Charles Norman Millican was born October 9, 1916 in Wilson, Arkansas. While studying for a B.S. in Business and Religion from Union University, he worked part-time as a reporter for Dun and Bradstreet. After graduating in 1941, he became pastor of the Olive Branch Baptist Church (Mississippi), while also briefly teaching high school science. Continuing with his church duties, he entered the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky before returning to Jackson to serve as the college coordinator for the Forty-fourth College Training Detachment USAAF (Army Air Corps) from 1943-1945. He married Frances Hilliard of Jackson, Tennessee on May 15, 1945. The following year, he received his M.A. in Economics from George Peabody College and became Acting Head of the Commerce Department at Union University. The Millicans moved to Florida in 1948 where Millican studied for his Ph.D. in Business Finance and Economics. At the University of Florida, he worked as a teaching assistant, instructor and finally as Assistant Professor. Although he was appointed Assistant Dean of the College of Business Administration in 1956, he moved almost immediately to Texas where he became Dean and Professor of the School of Business Administration at Hardin-Simmons University. In 1959, he returned to Florida to become Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of South Florida.
When Dr. Millican was appointed President of the new university in 1965, the university had no name, no buildings, no faculty and no students; he had to create the university over which he would preside. After Millican's appointment, he hired staff, found premises, and began the slow process of creating his university. He recognized three basic principles which he firmly believed the new institution should adhere to: the value of each human being; the importance of the quality of one’s performance; and, the promotion of college spirit. In doing so, he established the twin tenets of "Accent on the Individual", "Accent on Excellence," which continue to guide the University, and the motto, "Reach for the Stars”. In addition, he co-designed the "Pegasus" official seal of the university. As early as 1969, Dr. Millican began working to establish a research park associated with the University. Although he retired as President in 1978, others continued his efforts resulting in the opening of the Central Florida Research Park in 1982. After retiring from the presidency, Millican returned to teaching finance as a professor in the College of Business at the University of Central Florida, as it was now known, and earned the title President Emeritus. After retiring from the University in 1981, Dr. Millican became the President of Lake Highland Preparatory School, serving from 1982-1985, and continued as President Emeritus-Consultant until 1993. Dr. Millican returned to serve the University in 1993 as President Emeritus and Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer of the UCF Foundation.
In addition to his career in higher education, Charles Millican has worked as a consultant to business firms and Florida Counties on economic growth and financial management and as a church pastor/pulpit supply minister. He chaired the Orange County Community Referendum Committee, which passed the resort tax that built the Orange County Convention Center. As chairman of the Orange County Association for Responsible Development, he created a plan to finance construction of a waste water treatment plant for the southeast quadrant of Orange County. His professional and civic affiliations have included, State Representative of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Board Member of the Orlando Area Chamber of Commerce, Heart of Florida United Way, First Federal Savings and Loan Association, Orlando, United Telecommunications Corporation, Florida and Shands Teaching Hospital, and membership in the Economic Development Commission of Mid-Florida and the Downtown Rotary Club, . He has received Distinguished Alumnus awards from both the University of Florida and Union University, and he received honorary LL.D. degrees from Rollins College and UCF.
From the guide to the Presidential Papers of, Charles Norman Millican, 1963-1978, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, )
