Former ASU president leaves behind legacy
Kara Mauldin
Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: News
George A. Christenberry was brought in to fix the problems at Augusta State University, then known as Augusta College, in 1970.
"There had been a scandal here," said James Garvey, chair of the communications department. "There had been a lot of people teaching at Augusta College who had not been completely honest about their degrees."
"A History of Augusta College," by Edward Cashin, describes the problems that occurred at the time in detail. Christenberry was hired to be the solution.
"I'd always heard that Christenberry was brought in to clean up the act," Garvey said. "I always thought he was a by-the-book kind of guy."
The new president was successful.
According to "A History of Augusta College," Christenberry was one of the major reasons for the resurgence of public confidence in Augusta College.
Following a brief illness, he passed away April 21 in his home in Evans, Ga.
Christenberry was the sixth president of Augusta College, serving from 1970 until he retired in 1986.
He was responsible for many additions to the college, including Reese Library, Boykin Wright and Maxwell Alumni House, the last of the Augusta Arsenal property on Walton Way and Armed Forces Golf Course on Wrightsboro Road.
Christenberry Field House, formerly knows as the Physical Education/ Athletic Complex, was renamed after him in 2003.
"I had no idea how much he had done," Garvey said. "It was not something you could notice just by walking by him on campus."
Garvey said Christenberry was particularly proud of the library, the first on campus. During the construction of the Jaguar Student Activities Center, Cheistenberry was very concerned that the new building would cover up the name of the contributor. He thought it was important that credit be given to the Reese name.
A Celebration of Life service was held April 25 at the First Baptist Church in Augusta.
"There had been a scandal here," said James Garvey, chair of the communications department. "There had been a lot of people teaching at Augusta College who had not been completely honest about their degrees."
"A History of Augusta College," by Edward Cashin, describes the problems that occurred at the time in detail. Christenberry was hired to be the solution.
"I'd always heard that Christenberry was brought in to clean up the act," Garvey said. "I always thought he was a by-the-book kind of guy."
The new president was successful.
According to "A History of Augusta College," Christenberry was one of the major reasons for the resurgence of public confidence in Augusta College.
Following a brief illness, he passed away April 21 in his home in Evans, Ga.
Christenberry was the sixth president of Augusta College, serving from 1970 until he retired in 1986.
He was responsible for many additions to the college, including Reese Library, Boykin Wright and Maxwell Alumni House, the last of the Augusta Arsenal property on Walton Way and Armed Forces Golf Course on Wrightsboro Road.
Christenberry Field House, formerly knows as the Physical Education/ Athletic Complex, was renamed after him in 2003.
"I had no idea how much he had done," Garvey said. "It was not something you could notice just by walking by him on campus."
Garvey said Christenberry was particularly proud of the library, the first on campus. During the construction of the Jaguar Student Activities Center, Cheistenberry was very concerned that the new building would cover up the name of the contributor. He thought it was important that credit be given to the Reese name.
A Celebration of Life service was held April 25 at the First Baptist Church in Augusta.
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