WILLIAM E. GARDNER, JR., HALL

The William E. Gardner, Jr., Hall was named in honor Savannah State College's 9th president. During his terrn as president, Dr. Gardner developed a plan to reestablish a teacher certification program at Savannnah college and a $2.7 million Advanced Water Technology Institute. Dr. Gardner's impact on Savannah State College took the form of improvements to the physical plant, a $3 million addition to the student center, the refurbishing and the development of Adams Hall Archives, a 13 percent enrollment increase since 1989, and the externally funded Hill Hall Restoration Project, funded in the e excess of $1.5 million.

In recognition of Dr. Gardner's published vision for Savannah State College, his immense popularity with the students, his promotion of the mission of Savannah State College locally and elsewhere, his great involvement with external funding for the College (now a chief function of one office housed in the former President's Home), and in recognition that he and his family were the last to reside in that building, it was agreed by the campus community that the structure should bear his name.