumors that Corriher might soon make the announcement to retire.
Todd Bachman, student body president last year, said he worked with Corriher on student activities. Fees rose $50 this year largely to provide more funding for clubs — about $175,000 this year, up from $55,000 last year.
“I had the chance to work with him a lot. Any time I had a concern, his door was always open,” Bachman said. “He wasn’t stuck in his office. He got around.”
Jennie Rosamond of Salisbury is managing editor of The Pioneer, the monthly student newspaper. Rosamond said she enjoyed Corriher’s ice-cream social he holds each year for freshmen in front of the president’s house. Corriher also cooks a dinner for the Alphas, the students who help incoming freshmen find what they need around campus.
“This will have a tremendous impact on the operation of our college,” said Tom E. Smith, retired CEOof Food Lion and chairman of the college board of trustees. “He’s been associated with Catawba College all his life. You can see how the college has progressed.”
Retired Salisbury businessman and trustee James G. Whitton will lead a search committee for a new president. David Setzer, executive director of the Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation, said he will serve as secretary of the search committee.
Other members of the committee haven’t yet been selected.
Though college leaders said they’ll conduct a nationwide search, some students and faculty interviewed Tuesday said they hope the next president already has a knowledge of the campus.
“I hope it’s somebody from within the college, somebody who knows the students already,” said Matt Guerard, an assistant lacrosse coach who graduated from Catawba last year.
Corriher emphasized that he doesn’t plan to fade away during the coming year. “Itold my family they’ve never seen a lame duck like this one.”
His voice breaking at the close of his speech, Corriher read the closing of “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening” by poet Robert Frost:
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep
“But I have promises to keep,
“And miles to go before I sleep,
“And miles to go before I sleep.”
Contact Brad A. Hodges at 704-797-4266 or bhodges@salisburypost.com
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