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Brother Rufus P. Perry Passes the Gavel to Brother Lionel H. Newsom
Brother Rufus P. Perry
Dr. Rufus P. Perry, an Alpha man who doubled enrollment, added $7 million in new buildings, and rooted out the hedge that once separated Johnson C. Smith University from the rest of Charlotte, plans to return to his first love — medicinal chemistry, passes the gavel to another Alpha man, Dr. Lionel Newsom. Dr. Lionel Newsom takes office Jan. 1, 1969. Board Chairman James Egert Allen disclosed that the trustees had elected Dr. Perry the university's first James B. Duke Distinguished Research Professor. The 65-year-old Perry commented that for some time he'd wanted to make a few scholarly contributions before he started spending his time fishing and playing golf. "I've also wanted to get back into closer touch with the students," he added. Perry hinted in April, 1967, that he wanted to return to 4
research and teaching once JCSU's new science center was completed. He told the board of trustees of his decision on July 20, 1968, and so informed faculty members at the annual faculty retreat. A tall, soft spoken man, Dr. Perry has been president of the 101-year-old institution since July 1, 1957. During that time, student enrollment more than doubled to 1,490. The number of faculty members increased from 55 to 120. And faculty salaries now rank fifth among N. C.'s 43 colleges and universities. Equally important, Johnson C. Smith began to train more than just "teachers and preachers." "Eight years ago, only a few school principals came on campus looking for job applicants. Last year, we had 300-400 recruiters, many from business and industry," he added. And as new emphasis was put on job placement in nontraditional fields, available scholarship funds jumped from $50,000 in 1957 to $800,000 in 1968. During the same period, Johnson C. Smith came to play a more active role in the Charlotte community. Students were instrumental in desegregating Charlotte's restaurants, theaters, hotels and motels in the early 1960's. And they've since become active in voter registration and in school tutorial programs in Greenville and Double Oaks. This year, JCSU has added new programs of business administration and black history. "We've always taught black history," the tall, baldish educator commented. "But it's mostly been about Black America. Now we're going into the politics, history and culture of Black Africa." Dr. Perry was born in Brunswick, Ga. He earned his B.A. degree at Johnson C. Smith, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in chemistry from the University of Iowa. Before returning to Smith in 1957, he served as chemistry professor, vice president and administration dean at Lanston University, Langston, Okla. Dr. Perry is a member of Sigma Xi, the American Chemical Society, and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is listed in American Men of Science, Who's Who in the South and Southwest. Dr. Perry has had work published in the field of medicinal chemsitry and his special interests are drugs to combat cancer, malaria and tuberculosis.