The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-04-15
new HEAD
FOR STATE
UNIVERSITY
William D. Melton,
Prominent Colu1a-
bia Lawyer Elected
by Trustees to Sue
ceed DR.. Currell

DINA TO succeed Br. William Spen-
eer Currell. who had resigned at
the January meeting of the board
OF trustees. Mr.. Melton accepted
the presidency last evening.
Mr.. Melton viii assume the d.
ties Of president some time between
July and September l, and will
abandon all his business and pro-
fessional activities. devoting his
entire time TO npbuilding the uni
yersity.
Concarrentiy with the election OF
Mr. Melton as president OF the
university, the trustees elected DR..
Cnrrell dean Of the recently Great
ed graduate school DR.. Curre3l
viii become the head Of the grad
nate school just as soon as Mr.
Mellon assumes the office of pres
ddent and he expects to- have the
school well organized and equipped
by the neM scholastic year. This
school was created by the legisla-
ture at the recent session.
Mr.. Melton, the preadent-elect,
is man of large business and
professional affairs and sin accept
ing the proffer OF the trustees last
night told the board that he want
ed tc take up the new work as
early as possible and would arrange
matters as quickly as he could.
The new president was president
of the South Carolina Bar asso-
eiafion in l928-21.
In accepting the resignation Of
DIR. CurreH the trustees expressed
their highest esteem for the work
the retiring president hss done
and instructed fio$ernot Cooper.
chairman OF the board, to eoayey
the boards esteem TO DIR. Currell
by letter.
In casting about for 2 successor
to DR. Currell the hoard mad two
ideas IN view TO find a man who
would measure up to the require
ments of real university execu-
tive and a man OF. isigsa ptJ,spre and
character These.v M hafs of the
hoard said, are believed TO be en-
bodied in the presidenf:aiect.
DR.. Curreil. the retiring presi-
dent, assumed the Office OF the
presidency in 19i4 and since his
administration the university has
made much progress. both in schol-
arship and attendance.
Mr.. Melton. in his acceptance.
told the members Of t7le board
that he would burn ali his business
bridges behind him andswould de-
vote his entire time to- the affairs
OF the university; that nc Would do
all in his power te increase and
broaden its influence and make ii q
real vital force IN the state The
members OF the hoard OF trustees
pledged TO him their entire support
and cooperation in the large task
ahead of him.
No other man was gwen consid-
Grafton at the meeting than Mr..
Melton, who was in no sense q cam
didate The board. Us expressed by
each member. sas OF the opinion
that he filed all the qualifications
making for a high class executive.
William Davis Melton was born
near Richburg. Chester county.
May &c, 1858. the son Of DR.. Viii
liam c. D. Melton and Mary Jane
Poas Melton. His early education
was in the public schools OF Ches-
ter and after finishing his common
school education he attended the
University OF Virginia from 1887
10 1890, graduating in the schools
OF English, Latin. French. moral
philosophy, chemistry, natural his
tory and geology.
He was licentiate instructor in
Latin in the University OF Virginia
from 1859 TO 1890. From 1890 to
1892 he attended the law school
OF the University OF SoGth Carolina.
graduating with the degree OF
LIB. He was admitted TO the
bar in June. 1892, located IN Ches-
Ter where he remained until March
OF 1898, when he removed TO Co
lulnbia. He is senior member Of
the firm of Melton & Belser. He
has made Columbia his home since.
Mr.. Melton was an alderman and
chairman Of the ways and means
committee OF the city Of Columbia
from 1900 TO 1906 and was au-
thor of ordinances establishing the
waterworks system. the sewerage
system, the paid fire department.
the recorders court, the police
commission and other constructive
measures. He was chairman OF
the state board of law examiners
from 1910 10 1919 and president OF
the South Carolina Bar association
in l929-2I. During the world waf
be was state chairman Of the
..four-minute men" state chairma n
Of the united war work campaign.
city chairman Of the Red Cross
and Y. VI. c.. a campaigns and
active in all Liberty loan cam
paigns.
Mr.. Melton has been elected 10
an honorary degree Of doctor OF
laws by the university trustees and
this degree viii be conferred upon
him at the commencement this
Jane.
Mr.. Melton is associated with o
large number of businesses in the
city, being one of the leading busi-
ness men of Columbia He is pres
ident Of the City Development COM