Interview: Wilson, Melford A.
Item
Identifier
Mss-0325, Cassette 38
Title
Interview: Wilson, Melford A.
Type
Sound
Format
.mp3
Language
English
Source
Joseph C. Ellers Collection
Rights
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives.
Date
1980s
Description
Melford A. Wilson was the Vice President of Business & Finance.
0:14 Wilson dealt with both the president and vice president's of the university on a regular basis. The Deans of the university represented functions or areas of work. Wilson would talk with the Deans about the needs of their programs. He also talked to them about business management and allocations of funds.
2:38 Business management in an institution is not unlike a service organization.
5:01 How did Wilson help? He often acted as a catalyst for talks with the Attorney General, State Treasurer, or Budget Control Board when necessary.
5:38 Wilson uses Olin Garrison as an example of how he typically worked out budgetary issues.
8:04 Wilson said he didn't respect any faculty member or dean that couldn't put his/her best food forward, because ultimately that's what they're hired for.
8:47 He never set a single person's salary.
10:44 How did Wilson work with the Dean? He had a Dean of the college that the Deans reported to, and then the Dean would refer to Wilson.
11:45 Wilson became Vice President of Business and Finance. Before he was at Clemson, Littlejohn was the Business Manager, and A.J. Brown was Treasurer and Secretary of the Board.
15:40 Wilson dealt extensively with the Office of the President, and he was responsible for his certain area of business and finance. It was up to Wilson to keep the President informed; they had to work together as a team. He was there to help the President and the Board of Trustees in any way he could. Wilson would always try to refer to the President's opinion on issues.
21:15 Wilson's first meeting was on July 1, 1955 after the Cresap, McCormick, and Paget report recommended candidates for several new positions.
24:35 Edwards provided outstanding leadership to the University. He had a fantastic capacity for going into details in almost any facet. He was a very dynamic leader and did all he could to improve salaries, obtain funds for new building projects, and get everyone's full cooperation. He had the fortitude to do things when they weren't necessarily popular, like integration for example. He also was very good about keeping people informed.
27:46 Audio ends.
0:14 Wilson dealt with both the president and vice president's of the university on a regular basis. The Deans of the university represented functions or areas of work. Wilson would talk with the Deans about the needs of their programs. He also talked to them about business management and allocations of funds.
2:38 Business management in an institution is not unlike a service organization.
5:01 How did Wilson help? He often acted as a catalyst for talks with the Attorney General, State Treasurer, or Budget Control Board when necessary.
5:38 Wilson uses Olin Garrison as an example of how he typically worked out budgetary issues.
8:04 Wilson said he didn't respect any faculty member or dean that couldn't put his/her best food forward, because ultimately that's what they're hired for.
8:47 He never set a single person's salary.
10:44 How did Wilson work with the Dean? He had a Dean of the college that the Deans reported to, and then the Dean would refer to Wilson.
11:45 Wilson became Vice President of Business and Finance. Before he was at Clemson, Littlejohn was the Business Manager, and A.J. Brown was Treasurer and Secretary of the Board.
15:40 Wilson dealt extensively with the Office of the President, and he was responsible for his certain area of business and finance. It was up to Wilson to keep the President informed; they had to work together as a team. He was there to help the President and the Board of Trustees in any way he could. Wilson would always try to refer to the President's opinion on issues.
21:15 Wilson's first meeting was on July 1, 1955 after the Cresap, McCormick, and Paget report recommended candidates for several new positions.
24:35 Edwards provided outstanding leadership to the University. He had a fantastic capacity for going into details in almost any facet. He was a very dynamic leader and did all he could to improve salaries, obtain funds for new building projects, and get everyone's full cooperation. He had the fortitude to do things when they weren't necessarily popular, like integration for example. He also was very good about keeping people informed.
27:46 Audio ends.
Subject
South Carolina -- Pickens County
Interviewer
Ellers, Joseph C.
Interviewee
Wilson, Melford A.
Publisher
Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository
