Staley, W. W. (Wm. Wesley), 1849-1932

Born on February 24, 1849, Rev. W.W. Staley was a native of Alamance County, NC. Staley studied under former Elon College President W.S. Long at Graham High School before graduating from Trinity College (now Duke University) in 1874. Following graduation, he became a member of the Graham High School faculty and was ordained as a minister of the Christian Church before pursuing graduate studies at the University of Virginia from 1877 to 1878. He served as Superintendent of Public Instruction for Alamance County while living in Graham with his wife, Martha L. Pearce. They later moved to Suffolk, VA where Staley served as pastor of a Christian Church. Staley agreed to serve as a non-resident president of Elon College, without salary or expense account, and began making frequent trips between Elon and Suffolk. As second president of the new college, Staley oversaw plans that brought the college out of debt for the first time in its history and paved the way for much-needed improvements to the campus. W.W. Staley passed away October 9, 1932.