Service and Dedication
Profile of a Chancellor
by Ronald Jordan
Managing Editor
“Each man must be judged in his
time and not in the time of his
predecessor, for time and
circumstances change.”
Those words resounded from
the speakers podium inside the
new Kenneth R. Williams
Auditorium early last April, and
were received by a near-capacity
audience.
As Dr. Benjamin E. Mays,
president emeritus of Morehouse
College in Atlanta, made that
assessment he cfild have been
speaking about anyone.
But for that day, and at th^t
hour, he was speplung only of Dr.
Kenneth Raynor Williams,
Chancelloi of the university
where, for Jmost 39 years, he
has been a viable asset.
That day was a glorious one for
Williai It;, T* as, as he termed it,
“My greate-t honor.”
Williams was being honored for
his dedication and service. And in
the best way they know how, the
school was honoring him by
naming its new building for him.
But the service and dedication,
to a lot of those present, was
secondary in Williams’ being
honored. To them, the kind of
person he is seemed more
important.
Knowing Kenneth R. Williams
is a hard thing to do.
Understanding hun is even more
difficult.
The look of the stem-faced
administrator, as he walks from
his home on the comer to his
office across the street, might
bring fear to a freshman who has
yet to speak his first words to
Williams.
But a quick smile that breaks
out on Williams’ face as his
cheeks rise up and he gives a
bright “hello,” erases that fear.
Williams is a private person.
But only in that he believes in his
work.
“One has to reconcile his own
feelings of what his
responsibilities are,” Williams
said recently regarding meeting
and socializing with his students.
The question boils down to
whether one wants to devote all
his time to his responsibilities, or
can he sacrifice his duties in
order to be known, he said.
Williams believes in knowing
his students, and he meets new
oi.es quite often during social
events
But being known he said, is not
ds im;- rt ;nt as say, getting
finances lor things the school
needs.
Williams’ chief concern, he
said, is “staying close to my
duties in the office.”
Since 1961, when he became
acting president of the school,
succeeding Dr. F.L. Atkins,
staying close to his duties has
helped to achieve numerous goals
for his school. And though he
won’t admit it, others give him
credit for his leadership and
dedication to the school and for
“developing it into a sound
institution.”
Williams looks on the progress
of his school during the past 14
years as just that - progress. He
doesn’t take any credit, but
passes it on to the people who
have worked so closely with him
over the years!
That generosity, reflects the
views of many on how Williams
has been managed to gain the
respect of his university family,
and the love of the community
over the years.
His background further
explains it.
A native of Norfolk, Va., Dr.
Williams holds an A.B. degree
from Morehouse College, and the
M.A., S.T.B. and Ph. D. degrees
from Boston University.
He became a faculty member
at Winston-Salem State in 1936
and, with the exception of five
years away from the school when
he taught in Sedalia and served in
the Army, he has remained here.
Dr. Williams pastored the First
Institutional Baptist Church in
Winston-Salem eleven years and
was pastor of West End Baptist
Church in Winston-Salem 12
years. He was associated with
many political, civic and
education functions, including
the Winston-Salem School Board,
the Winston-Salem Board of
Aldermen, the N.C. Parole
Baord, the Winston-Salem Urban
League, and the American
Association of Colleges for
Teacher Education.
He is now a board member of
the local Chamber of Commerce,
The Northwestern Bank,
Piedmont University Center and
the Academic Urban Affairs
Consortium.
His special honors include the
Doctor of Humane Letters from
Morehouse College; the Doctor of
Laws, from both Wake Forest
University and Southern Illinois
University; Who’s ',Vho in
America; and Personalities in
the South.
Kenneth R. Williams has put a
lot into Winston-Salem State
University, whether he admits it
or not.
And come his retirement,
which has not been officially
announced yet, he will be missed.
The circumstances will have
changed again. And it will be his
time to be judged.
No doubt, though, that the
judgement then will be as it is
now - all good.
Kenneth R. Williams, Chancellor
Message From The Chancellor
From The Editor's Desk
So, now you are a Ram. You have chosen a unique
academic environment filled with opportunity plus.
We re a small black college but alumnus have made big
counVry "ot only in the South but across the
ball players, educators-the
curriculum is designed to prepare you for just about any
Majors may not be as specialized as at larger
universities. But you’ll find if you set your goals early
select those courses most helpful to your planned career
SliSd yourself learn, finding a job won’t be nearly
Personally, I would like a career in the media as a
newspaper reporter or a television reporter. So I
se ec.ed English as a major, with Drama as a minor. I
have workeo with the school newspaper since my
reshman year. To gain even more experience, I worked
as a reporter for the Winston-Salem afternoon paper.
I have a few friends that want careers in law-most
chose to major in political science, although history and
sociology majors do go on to law school.
Two juniors here last year are now in medical school-
botn were biology majors.
So you see you can do anything here
The life of a freshman need not be dismal. Right now
the lonliness for home and friends may be unbearable!
Or the worry about maintaining good grades may
cause sleepless nights.
out of WSSU
ana major problems become minor ones.
What advice can I give to the freshman class that
iiasn t been harped on by parents, drilled in during
orientation speeches or that isn’t expected to be said by
instructors?
Nothing reraiy earthshaking.
Just dOii t shut yourself in. Keep aware of what is
happcr^in5 on campus and in the city. If you don’t know
something, den t be afraid to ask. Life is ^o be learned
and enjoyed.
“WSSU is the place.”
To All Freshmen, Transfer and
Returning Students:
A hearty welcome to Winston-
Salem State University!
This will be your home for the
next several months. I trust that
it will be the place where you find
the knowledge, inspiration and
motivation necessary to prepare
for a life that will be rewarding,
happy and successful.
Many individuals,
administrators, faculty and staff
members, contractors and wage
earning laborers have spent
hundreds of hours making
preparations essential to your
well being. This has been the
busiest Summer in the history of
Winston-Salem State. The term
that IS beginning may well be the
busipt term in the history of the
institution. Two major
construction jobs should begin
during the first part of the term.
Contracts have been signed for
the 2V4 million dollar addition to
the g>Tnnasium. We are making
every effort to reach the
construction stage of the
dormitory at the earliest possible
date.
We solicit your support in the
efforts that are being made to
provide the Winston-Salem State
community with everything
essential to academic excellence
and wholesome living. Please be
assured that everything possible
wiU be done by those who
administer, teach and perfomi
other duties at Winston-Salem
State to assist you.
Good Year for SGA
Sincerely,
Kenneth R. Williams
Chancellor
What’s happening fellow
Rams! To all of the Freshmen I
extend a hearty welcome to the
land of Academics, Social and
Cultural Pleasure, and of course
the CIAA. I trust that in your four
year stay you wiU work to
advance yourself as well as your
brothers and sisters. There are
many things to be proud of at
State, but there are also many
other jobs that have to be done.
We have to meet the challenge of
the ever-changing needs of our
brothers and sisters. Whether we
know it or not, we are the leaders
of tomorrow.
During the latter part of last
year we asked for the chance to
give you effective leadership
You gave us that chance and we
are undertaking to fulfiu our
promises. Student Government is
no play thing, nor is it the
business of a selected few it is
everyone’s concern and a’vei?
serious one. We need your
support to make it work. We K
some dynamite plans, but none of
them will work without JoiS
asked
about Homecoming. All I can say
right now is that we’re stiU
forking on it and it looks great
As soon as we tie a few loose en^
together we’ll have something
concrete to tell you, perhaps
before the next edition of this
newspaper. Again I would like to
thank you all for this opportunity,
whether you voted or not we are
working for all of you. The SAG
office is located in the basement
of the Student Union, bring all of
your suggestions, complaints and
problems. We want to know
what’s on your mind. Thank you
again and I wish you all a great
’75-’76 academic year.
Peace, Power and Progress
Mike Mason,
President
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