Who was behind state’s engineering-education expansion?

     Behind every news story, there’s a backstory.  And while some headlines make you frown, others make you smile.  Here’s one that made me grin: “UGA engineering enrollment doubles … 1,233 undergraduates, 81 graduate students majoring in popular program.”

     Here’s the backstory, as I know it:

     During the Great Depression, I understand, UGA gave up its broad-based engineering curriculum.  Georgia Tech filled the gap.  Today, Tech is a world leader in engineering education.

     But in 2010, a Georgia Tech engineer drove all over Georgia, asking questions. He decided his alma mater wasn’t able to serve all the state’s engineering needs.  Too many students were leaving home to get their engineering degrees from Clemson, Auburn, Tennessee and Florida.  As chairman of the University System Board of Regents, Willis Potts wanted to change that. 

     The retired paper mill executive stands about 6-foot four, and has the physique of a Yellow Jacket tight end.   Willis is tough—mentally and physically.  Both attributes came in handy in the ensuing academic tussle.  Some thought the engineering expansion was rooted in the “Clean Old-Fashioned Hate” gridiron rivalry.  The issue did become a political football, but it had nothing to do with pigskin.

     Nonetheless, when Chairman Potts asked me to chair the Academic Affairs Committee, I started

looking for a helmet.  The blocking, tackling and head-butting did not stop until the final vote of the 18-member board.

     As emotions flared, I volunteered to sit down with Gov. Sonny Perdue.  He was vehemently opposed to expanding engineering.     For 60 minutes, Regent Larry Walker and I sat on a Gold Dome hot seat.  Our friend, the governor, wasn’t happy.  Gov. Perdue addressed the board’s next meeting, urging us to vote “no.”

     I was determined to study the data and base my convictions on what was best for all 10 million Georgians.  For decades, I had been listening to the engineering debate, ever since Allen Paulson bought Grumman American.  Savannah’s airplane manufacturer wanted more engineers available, starting with adding engineering to Georgia Southern’s (GSU) degree offerings.

     Allen Paulson had been dead for 10 years by the time the engineering proposal for UGA and GSU came to a vote.   And when that day arrived, I was standing in the middle of the board’s horseshoe seating arrangement.  Passion overheated the debate.  Like a poker player counting cards—as the secretary called roll—I tallied votes in my head.

     Earlier, I learned the committee chairman could only vote to make or break a tie.  When the other 16 Regents present had cast their ballots, the vote was knotted, 8-8.  Without hesitation, I said, “Yes!”  Thirty days later when Regent Jim Bishop’s term was up, he would not be reappointed because he voted “yes,” too.  

     I believe decision-making is much like architecture.  When you build a structure or make a bold decision, you want to be able to look back—25 years later—and reaffirm: “We did the right thing.”  Fortunately, we don’t have to wait that long.  

     The headline “UGA engineering enrollment doubles” says enough.  Add to that what GSU’s president, Dr. Brooks Keel, told me. Statesboro’s engineering enrollment is up from 1400 last year to 1700 in 2014.  Now, GSU has added much-needed Manufacturing    Engineering, too.

     There’s a saying: “There’s no limit to what can be accomplished when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.”  The top of Willis Pott’s bald head would would blush crimson if you tried to give him the credit.  But UGA and GSU cannot ignore who is responsible for their new-found engineering success.   The backstory—for history’s sake—needs to record Willis Potts had the vision and the guts to inspire the necessary nine votes for our state’s future.

Answer to prayer comes via governor’s messenger

     Worried might be too strong a word, but my dad was concerned about my college education.  “Do

GONE FISHIN’ will be a sign hung on my door more often, now 

that I’m off the University of Georgia’s Board of Regents. 

I was honored to  be appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue, 

and I enjoyed helping “create a more educated Georgia.”  

During the six years on the board, I made numerous 

lifelong friends, while crossing paths with some phenomenal educators 

and students. However, I had prayed for more leisure time to spend with 

our seven grandsons.  On April 16th, that prayer was answered. And now o

ne of my favorite things to hear will be: “Grandpa, let’s go fishing.” 

(Photo by Eric NeSmith)

you have time to study?” asked Big Dink.  “Why would you say that?” I asked.  “Because,” he teased, “you’ve joined everything at The University of Georgia except the women’s glee club.”

     He had a point.  

     Since Cub Scouts, I’ve been a joiner.  I like people, and I really like the synergy of group dynamics.  If you get enough people energized toward a common goal, you see that teamwork really does work.  Gender kept me from singing with UGA’s coeds, but I’ve had abundant satisfaction in joining worthwhile causes.  Volunteerism is crucial in filling the voids left by government.

     That’s why I was interested in a 2008 phone call.  A voice asked, “Can you be in the governor’s office Thursday at 10 a.m.?”  Three days later, I was sitting on the leather couch in the inner-sanctum under The Gold Dome.  Gov. Sonny Perdue was facing me in a side chair.  His chief of staff, Ed Holcombe, was a few feet away.

     “I’d like to talk with you about serving on the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents,” he said.  He had my attention.  Higher education is one of my passions.  And since Gov. Richard B. Russell founded the Board of Regents in 1932, only two other Athenians had been appointed to the board.  The publisher of the Athens Banner-Herald was on the inaugural group and Julius Bishop served in the 1970s.  Even if it wasn’t me, I thought it was time for another member from the hometown of the state’s flagship university.

     I told the governor that I would be honored to serve, but I had strong feelings on two things:

     1. I hoped he trusted me to be a good student of the issues. I assured him that I’d always listen to him and others.  But in the end, I would vote my convictions.  

     2. I would never accept pay of any kind—per diem or expense reimbursement.  My time and my wallet were all-in for Georgia.