Samuel Reid Spencer Jr.

American academic administrator

Samuel Reid Spencer Jr.

14th President of Davidson College
In office 1968–1983
Preceded by	David Grier Martin
Succeeded by	John Kuykendall

Personal details
Born	June 6, 1919 Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	October 16, 2013 (aged 94) Davidson, North Carolina, U.S.
Children	Clayton Spencer Rev. Dr. Frank Clark Spencer
Education	Davidson College (BA) Harvard University (PhD)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Battles/wars	World War II

Samuel Reid Spencer Jr. (June 6, 1919 – October 16, 2013) was an American academic administrator who served as the 14th president of Davidson College from 1968 to 1983.

Early life and education

Originally from South Carolina, Spencer graduated from Davidson in 1940, then serving in the United States Army during World War II. After the war, he earned a PhD from Harvard University.^[1]

Career

Afterward, Spencer returned to his alma mater to serve as an assistant to then-president John Rood Cunningham, while also becoming a professor of history. Spencer left Davidson to become president of Mary Baldwin College, returning as president in 1968.^[2]

As president, Spencer led Davidson's successful attempt to become a co-educational institution. He also focused on minority student recruitment and retention and expanded the endowment. Spencer was also appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the Board of Foreign Scholarships, which oversees the Fulbright Program.^[3]

After leaving Davidson, Spencer became the president of the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges.

References

^ "Samuel Reid Spencer Jr.'s Obituary on The Natick Bulletin & Tab". The Natick Bulletin & Tab. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
^ "Spencer, Samuel Reid, Jr. – Davidson College Archives & Special Collections". libraries.davidson.edu. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
^ "College Family Mourns Passing of President Emeritus Samuel R. Spencer Jr., a Davidson Leader for 80 Years". www.davidson.edu. Retrieved 2017-07-11.