GMC News

Georgia Military College Foundation Appoints Leaders The Georgia Military College Foundation recently announced its appointment of trustees to serve in roles of leadership for the organization. The Foundation’s trademark in recent years has been incremental success on behalf of Georgia Military College. These leaders have pledged their dedicated service toward ensuring continued excellence and fortifying the institution for a productive future. Mr. Dudley Rowe has been appointed as Chairman of the Georgia Military College Foundation. He has been instrumental in organizing a grants program for the Foundation and providing invaluable leadership to the organization at a strategic level. Rowe, an Honorary Alumnus, became involved with GMC some 20 years ago and says that the experience has been quite rewarding. He stated, “I am involved with Georgia Military College because of my deep conviction that the educational experience it offers makes a profound and lasting impact upon the lives of its students.” Born and raised in southwestern England, Rowe enjoyed a 45-year career with ECC. PLC, a large British international minerals and chemicals company. Before his retirement as a senior executive, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and served on the parent company board of directors He has since served in leadership on many business, professional, and civic boards and committees around the world. Rowe has served as a director of Century Bank & Trust since 2001 and as a Century Bancorp director since 2002. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Century Bancorp and is a past Senior Warden of Saint Stephens Episcopal Church. Dr. John Ferguson will serve as 1st Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Development Committee. A graduate of GMC (high school and junior college), Ferguson attended the Emory University School of Dentistry and was accepted at Emory as a resident in orthodontics after serving in the U.S. Army Dental Corp. Upon completing his residency, he began his practice in his hometown of Milledgeville. Ferguson was inducted as a Fellow of the International College of Dentists and received the John E. MacNamara D.D.S. Meritorious Service Award from Emory University. He has been named Distinguished Alumnus at Georgia Military College. Ferguson is active in the community and in his church, and holds memberships in a number of civic organizations. His service includes being president of the GMC Alumni Association, GMC Foundation Trustee, and advisor to the GMC Board of Trustees. Mr. John Williamson will serve as 2nd Vice Chairman. Now retired, Williamson was president of Freeport Kaolin Company and president of IMPEX Corporation, an International Engineering, Consultant, Manufacturing and Sales Corporation servicing the industrial minerals field worldwide. He has performed engineering, consulting, and sales to more than 35 domestic and foreign companies. Williamson graduated from North Georgia College and, after serving in the U.S. Naval Air Reserve, earned a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. Williamson is a member of the Georgia Tech National Advisory Board (emeritus), the Georgia Mining Association and the Georgia College Foundation Board. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Business Council and the Advisory Boards for the School of Management at the University of Georgia and the School of Business at Georgia College. Mr. David Grant will hold the office of Secretary-Treasurer. A graduate of GMC (high school and junior college), Grant has served his alma mater not only as a trustee of the GMC Foundation but also as past president of the Alumni Association and past member of the Board of Trustees. He has a BBA from Georgia College & State University. Grant has contributed a great deal to numerous civic organizations and has given outstanding service to the community. He has received the GMC Alumni Association’s Community Service Award as a result of his vision of what needs to be accomplished and his dedication to improving the lives of others. Grant is employed with James M. Grant, CPA, in Milledgeville. He is President of Oconee River Greenway Foundation, Inc. and serves on the Board of Directors of the Oconee Area Citizen Advocacy, Inc. The four officers are members of an Executive Committee elected from the membership of the board which meets monthly to consider policy and management issues and is authorized to act on behalf of the Foundation Board of Trustees between its semi-annual meetings. Executive Committee members, along with additional trustees, also serve on committees to provide guidance and oversight in specific areas. Executive Committee members (pictured) are as follows: Mr. Dudley Rowe, Chairman Dr. John Ferguson, 1st Vice Chairman/Development Chairman Mr. John Williamson, 2nd Vice Chairman Mr. David Grant, Secretary-Treasurer Mr. Rod Theus, Finance Chairman Dr. George Echols, Rules and Nominations Chairman Mr. Larry Thompson, Real Property Chairman Ms. Patricia Baugh Thompson, Development Committee MG Peter J. Boylan, USA (Ret.), GMC President Ms. Elizabeth Sheppard, Executive Director/VP for Advancement The mission of the Georgia Military College Foundation is to secure and prudently manage private gifts in support of Georgia Military College and foster a culture that unites philanthropic desires with college priorities. The foundation is a separate, independent organization that is chartered by the State of Georgia as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit educational corporation.