Lennon, Max

A native North Carolinian, Archibald Max Lennon was born in Columbus County on September 27, 1940. Lennon attended Mars Hill College graduating with an associate degree in agriculture in 1960. He received a bachelor of science degree from North Carolina State University in 1962. In 1966, he returned to North Carolina State and received his Ph. D. in 1970.

Lennon held academic appointments at Texas Tech 1970-1972, 1974-1980; the University of Missouri Columbia campus, 1980-1983; and Ohio State University 1883-1986. In early 1986 Lennon accepted the presidency of Clemson University and began work on March 1, 1986.

The years of the Lennon Presidency at Clemson were marked by successful efforts to increase private giving and funding for directed research. A number of research initiatives such as The Institute for Wildlife Ecology and Toxicology were established and a major building prgram for University facilities such as the Madren Conference and Continuing Education Center proceeded. University-wide long range planning was undertaken as well as the implementation of total quality management (TQM). The student body grew to over 16,000 by 1989 at a time when the University suffered a decline in state support as a percentage of its budget. The athletic program witnessed the resignation of two football coaches during Lennon's administrtion. As the state's formula funding for Clemson reached an all time low, programs throughout the University suffered serious cutbacks. Faced with a potential vote by all faculty regarding his leadership, Max Lennon resigned on February 26, 1994, and left Clemson during July of 1994.