Founding President of Clark Atlanta University, Dr. Thomas Cole, dies at age 81

ATLANTA – Dr. Thomas W. Cole, Jr., who oversaw the consolidation of the 2 increased studying establishments within the late Eighties that might turn out to be Clark Atlanta College died Thursday. He was 81.

Cole was born on January 11, 1941, in Vernon, Texas, the second of 4 youngsters to Eva and Thomas W. Cole Sr. 

Whereas attending public college throughout his childhood, he watched and was mentored by his father who was President of Wiley Faculty from 1958 to 1971. Cole would turn out to be an Eagle Scout and graduated from highschool in 1958, He then attended Wiley Faculty the place was lively within the Kappa Chi and Alpha Kappa Mu Honor societies.

Cole would graduate summa cum laude in 1961, receiving a Bachelor’s of Science and the Southern Regional Fellowship. He then attended the College of Chicago the place earned his Ph.D. in natural chemistry in 1966.

Dr. Cole would then head to Atlanta in 1966 after accepting an assistant professor place at Atlanta College Heart. He would rise the rinks throughout his tenure there. From 1970 via 1979, Cole served because the chemistry division chair. From 1969 via 1979, he served because the Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Chemistry, and in 1979 he was named Provost and Vice President for Educational Affairs till 1982.

“President Cole was a large among the many panorama of American Increased Schooling leaders and a celebrated colleague, notably among the many Traditionally Black Faculty and College group and the various federal businesses that supported the sciences,” mentioned Clark Atlanta College President George T. French Jr. 

He served because the President of West Virginia State College from 1982 till 1986 and subsequently was appointed Chancellor of the West Virginia Board of Regents, one in all 4 African People to guide a state system of public increased schooling on the time

“Dr. Cole was a real chief in increased schooling and left an enduring legacy at plenty of establishments, together with West Virginia State College, that has impacted generations of scholars,” mentioned WVSU President Ericke Cage. “The ideas and prayers of your entire Yellow Jacket household exit to his spouse, Choose Brenda Cole, and your entire Cole household at this tough time.”

Dr. Cole could be appointed president of each Atlanta College and Clark Faculty in 1987, overseeing the establishments concurrently and readying them for consolidation. He would ten function the Founding President of Clark Atlanta College in 1988.

Throughout his tenure as president of Clark Atlanta College, President Cole launched section one of many establishment’s first Capital Marketing campaign (The College for A New Day Marketing campaign). The trouble exceeded its $9 million aim, elevating $11.5 million. Dr. Cole additionally served because the Chairman of the United Negro Faculty Fund member presidents.

Of Dr. Cole, Clark Atlanta College President French wrote:

“His scholarship, management, imaginative and prescient, and strategic positioning propelled CAU into the elite ranks amongst U.S. Complete, Doctoral Universities, which was famous in a Chronicle of Increased Schooling front-page article titled, The Exceptional Rise of Clark Atlanta College.

“President Cole profoundly liked Clark Atlanta College. His deep appreciation for your entire CAU household was felt by all, together with school, employees, and most significantly, the scholars. He was a college students’ president. He knew college students by title, and each choice he made was led with the perfect curiosity of the scholars and the college in thoughts.”

Dr. Cole would step down and retire from his publish in 2002.

He’s survived by his spouse Brenda H. Cole, a Fulton County State Courtroom decide, and their two youngsters, Kelley S. Cole and Thomas Winston Cole, III.

“President Cole was a large of a person, who will probably be cherished and ceaselessly distinguished. Right this moment, Dr. Bacon French and I embrace Choose Brenda Cole and household throughout this tough time. President Cole was good friend and confidant to our household for which we’ll ceaselessly be grateful,” wrote President French.

Funeral providers will probably be at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 25 at Cascade United Methodist Church. Internment particulars will probably be introduced within the subsequent few days.

The household asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Thomas W. Cole Jr., Scholarship Fund at Clark Atlanta College.