Former University President Frank Hereford, known for his success in attracting premier faculty, generating finance and establishing the University as a revered public institution, died Tuesday in Charlottesville at the age of 81.
"Frank Hereford contributed in every important way to the University's development and progress over the course of 35-plus years," current University President John T. Casteen, III said. "Desegregation, coeducation, the growth of research programs, the physical organization of the modern Grounds, the modern endowment and its impact on operations in an era when the state no longer makes education its top priority -- each of these hallmarks of the University at its best in our time belongs in major ways to his list of contributions."
Hereford was elected as the University's fifth president in 1973 for a term spanning from 1974 to 1985.
He is credited with modernizing the University and recruiting talented faculty, said Alexander "Sandy" Gilliam, secretary to the Board of Visitors.
While serving as provost in the 1960s, he was instrumental in attracting an exceptional faculty that laid the base for attracting future excellent members, said English Prof. Bill Fishback, then associate vice president for University Relations.
"In the long run, his role in strengthening the faculty was his most significant contribution," Fishback said.
Upon entering office as president, Hereford took on the responsibility of establishing a private base of funding for the University. In 1981, with the Board's support, Hereford initiated the University's first major capital campaign.
The capital campaign was critical because it brought together various sectors of the University to work together to make a concentrated effort to raise funding, said Ray Hunt, who served as University vice president for business and finance and chief operations officer under Hereford.
"It was one of his biggest issues," said Dexter Whitehead, who served as associate vice president for University Relations during Hereford's presidency. "He decided what the University needed was private funds and spent much time working up the first successful private fundraising campaign for the University."
Hereford also implemented changes to student life.
In 1976, Hereford backed the creation of the Office of African-American Affairs.
He also supported steps to curb the University's reputation as a party school.
"Easters," an annual celebration held at the University since the mid-1800s, became by the 1970s an obstacle in the University's attempt to improve its public standing. Despite being a strong supporter of the Greek system, Hereford endorsed the decision to eliminate Easters, which was cancelled in 1982.
"He demonstrated leadership qualities at an early age and was a good administer for the University," Whitehead said. "He had tough situations to handle but he did so well."
Hereford was born in Louisiana and attended the University, receiving a B.A. in 1943 and a Ph.D. in 1947.
Hereford was noted as a superb physicist. He participated in such ventures as the Manhattan Project, the American program responsible for developing the atomic bomb during the Second World War.
In 1949, Hereford began teaching at the University as an associate professor of physics. In 1962 he was named dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and in 1966 he was appointed provost.
During his presidential term, Hereford made a number of additional contributions to the University.
"He wanted to give the University more national and international character," Hunt said.
Following his term as president, Hereford returned to teaching in the physics department.
Hereford was extremely active in the University community. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Raven Society, Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Alpha Tau Omega and the Seven Society. He was the recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Award in 1966 and served as a student sports editor for The Cavalier Daily.
He is survived by three children and nine grandchildren.
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