The university will hold a ceremony April 16 at 2 p.m. to formally name the life sciences building for former President Fred C. Davison.
The facility will be named the Fred C. Davison Life Sciences Complex in honor of the man who served for 19 years as UGA’s 17th president. The ceremony, open to the public, will be held in front of the building.
Many who served with Davison, as vice presidents, deans and in other administrative positions, are expected to attend, along with members of his family, faculty colleagues and other friends.
Thomas Meredith, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, will speak. Other speakers will be current President Michael F. Adams; state Rep. Louise McBee, who was vice president for student affairs and associate vice president for academic affairs under Davison; Jon Appleton, minister emeritus of Athens First Baptist Church and a Davison family friend; and Jeffrey Bennetzen, Georgia Research Alliance/Norman and Doris Giles Eminent Scholar in molecular genetics and functional genomics.
Davison was president from July 1, 1967, until July 30, 1986-the third-longest tenure of any president in UGA’s 219-year history. His presidency is noted for major advances in research, especially in the field of biotechnology, and for improvements in faculty and student quality, growth in public service and outreach, and the addition of important new campus facilities.
As part of the ceremony, an exhibit of photos, documents and other mementos featuring highlights of Davison’s tenure will be placed in the building, on the ground floor at the central entrance. The building will also be open for tours.
