McLeod, Robert L., 1901-1998

Robert L. McLeod was born on January 28, 1901, in Cheraw, South Carolina. A graduate of Davidson College and the Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Louisville, McLeod served pastorates in Mississippi and Florida before moving to New York City in 1936 to become secretary to the Board of National Missions of the Presbyterian Church. McLeod accepted the presidency of Centre College in 1938. While president, McLeod initiated a $1.4 million campaign to improve and develop Centre's campus, and was the first president to occupy Craik House, purchased by the college in 1937. The outbreak of World War II brought significant changed to Centre. The exodus of young men from the college began not long after Pearl Harbor, and in 1942 McLeod himself applied for a leave of absence to become a chaplain in the U.S. Navy. While on leave of absence, McLeod offered his resignation to the Board of Trustees. They refused, asking him to find a temporary replacement. McLeod was able to convince Robert J. McMullen, a Centre alumni, to return to his alma mater. Thus, while McLeod was serving as chaplain aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Antietam, McMullen was in Danville, both men serving as co-presidents. Both McLeod and McMullen submitted their resignations in November 1945. McLeod returned to the ministry, serving as pastor to churches in Missouri, Florida, Tennessee, and Louisiana. McLeod died August 30, 1998.