Richard Vernon Moore Sr.Date of Presidency – 1947-1974
Education: B.A. at Knoxville College
M.A. at Atlanta University
Program Established
In his first year he established undergraduate chapters of Greek organizations on campus. He also expanded the University’s academic offerings by expanding from seven majors programs to eighteen. During Moore’s first year he initiated a teacher retirement plan, increased the salaries and number of faculty, and expanded the academic program. To honor Mrs. Bethune death, President Moore and Board established the Mary McLeod Bethune Medallion and the Mary Mcleod Bethune Tuition Scholarship.
Accomplishments as President
On December 7, 1960, President Moore was notified that BCC was accepted as a full member of the regional accrediting body, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). In his time as president an impressive list of buildings were added during the period between 1960 and 1975: Gretrude Hotchkins Chapel, Helen Kottle Memorial Classroom Building, Addition to Harrison Rhodes Library, Addition to Science Building, James e. and Florence Davis Air Conditioning Plant, Lefevre Residence Hall for Men, Charles Parlin Student Center, John Gross Science Building, Veva Friend Maintenance Building, President’s Residence, Julia E. Robinson Music Building, Carl s. Swisher Library, Ja-Flo Davis Residence hall for Women, and remodeled Harrision Rhodes Memorial Science Building.
Background History
A sports enthusiast possessing leadership abilities, in 1932-1934 Moore began his career as a social science teacher and coach at Pinellas High School in Clearwater and in 1934-1937 he was principal of Union Academy at Tarpon Springs. In 1937 he became principal of Rosenwald High School in Panama City. In 1944 he took on the leadership of Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola. While there he came to the attention of D. E. Williams. Moore’s leadership in Pensacola was rewarded in1845 when he was appointed state supervisor of Negro Secondary school in Florida.
Following the Presidency
Although Dr. Moore recognized his health was dissipating by 1973 and apparently made it known to the leadership of the Board, no one wanted to formally discuss the inevitable – Dr. Moore’s retirement. There was no specific mention of his wanting to retire in the Board minutes of the prior two years. But there was casual mention of “how it would be difficult to replace’ the institution that he had become. He had weathered the storms of his initial years and his leadership style bad apparently been just what the University needed since it grew and developed in every way imaginable. But he, more than anyone else, knew it was time to relinquish his leadership of B-CC. Mainly for health reasons, Dr. Richard Vernon Moore, the third president of B-CC, retired effective June 1975.
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