William Arthur Ganfield (b. September 3, 1873 in Dubuque County, Iowa, d. October 18, 1940 in Wisconsin) was a figure in American higher education and served as president of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky from 1915 to 1921 and later president of Carroll College (now called Carroll University in from 1921 until his retirement in 1939.[1]
Ganfield was a supporter of athletic programs at both schools. He was president at Centre College during the schools legendary 1921 Centre vs. Harvard football game, when Centre scored a victorious upset over national favorite Harvard University. As of 2006, the game is still considered one of the greatest college football upset victories of all time.[2]
Ganfield continued his support of football as college president at Carroll. He boasted that within four year's time the school would be beating the Wisconsin Badgers in football.[3] In his first year as college president, the team fell far short of that mark with one win for the season and was outscored by 119 to 14 and left fans and the school administration sorely disappointed under head coach C.C. Boone. By 1925, the school had a perfect 8-0 season under head coach Phillip Norris Armstrong. As of 2008, The school has never played the "Badgers" in football.[4]
| Preceded by John W. Redd |
President of Centre College 1915 – 1921 |
Succeeded by R. Ames Montgomery |