William Travers Jerome III
Posted by TG on Mar 12 2008 | Tagged as: General, History
This afternoon in my e-mail, I received the Alumni Association’s “E-Ziggy-Zoomba” newsletter. Normally, I give it a quick glance, realize that most of the headlines are either sports or donaton related and move along. Today’s was different. Included was a story about the passing of former university president William T. Jerome III on March 10. He was 88.
Certainly a sad day for the Falcon community and one that I hope gets a good bit of attention from the university and local media. The obituary posted by the alumni association (which I can’t find an outside link to anywhere and therefore should be step one of “good bit of attention”) is quite impressive.
The BG News has a story posted, I hope someone takes the opportunity to write a deeper piece. I don’t know if it’s the kind of thing college papers go for, but the resources are right there, many in the building which bears his name.
The Sentinel-Tribune also has an obituary posted.
The Blade wrote a nice piece about Dr. Jerome on Thursday.
A few of the highlights of his pre-BG career:
-Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colgate
-Attended Yale Law School
-Served military intelligence during WWII
-Attended Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration for his Master’s Degree
-Received Doctorate from Harvard
In 1963, he was named the sixth president at Bowling Green State University, at the age of 43 (maybe 44). The size of the student body and faculty both doubled during his tenure, and nine Masters programs were created. In an indirect connection to BGSU, in 1970, Jerome became a consultant and vice president at Florida International University, which was formed by BG alumnus Charles E. Perry, and saw legendary coach Doyt Perry serve as athletic director and golf coach in the 1970’s. Of course, Jerome also had the library named in his honor in 1982. (See top right corner of this site.)
Pretty cool, huh? Yeah, his life gets much more interesting.
Jerome’s father was a second cousin of Winston Churchill. Yes, that Winston Churchill. He was a nationally-known attorney, serving as District Attorney in New York City for a time. (Insert Law & Order sound effect here.)
There’s also a likely link between Jerome’s mother, Hope Colgate Jerome, and the man for whom Colgate University and the toothpaste are named.
Don’t think I’ll be letting the research stop here.
Roll along, you BG warrior…
on 12 Mar 2008 at 10:12 am 1 Pulltown Falcon said …
Someone told me that the Administration Building will forever be known as “Jerome’s Last Erection”
on 09 May 2009 at 2:25 am 2 Martha Rix said …
Dear Pulltown,
Pretty funny remark - the boon of Presidents Emeritus all over the country, I suspect.
Bill Jerome was, until his divorce from my aunt Jean, my uncle. He was as smart and self-possessed as they came. He went to Colgate, as you know, but you may not know that he married his Philosophy professor’s daughter.
I visited BGSU on the weekend that JFK/Lee Oswald were assasinated. Pretty impressive place. He truly began to build the modern university.
On the occasion of his death, I am pleased and touched that you and your school colleagues have showed such interest. He earned it.
Martha Rix
on 02 Jan 2010 at 4:59 pm 3 Dr J R Ridgdill said …
So sorry to read about the death of Dr. Jerome. I knew him when he was at Syracuse University. I was one of the officers that attended the Army Comptrollership Course there. I was there in 1955-1956. Dr Jerome was the Director of the program and was assisted by Maj Gen Reeder (Ret).
Only those that attended the Army Comptrollership Course know how beneficial Dr. Jerome was to the success of that program. While the course was designed to be tough Dr. Jerome was always finding ways to make the course as pleasurable as possible. He insisted that we take Friday afternoons off for some sort of athletic activity.
Dr. Jerome was a “scratch” golfer and belonged to the Onondaga Golf and Country Club. Many times he invited the members of the class to join him at the Club for a round of golf - at his expense! And the round of golf was followed by a “picnic” at his home for all class members and their families.
The world will miss him. He was a great educator and a wonderful humanitarian.
on 17 Feb 2010 at 11:48 pm 4 Emily said …
I am Dr. Jerome’s granddaughter and current student at BGSU, the only one in my family to attend since his days of being president. I am doing research on a paper for one of my classes and stumbled across this article. He was such an amazing and intelligent man, and a lovable grandfather. I guess I didn’t understand the magnitude of what he and my grandmother did for Bowling Green until I became a student here, but he truly helped sculpt BG and I’m so happy to be a Jerome. I miss and love my grandpa!
on 20 Apr 2010 at 3:57 pm 5 Bill Barrow said …
I was a student at BGSU in the mid-late Sixties and remember Dr. Jerome well. I believe his inauguration happened about the time I started (fall of ‘64), as it was a big fancy affair. Despite my activities in the campus SDS chapter, we got along well. In the Eighties I discovered that his legendary grandfather, WTJ the First, was a major figure in New York circles and has a special room named for him at the former residence of the University of Arizona Presidents. I called him about it and he was quite gracious, telling me of a book titled Courtroom Warrior about his grandfather, which contains a photo of him, WTJ3, at the age of 5 or 6. I liked him. Emily, you can reach me at the Cleveland State library, if you need anything.