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Library dedication honors two School leaders
Sep 27, 2002 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
Darlington’s Upper School Library now bears the name of two Darlington leaders, with the dedication of the McCallie Kennedy Library on Sept. 13, 2002. James P. McCallie preceded David Hicks as the fifth president of the School from 1979 to 1999, and F. Frederick Kennedy Jr. ’60 served as Board of Trustees chair from May 2000 until his sudden and unexpected death on Dec. 2, 2001.
Students, faculty, and special guests attended dedication services held in Morris Chapel to hear tributes paid to the contributions that both men made to Darlington. Following the service, the new signage on the library was unveiled.
John W. Maddox Jr. ’60 recalled for guests that McCallie’s early days as Darlington’s president were lean ones. The boarding program was suffering. Faculty turnover was high and morale low. The campus buildings and grounds were in various states of disrepair and obsolescence. Financial resources were few, and the School was operating at a deficit. In fact, boarding schools across the country were struggling.
Maddox joked that when McCallie was hired “I thought the School had sunk to a new low,” referring to the longstanding rivalry between Darlington School and McCallie School. “But, I grew to like and respect him greatly.”
In fact, McCallie asked Maddox to join the staff to help in raise funds for the School. “Jim’s greatest strengths are his ability to build consensus and his patience,” Maddox said.
While serving as president, McCallie helped the School achieve many improvements. The number of AP and honors courses increased from 19 to 33, average SAT scores increased from 950 to 1137, the number of computers grew from one to 300, financial aid awarded increased from $80,000 to $1.2 million, total number of Board of Trustees members increased from 28 to 41 with the number of trustees from outside Rome grew from four to 22, gifts to the Annual Fund grew from $121,715 to $1.3 million, and the endowment grew from $13 million to $20 million.
Suzy B. Gilbert, a member of the Board of Trustees, shared memories of Kennedy as someone with a great sense of humor and a deep love for Darlington. Kennedy, president of Kennedy Broadcasting Inc., Augusta, Ga., was an active member of the Darlington community and a committed civic leader.
He had previously served on Darlington’s Board of Visitors and the Campaign for Darlington committee, and served as the chairman of the presidential search committee in 1998 and 1999.
Kennedy entered Darlington in September 1956, graduating in June 1960. He was a 1964 graduate of Princeton University and received his law degree from Harvard University in 1967. He was a captain in the Army and a veteran of the Vietnam War, during which he received an Army Commendation Medal and a Bronze Star.
Kennedy’s community involvement included service to the Boys Club of Augusta as a former president, former president for the Wildflower & Beautification Trust Fund, and past director and vice president of the Augusta Richmond County Clean Community Commission.
After his death, the Alumni Council awarded him the Distinguished Alumnus Award during Darlington Celebration 2001.
A coed, college preparatory, day (PK-12) and boarding (9-12) school in Rome, Ga., 65 miles northwest of Atlanta, Darlington School inspires students to grow intellectually, spiritually, morally, physically, culturally, and socially.
Students, faculty, and special guests attended dedication services held in Morris Chapel to hear tributes paid to the contributions that both men made to Darlington. Following the service, the new signage on the library was unveiled.
John W. Maddox Jr. ’60 recalled for guests that McCallie’s early days as Darlington’s president were lean ones. The boarding program was suffering. Faculty turnover was high and morale low. The campus buildings and grounds were in various states of disrepair and obsolescence. Financial resources were few, and the School was operating at a deficit. In fact, boarding schools across the country were struggling.
Maddox joked that when McCallie was hired “I thought the School had sunk to a new low,” referring to the longstanding rivalry between Darlington School and McCallie School. “But, I grew to like and respect him greatly.”
In fact, McCallie asked Maddox to join the staff to help in raise funds for the School. “Jim’s greatest strengths are his ability to build consensus and his patience,” Maddox said.
While serving as president, McCallie helped the School achieve many improvements. The number of AP and honors courses increased from 19 to 33, average SAT scores increased from 950 to 1137, the number of computers grew from one to 300, financial aid awarded increased from $80,000 to $1.2 million, total number of Board of Trustees members increased from 28 to 41 with the number of trustees from outside Rome grew from four to 22, gifts to the Annual Fund grew from $121,715 to $1.3 million, and the endowment grew from $13 million to $20 million.
Suzy B. Gilbert, a member of the Board of Trustees, shared memories of Kennedy as someone with a great sense of humor and a deep love for Darlington. Kennedy, president of Kennedy Broadcasting Inc., Augusta, Ga., was an active member of the Darlington community and a committed civic leader.
He had previously served on Darlington’s Board of Visitors and the Campaign for Darlington committee, and served as the chairman of the presidential search committee in 1998 and 1999.
Kennedy entered Darlington in September 1956, graduating in June 1960. He was a 1964 graduate of Princeton University and received his law degree from Harvard University in 1967. He was a captain in the Army and a veteran of the Vietnam War, during which he received an Army Commendation Medal and a Bronze Star.
Kennedy’s community involvement included service to the Boys Club of Augusta as a former president, former president for the Wildflower & Beautification Trust Fund, and past director and vice president of the Augusta Richmond County Clean Community Commission.
After his death, the Alumni Council awarded him the Distinguished Alumnus Award during Darlington Celebration 2001.
A coed, college preparatory, day (PK-12) and boarding (9-12) school in Rome, Ga., 65 miles northwest of Atlanta, Darlington School inspires students to grow intellectually, spiritually, morally, physically, culturally, and socially.
