George F. Baughman
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George F. Baughman, (1915-2004), was the first president of New College of Florida, a vice president of the University of Florida as well as of New York University and a rear admiral in the United States Naval Reserve.[1]
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[edit] Early life and education
George Fechtig Baughman was born July 15, 1915, in Tampa, Florida and was educated at the University of Florida from which he received a BS in 1937 and an LLB in 1939.[2] The LLB was replaced by a JD in the 1960s.
[edit] Early career
George Baughman worked a few years for a bank in Washington, D.C., but returned to the University of Florida in 1941 to become associate professor of Business Law and Insurance.[3] While in Washington, he was able to complete his MA at George Washington University.[4]
[edit] World War II naval service
During World War II, Baughman was a naval officer and served as officer-in-charge of Navy Lend Lease Supply. He remained in the naval reserve after the war and later retired as a rear admiral.
[edit] Post war career
In 1946, George Baughman returned to the University of Florida where he held the position of vice president of business affairs until 1955, when he left to become business manager of New York University. He had reached the rank of vice president and treasurer of NYU when he left in 1961 to go to Sarasota to lead the Congregational Christian Church's project to create an experimental honors college of national importance.[5]
[edit] Presidency of New College of Florida
As the founding president, Baughman worked with its board of trustees to create the college from scratch by raising money to buy land and buildings, create an endowment and assemble a faculty and recruit students for its targeted 1964 opening. The Charles Ringling home and estate on Sarasota Bay was bought for the campus and I. M. Pei was hired to design the additional buildings needed. At the completion of the first academic year in May, 1965, George Baughman resigned as president, but stayed on president of the New College Foundation for a few years before he went back to Gainesville.[6]
[edit] Marriage and family
George Baughman was married to Hazel Zoerner for 64 years and they had two daughters. He died December 24, 2004, in Gainesville. His memorial service was held on December 30, 2004, at the Baughman Center that he and Hazel had given to the University of Florida.[7]
