Eckerd College - History

History

Eckerd was founded as Florida Presbyterian College after World War II as part of national growth in post-secondary education driven by returning GIs entering college and the anticipated baby boom of children. The United Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church (US) worked together to start the college, receiving a charter from the Florida legislature in 1958 and opening in 1960. In 1971, Jack Eckerd donated $12.5 million to the college, the largest single gift it had received to that date. The following year the institution's name was changed to Eckerd College to recognize Mr. Eckerd's support. A covenant relationship is still maintained with the Presbyterian Church (USA).

The past presidents of the college are William Kadel (1958 - 1968), Billy Wireman (1968 - 1977), Jack Eckerd (1977, Interim President), Peter Armacost (1977 - 2000), and Eugene Hotchkiss (2000 - 2001, Interim President). Dr. Donald R. Eastman III has served as President since July 1, 2001.

In the 1980s, during the tenure of President Armacost, the college embarked on an extensive development program for land owned adjacent to its main campus. This development included the construction of waterfront homes and a retirement center. Financial irregularities related to these projects were discovered by the Board of Trustees in the spring of 2000, resulting in President Armacost's retirement, the loss of a significant fraction of Eckerd's endowment, and, eventually, loss of the partially developed land adjacent to the campus. The Board of Trustees pledged to bring the endowment back to its original level and, according to the college's website, has done so.

In May, 2006, Miles Collier, the Chairman of Eckerd's Board of Trustees, and his wife, Parker Collier, announced a $25-million challenge gift to the college. The "Collier Challenge" will be a dollar-for-dollar match to donations of $25,000 and higher. In November, 2008, alumnus Grover Wrenn, a member of the founding class in 1960, gave the college a $1-million gift, the largest from an alumnus. Mr. Wrenn's gift will rise to $2-million when matched with the Collier Challenge. Also in November, 2008, Mr. and Mrs. Collier added $15-million to their earlier donation.