Gainesville College celebrates a milestone

OAKWOOD - Gainesville College is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its charter this month.

On March 11, 1964, the state Board of Regents approved the establishment of a new junior college to be located in Hall County.

Two months earlier, the Gainesville-Hall County Educational Task Force had been formed and was instrumental in securing Hall County as the site for a new college. James Mathis, Sr. was Chairman of the Task Force and the membership included Loyd Strickland, R. L. Swetenburg, Otis Cato, Ralph Cleveland, Charles Propes and A.D. Wright.

James A. Dunlap of Gainesville, who at the time was Chairman of the Board of Regents, was also instrumental in the effort.

In June of that year, the bond issue to build the College passed by a 10-1 majority. The 150 acres where the College is now located was purchased in July 1964, a location chosen based on the proximity to the yet-to-be-built I-85 connector, Interstate 985. The land had been in the Stewart family and was purchased from Ms. Johnnie Martin for $750 per acre.

Dr. Hugh Mills, Jr. was named President of the institution in July 1965 and on December 13, then-Gov. Carl Sanders threw the first shovelful of red dirt to officially break ground for Gainesville Junior College.

The first college registration was held on September 22, 1966 with 419 students enrolling, which was approximately 150 more than anticipated. Classes began on September 24 at locations around Gainesville including First Baptist Church and Gainesville Junior High (Middle) School.

In late February 1967 the move to the new campus - on the present site in Oakwood - was made. Five buildings not totally completed made up the campus at the time: Administration, Library, Science/Mathematics, Maintenance, Student Center and Gymnasium.

Dr. Mills retired in June 1983 and turned the College over to Dr. J. Foster Watkins. Dr. Watkins retired in 1997 and was succeeded by Dr. Martha T. Nesbitt, the current president.

In July 1987 the "Junior" was removed from the College's name and the institution has since been known as Gainesville College.

Over the past 40 years, enrollment at Gainesville College has grown to nearly 5,300 students on two campuses, the Gainesville Campus in Oakwood and the new Oconee Campus in Watkinsville.