William L. Giles
Encyclopedia
William Lincoln Giles is a former president of Mississippi State University
, serving from 1966-1976.
Born in Oklahoma and growing up in Little Rock, Ark., Giles earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Arkansas
and a Ph.D. in botany at the University of Missouri
.
In the 1960s, Giles garnered numerous awards and accolades. These included being names the "Man of the Year in Agriculture" by Progressive Farmer
in 1960 and the "Conservationist of the Year" by the American Society of Soil Conservation in 1963.
In 1966, he was elected the 13th president of Mississippi State University. During his tenure, he was responsible for a large building program that included the addition of a new student union, chapel (built from the remains of Old Main), student health center and over 35 academic buildings that were either constructed, enlarged or renovated. Enrollment also increased from 8,000 to 12,000 students.
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, serving from 1966-1976.
Born in Oklahoma and growing up in Little Rock, Ark., Giles earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
and a Ph.D. in botany at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
.
Early Life and Career
Giles served in the army during World War II, and worked at the Soil Conservation Service in Kansas and the Agricultural research Center in Maryland before coming to Mississippi State University in 1949. At that time is served as the University's Seed Technology Laboratory manager, a position he kept for three years before moving to the Delta Branch Experiment Station in Stoneville, MS. He was appointed the Vice President for Agriculture and Forestry at MSU in 1961.In the 1960s, Giles garnered numerous awards and accolades. These included being names the "Man of the Year in Agriculture" by Progressive Farmer
Progressive Farmer
DTN/The Progressive Farmer is a country life oriented magazine, published twelve times a year by DTN, a division of Telvent. The magazine is based in Birmingham, Alabama.-History:...
in 1960 and the "Conservationist of the Year" by the American Society of Soil Conservation in 1963.
In 1966, he was elected the 13th president of Mississippi State University. During his tenure, he was responsible for a large building program that included the addition of a new student union, chapel (built from the remains of Old Main), student health center and over 35 academic buildings that were either constructed, enlarged or renovated. Enrollment also increased from 8,000 to 12,000 students.