David Grier Martin Sr. (November 11, 1910 – April 5, 1974) was the 13th president of
Davidson College
Davidson College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina, United States. It was established in 1837 by the Concord Presbytery and named after American Revolutiona ...
. A graduate of Davidson College, class of 1932, he served as college treasurer under President Cunningham. He was forty-eight years old when he accepted the presidency of Davidson. A native of
Covington, Georgia
Covington is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia and the seat of Newton County, and is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, its population was 14,192.
History
Covington was founded by European immigrants to the Unite ...
, Martin attended Emory University for graduate studies.
During Martin's administration, the permanent endowment greatly increased and several construction projects were completed or near completion including the E.H. Little Dormitory, Patterson Fraternity Court, Dana Science Building, and Richardson Dormitory. Martin also witnessed growth in student enrollment and faculty size, a new curriculum including a foreign study program and humanities courses, the Reynolds Lectures and Richardson Scholars, racial integration, the beginning of data processing, successful financial campaigns, and solid advances in faculty salaries, housing, and fringe benefits.
It was during his time as president that the college began the process of racial integration with the admission of two students of
Congolese origin.
Martin was also involved in matters of race relations in
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...
.
References
External links
Biography from the Davidson College Archives & Special Collections
Presidents of Davidson College
Davidson College alumni
Emory University alumni
1910 births
1974 deaths
20th-century American academics
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