Brevard – Dr. William “Billy” Thomas Greer, Jr., 8th president of Brevard College, died this week. He was president from 1985 until 1992.
Dr. Greer is remembered for his many contributions to Brevard College. Among them: launching the capital campaign for the Paul Porter Center for Performing Arts and obtaining the first $1 million gift for the College; overseeing the fundraising and building of the now-iconic bell tower; increasing enrollment and endowments; and opening discussions with the Board of Trustees about transforming from a 2-year program to a 4-year program.
Dr. Greer expressed his vision for the College and his excitement for his second year as president in 1987 in The Clarion, Brevard College’s student newspaper: “My chief personal objective for this year is to devote the entire year to building human relationships…If anybody is in the people business, we are.”
“You will find Dr. Greer to be energetic, charismatic, and extremely social,” quoted The Clarion in August 1985, announcing his hiring.
A graduate of Valdosta State College in Valdosta, GA, Greer held a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Georgia State University, a Master of Divinity degree from Drew Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Sacred Theology from Emory University. He received citations and awards, including being named the Most Outstanding Two-Year College President in America by Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society in 1983.
“Billy and his wife, Fann, were devoted to Brevard,” said James “Jim” E. Holmes, a Brevard College alumni from the class of 1972 and Trustee Emeritus who served many years on the board. “He was fun, energetic, and a real promoter of the College.”
Brevard College is consistently recognized as one of the best liberal arts colleges. The College’s focus on experiential learning, small class sizes, and location in the mountains of Western North Carolina near Asheville makes Brevard a top choice college for students around the world.