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March 2004

Honarary Founders plaque rededicated

Dr. Thomas Carpenter and John A. Delaney

The current president of UNF joined with the first president of UNF on Feb. 19 to rededicate the Honorary Founders plaque that was “lost” several years ago during the renovation of Daniel Hall.

President John Delaney praised the work of UNF’s first president, Dr. Thomas Carpenter, whom he called a “true pioneer in education who had a Herculean task to put this university together.”

“I have to tell you, you certainly did it right,” Delaney said. “This University owes you a great deal. Tom Carpenter returned to help us celebrate this new chapter. He wrote the first chapter in that book and also wrote the introduction because he was here even before the foundation was laid.”

Delaney charted the progress the University has made since opening in 1972.

“This year, we exceeded 14,000 students; in 1972 there were about 2,000. Today, we have more than that, 2,300, just in residence halls. The physical plant then consisted of four buildings of about 200,000 square feet total. Today, we have over 2.5 million square feet. But something that hasn’t changed since UNF opened its doors in 1972 is this community’s love and appreciation for an institution of higher learning.”

Carpenter said when he first arrived in Jacksonville, many members of the community had already formed allegiances to Jacksonville University or the University of Florida.

“We were perceived by many as being interferers. We had to find new friends. It was an act of faith on their part to support us,” he said.

The first president said he was grateful for the first donors who provided support for the
University.

“I can’t tell you how good it is to see this plaque go back up because it should be there forever as a reminder of all of the support we received,” he said. I look forward to seeing UNF continuing to grow in the future.”

Delaney also came in for praise from Carpenter.

“I do want to take this opportunity to say how pleased and delighted I am you have been selected to run this very fine institution. I know you will do well,” he said.

The ceremony, which was outside the east entrance of Daniel Hall, was part of a week of events to mark the inauguration of Delaney as UNF’s fifth president.

During the ceremony, the restored plaque was unveiled. The plaque originally was unveiled Dec. 17, 1972, to honor 49 donors who contributed $500 or more to a “fund-raising and friend-raising” drive to support financial aid programs. The donors were deemed “honorary founders,” and their names were placed on the plaque.

During that campaign, the new UNF Foundation raised $38,000 from more than 250 private individuals, business enterprises and civic organizations. The donations were used to help 211 students in the University’s charter class. Further donations and state matching funds later enabled the Foundation to help 219 students.