UNCW
Summer 1990
A publication for alumni, parents
and friends of the university.
\
The Wagoner Era
1968-1990
Chancellor William H. Wagoner
Gmnd liOwman photoC>
Special to UNCW Today
by Mimi Cunningham
On July 15, 1990, the curtain falls on
the Wagoner era at the University of North
Carolina at Wilmington, an era marked by
22 years of dramatic change and phenom
enal growth, an era whose accomplish
ments will reflect the quiet leadership
style of an educator who sought compro
mise rather than confrontation, an era of
behind-the-scenes diplomacy and persua
sion rather than headline-grabbing activ
ism.
Eleven thousand nine hundred and
eighty-nine of the 13,342 graduates of this
institution attended UNCW during Chan
cellor William H. Wagoner’s tenure. He
has directly or indirectly impacted 90 per
cent of UNCW’s alumni.
It’s unlikely that those students who
spent their college careers at UNCW paid
a great deal of attention to the milestones
that were regularly chalked up by their
alma mater. But the milestones were many
and profound changes occurred at Wil
mington College and UNCW during the
Wagoner era.
Now, as Bill Wagoner steps out for his
final curtain call, it is time to applaud his
leadership. He shaped a small community
college into a graduate-degree granting in
stitution and made the school a vital link
in the UNC system of higher education. It
is time to ask him what he considers to be
the highlights of his tenure here, his
greatest accomplishments, and his most
cherished memories.
Wagoner’s involvement with Wilming
ton College began early during his service
as superintendent of New Hanover County
Schools. Once the college became a four-
year institution. President Randall asked
him to become a part-time member of the
faculty and he taught during several sum
mer sessions.
Wagoner moved from part-time profes
sor to president as a result of a process
that began with a conversation on a late
night flight between Charlotte and Wil
mington, probably somewhere over Fay
etteville.
"I got to be president through a strange
set of circumstances," Wagoner recalled.
There were only three or four people on
the plane. One of them was the late Harry
Payne, current Representative Harry
Payne’s father and a former Wilmington
College trustee.
"Harry Payne said to me, ’Bill, it’s not
going to be much longer until Bill Randall
retires. How would you react to being
president of Wilmington College?’
'It took me completely by surprise, and
I told him I was perfectly happy where I
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was.
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