William A. Finley
William Asa Finley (1839 - 1912) was the first president of Corvallis College, what is now called Oregon State University.
Born in Missouri in 1939, Finley moved to California in 1952. He went to University of the Pacific in Santa Clara for three years and Pacific Methodist College for one year, where he received the degree of Artium Magister. Thereafter, he received the honory Doctor of Divinity from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1871.[1]
In 1865, Finley became the first president of Corvallis College by the appointment of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His presidency there lasted until he resigned in June 1872 for health problem of his wife Sarah Elizabeth Latimer. After Finley moved back to Santa Rosa, California with his wife, he became the second president of Pacific Methodist College in 1876; later, he became a president of Santa Rosa Young Ladies College.[2]
Finley's contribution to Oregon State University was significant in that, during his presidency, Corvallis College achieved to establish the status of an independent institution of higher education from that of a high school for pioneers.[3]
Footnotes
References
- OSU Archives - President's Gallery - W.A. Finley
- The Life and Times of OSU’s First President, William A. Finley
Category:Oregon State University faculty