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Once Randall announced in 1967 that he planned to retire the following year, trustees and others in the college commu nity approached Wagoner on a more seri ous basis, including Randall himself. "I was still very happy as superinten dent. I did not apply for the presidency, but the trustees asked me eventually to come in for an interview and I did. Subse quently, the board met and elected me president." By then, the board was heavily involved in negotiations to move Wilmington Col lege into the Consolidated University of North Carolina. President Bill Friday add ed his encouragement. "He said to me, ’I’d like to see you ac cept the presidency because I would like to have you as one of my chancellors.’ "That offer interested me. I liked the idea of being a part of the university and having some resources that Wilmington College didn’t have. With Bill Friday’s en couragement, I accepted." During the first year. Wagoner was im mersed in getting the college approved for inclusion in the Consolidated University, a cumbersome and complicated process. But the hard work paid off, and on July 1, 1969, Wilmington College became the University of North Carolina at Wilming ton. The Board of Trustees of the Consoli dated University elected Wagoner chan cellor. "I didn’t see any difference in being president and being chancellor except I had these other resources and more sea soned colleagues to lean on. When it came to budget allocations, there was strength in numbers. Those were good years. We received some good appropri ations, and they did increase. "The first noticeable change was that the application rate began to zoom." Part of Wagoner’s retirement plans include looking back at his years at UNCW and documenting them in detail. He wants to record the history he helped make. For this article, he recalled a few highlights of his tenure here. "Only history can determine the true highlights of my time at UNCW. But from my perspective, I think the day that we became part of the university was a high light. Another was the first day I came to campus and got a parking ticket. The be ginning of the Albert Schweitzer Interna tional Prizes, with one of the first recipi ents being Mother Teresa, without any question was a highlight. The advent of the first graduate program. Moving the in stitution from a Comprehensive II to a Comprehensive I level was a highlight. “^e occupying of William Madison Randall Library — the first part — was a highlight. Moving into the second part was a highlight, because I love libraries that much. Another was the opening of Trask Dr. Wagoner in the early days of his chancellorship at UNCW. Coliseum with the christening game played against my alma mater Wake For est " and we almost beat them (’us’)! Knowing certain people, and it would be unwise for me to say which ones, has been a continuing highlight, especially people like B. Frank Hall. It was wonderful for me to be able to rub shoulders every day with this kind of scholar and to be in spired by such love for learning." Living in Kenan House has added an unusual dimension to the Wagoner fam ily’s life, one that Wagoner said has been a lot of fun. But it was a time that meant sacrifices as well as pleasures. "It’s been for an entire family a process of completely and absolutely giving up all privacy -- seven days a week, 24 hours a day - for the chancellor, for his wife, and his children. That’s part of it. But it has also meant having had as social guests in your home people like Mother Teresa, Andres Segovia, Helen Hayes, and Alan Alda. And Bill Friday and the governors of the state and members of the legisla ture, and everyday people like me. "The house itself is absolutely magnifi cent. It is without question the best planned house for entertaining in a gra cious Southern style, all made possible by a gift of the Kenan family." Wagoner men tioned that his doorbell rings often, many times to tourists who want to come in. It also rings for people looking for a funeral. Kenan House is across 17th Street from a mortuary. Dr. Wagoner poses with Dr. B. Frank Hail, professor emeritus of philosophy and religion, during Hall’s birthday celebration at Kenan House April 7,1988. Since moving to Kenan House in 1969, the Wagoners have experienced many in teresting incidents. One of the funniest in volved Susie Sharp, chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court who spoke at commencement and received an honor ary degree from UNCW. "One of our basset hounds. Dr. Watson, buried his favorite rawhide bone in the most formal couch in Kenan House. After we gave Susie the honorary degree, she came to Kenan House for a reception. She m A J Chancellor Wagoner, left, Raiford Trask, Sr., and William L. Hill II, right, chairman of the UNCW Board of Trustees, pose with a portrait of Mr. Trask at the dedication of Trask Coliseum in 1977. The construction of Trask Coliseum was significant because it provided a cultural, athletic, and civic center for southeastern N.C. Mother Teresa 1975 Schweitzer International Prizes recipient in the Humanities
UNCW Today (University of North Carolina Wilmington Alumni Newsletter)
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June 1, 1990, edition 1
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