Charles N. Millican

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Dr. Charles Millican

Born	October 9, 1915 Wilson, Arkansas
Nationality	United States
Field	Higher Education
Alma mater	University of Florida Union University
Known for	Being the founding President of University of Central Florida

Charles N. Millican was the founding President for the University of Central Florida (although UCF was originally named Florida Technological University).

Charles Norman Millican was born October 9, 1915 in Wilson, Arkansas. As a young man, he worked as a part-time reporter for Dun and Bradstreet while earning a bachelor of science degree in Business and Religion from Union University. He graduated in 1941 and was named pastor of Olive Branch Baptist Church in Mississippi.

Norman later entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky. But, he returned to Jackson, Mississippi to serve as a coordinator for the 44th College Training Detachment of the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945.

He married May 15, 1945 in Jackson, Tennessee to Frances Hilliard.

In 1946 he earned his master of arts degree in Economics from George Peabody College and joined the Commerce Department at his alma mater Union University.

In 1948 he moved to Gainesville, Florida, to earn a Ph.D in Business Finance and Economics from the University of Florida. He then joined the faculty, and in 1956 was appointed Assistant Dean of the College of Business Administration. But, he soon thereafter left for Texas where he became Dean of the School of Business Administration at Hardin-Simmons University.

In 1959 he moved to Tampa, Florida, to become Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of South Florida.

In 1965 he was appointed the founding president of a new state university in Florida, then without a name or even a campus. He selected the name "Florida Technological University," though it is now known as the University of Central Florida. The campus site he selected was just east of Orlando, Florida. He is also credited with establishing twin tenets for the university:

"Accent on the Individual"

AND

"Accent on Excellence"

Millican also chose the new university's motto: "Reach for the Stars." And, he was a co-designer of its distinctive "Pegasus" seal.

Perhaps the highlight of Millican's presidency was at his new university's commencement ceremonies in 1973, when he played host to President Richard Nixon.

Millican stepped-down as university president on January 31, 1978, but remained on the faculty. He was given the title of "President Emeritus," and taught classes in finance. He also served as president of nearby Lake Highland Preparatory School from 1982 to 1985.