George F. Baughman
Encyclopedia
George F. Baughman 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.
and was educated at the University of Florida
from which he received a BS
in 1937 and an LLB in 1939. The LLB was replaced by a JD
in the 1960s.
, but returned to the University of Florida in 1941 to become associate professor of Business Law and Insurance. While in Washington, he was able to complete his MA
at George Washington University
.
, 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.
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.
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.
that he and Hazel had given to the University of Florida.
New College of Florida
New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college located in Sarasota, Florida. It was founded originally as a private institution and is now an autonomous honors college of the State University System of Florida.-History:...
, a vice president of the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
as well as of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and a rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
in the United States Naval Reserve.
Early life and education
George Fechtig Baughman was born July 15, 1915, in Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
and was educated at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
from which he received a BS
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1937 and an LLB in 1939. The LLB was replaced by a JD
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in the 1960s.
Early career
George Baughman worked a few years for a bank in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, but returned to the University of Florida in 1941 to become associate professor of Business Law and Insurance. While in Washington, he was able to complete his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
.
World War II naval service
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 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.
Post war career
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
to lead the Congregational Christian Church's project to create an experimental honors college of national importance.
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. PeiI. M. Pei
Ieoh Ming Pei , commonly known as I. M. Pei, is a Chinese American architect, often called a master of modern architecture. Born in Canton, China and raised in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Pei drew inspiration at an early age from the gardens at Suzhou...
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.
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 CenterBaughman Center
The Baughman Center consists of two buildings located along Lake Alice on the University of Florida campus. The main building is a nondenominational chapel or pavilion, while the other one is a administrative building...
that he and Hazel had given to the University of Florida.