Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994 TAG: 9406170095
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER NOTE: lede
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Dedmon, considered a visionary by some for the growth he brought to the university, asked to retire the day after the board of visitors met for six hours in a hastily called closed-door session.
The board on Thursday granted his request for medical leave for 14 months beginning June 15. He had surgery this spring and has been recuperating since. His retirement officially begins Aug. 15, 1995.
The university has not released details of the allegations brought by the faculty.
In a statement, Dedmon called for the board to begin the search for his successor. In the meantime, Vice President for Academic Affairs Charles Owens, called back from vacation, was appointed temporary, interim president.
"I can think of no place I would have liked to spend the major part of my career than here at Radford," Dedmon said in a statement.
Board members noted Dedmon's accomplishments, including the New College of Global Studies being developed at Radford. The college's students will wed knowledge of technology to the global marketplace.
"That institution today, compared to 22 years ago, is remarkable," said Bernard C. Wampler, vice rector of the board of visitors. "His vision was extraordinary; his ability to get the funds for Radford to do the things they've done is remarkable."
But some faculty members were more muted.
"I think this is in the best interest of the university," political science Professor Al Pearson said of Dedmon's departure.
Pearson has been a driving force behind a faculty committee appointed last fall to investigate procedures used by the board to award tenure to Dedmon's long-time aide, Charles Woods.
Pearson was among those faculty members who attended part of Wednesday's meeting with what one called "documentation" that they agreed to turn over to the board.
Pearson also said that faculty members went to the board with concerns of financial mismanagement by Dedmon.
Another professor who attended the meeting, faculty President Tom Mullis, was asked if Dedmon had become a controversial figure. He said that last fall's tenure flap was the most significant controversy to arise under the departing president.
"What I would like to say, really, is that he has been very ill, and I wish him well. While I was president, I worked with him very closely," Mullis said.
Word of the Radford uproar reached Richmond, where Secretary of Education Beverly Sgro had been approached by faculty members concerned about allegations of misappropriation of funds. They "wanted to make sure someone outside the university was aware of the allegations," she said.
"I have not seen the documents and would not imply that [Dedmon was] in fact is guilty of any of that," she said.
Sgro - who knew the purpose of Wednesday's board meeting - also said she believed the board had acted "very responsibly," but could not say that Dedmon's resignation Thursday was connected to Wednesday's meeting.
She said his leadership at Radford "should not be overlooked."
Former board of visitors member Bittle W. Porterfield III of Roanoke said he would be "shocked beyond belief if there was any material misappropriation of funds by Dedmon. Dr. Dedmon has made singular contributions to that institution under more than 20 years of stewardship."
Former Secretary of Education Don Finley, now an associate director for the state board charged with overseeing higher education, had only praise for Dedmon.
"Those of us who've been in higher education for a long time remember all too well when Dr. Dedmon came to Radford," Finley said. "It was an imperiled institution. Its enrollment was down, it had empty dormitories, it had been through considerable controversy, there was talk of merging it with [Virginia] Tech.
"Dr. Dedmon came into that situation and obviously gave it the kind of leadership that has transformed it."
Radford College had 3,600 women students when Dedmon arrived in 1972. Last year, 9,500 students - men and women - attended the university.
Retired Professor Edward Jervey remembers the college before Dedmon arrived.
"It's really sad it's come to this," Jervey said. "Obviously, Dedmon did a lot of good early on. He started a lot of programs, a lot of good things. After awhile, things got out of hand ....
"Here's a guy who got his doctorate in oral communication, and he couldn't communicate with the faculty. If he had communicated with the faculty, this thing would never have happened."
Staff writers Ralph Berrier Jr. and David M. Poole contributed information to this story.
by CNB