Jerry and Shirley Boone: - Ferrum College

The Beginning
A long-time friend at the University of Virginia nominated him for
the job at Ferrum. “My field is higher education and that includes
looking at the management of the over 4,000 colleges and
universities that we have in this country, so I’ve always known a lot
of people in education,” says Dr. Annette Gibbs, professor and
director of the Center for Higher Education at the University of
Virginia. “When I found out that Ferrum was looking for a new
president, Jerry came immediately to mind. He always stood out
to me as really appreciating the work of the United Methodist
Church in small colleges.” “Because Jerry took the unlikely path to
college presidency positions from a teaching background instead
of the usual fundraising and business background, he has a passion
for making a positive difference in the lives of students,”
Dr. Jerry M. Boone Retires to North
Carolina While Ferrum Enjoys the
Fruits of 15 Years of High Standards
all these years.” Earnhardt continues, “Enrollment-driven institutions
like Ferrum keep their presidents remarkably busy with the development
duties, and it’s almost impossible to stay close to faculty and students.”
A First Look
By most accounts Ferrum College was not in top shape when Boone
arrived at his post. Many of the buildings on the 75-year old campus
were in superficial disrepair, the football team was still picking up rocks
off Adams field as a pre-game tradition and none of the parking lots were
professionally paved.
Boone also noticed that the campus did not have much space for
students’ social interaction, outside of
continued Gibbs, who is also a former member of the Ferrum
College Board of Trustees.
The Present
Boone’s former faculty colleague at Pfeiffer, and future colleague in
the retired ranks, Eugene Earnhardt, has known the Boone family
for over thirty years “Jerry and Shirley have always loved being
around young people. When Jerry was Dean of Students at Pfeiffer
in the mid-70s, he and Shirley would bring the resident assistants
and resident directors up to Gerton, NC, for a retreat every summer.
That’s how he fell in love with the Asheville area and came to build
here and eventually settle in for retirement.”
“Although,” Earnhardt laughs, “It’ll take a long time for Jerry to
really relax. He may have to take a relaxation class this fall, and I
don’t see Jerry taking up golf anytime soon.”
“He’ll be back at work with young people within a year,” predicts
Earnhardt, “I know he’s missed being in the classroom with students
the residence
halls. “I had
teenagers
myself, so I
saw the need
for the students
to have a place
just to sit around
and watch movies
together. That’s why the
first building I broke ground
for was the bookstore. That took
the bookstore out of Lower Franklin so that we could build an area there
for a student center. The wonderful evening programs and movie nights
in the Panther’s Den that we have now is exactly what I envisioned that
space to be. I’ve always worked with the feeling that if students, faculty
and staff are given the space to grow, then they will.”
1990
• Rex Stephenson
takes “Jack Tales”
to England
• Endowment stands
at $9.1 million
• Riddick Hall
renovation complete
• Cafeteria renovation
complete
• SIFE launched
1991
• Record-breaking fundraising
year with $2.4 million raised
• Ferrum is Charter Member
of Bonner Scholar
Program
• Endowment at $21 million
• Grousbeck Music Center completed
• Last Associate’s Degrees awarded
1992
• Women’s softball
field installed
• Ferrum receives largest
gift ever - $12 million
from R. Stuart Moore
Estate
FERRUM MAGAZINE 13