Ceremony to name UGA Life Sciences Building for Fred Davison scheduled for April 16

WRITER/CONTACT: Larry B. Dendy, 706/542-8078; ldendy@uga.edu
Apr 15, 2004, 16:52

ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Georgia will hold a ceremony Friday, April 16, at 2 p.m. to formally name the Life Sciences Complex for former UGA 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, located near the intersection of East Green Street and East Campus Road on UGA’s South Campus.

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 UGA 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 featuring highlights of Davison’s tenure will be placed in the building on the ground floor at the building’s central entrance. The exhibit will include photos, documents and other mementos and will focus primarily on growth in research and facilities, and on UGA’s Bicentennial held in 1984-85. The building will also be open for tours.

Those driving to the ceremony should park in the lot adjacent to the university printing building behind the Performing Arts Center. It is a short walk over a bridge and across East Campus Road to the Life Sciences Building.