CAMPUS NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2005

RETIREMENT STATEMENT

Four years ago this month, I was introduced as the third president of Sherman College by Dr. Thom Gelardi, the college’s founder and, at that time, chair of the Board of Trustees. I accepted the presidency of Sherman fresh out of a recent retirement, with an expectation of serving just a few years and spending those years contributing everything I could to advance and further improve the institution that I had come to love and appreciate so much.

During the past four years, I’ve realized – even more than I imagined – what a wonderful place Sherman is and what a wonderful community we share together here in Spartanburg. So it is with very mixed emotions that I announce my official retirement today.

I wish to thank the administrators, faculty, staff, the Board of Trustees and you all – the most wonderful students that I have ever been associated with in my career as an educator. I hope you know that I leave behind a portion of my heart with you. I could go on for hours about the hard-working, fantastic and supportive people here at Sherman, but I would be remiss if I didn’t call special attention to Dr. Gordon and Mrs. Helen Brown and Jan Batzer, who have kept me emotionally high throughout my journey here at Sherman.

I feel that I am one of the most blessed persons in the world. I am especially privileged to have accomplished many of my life’s goals – and I now look forward to doing some of the things that I hoped to do in my retirement while still physically able. I look forward to spending more time with my wife, parents, and grandsons, serving my church, and, of course, spending more time on the golf course. I also hope to stay involved somehow with the Sherman community by assisting the college in some capacity.

I also plan to remain active on several boards in the Spartanburg community until the transition both at the college and the community can be made with limited disruptions.

I thank you all for entrusting me with the future of the college and for supporting me in all my endeavors these past four years. Dr. Gelardi, I trust you feel I have been a good steward of your vision. I can’t imagine anyone better qualified to take the college through these next months as we search for our institution’s next great leader, so I return Sherman to you today with every good wish for the college now and in the future. Ladies and gentlemen I present to you… the Interim President of Sherman College, Dr. Thomas Gelardi.


Archived News Releases

Back to Campus News