Dr. Henry R. Ponder, former President of Benedict College and Fisk University, selected as one of the “One Hundred Most Effective College Presidents in the United States” has generously donated 5-1/2 acres of property in Wagener to be used in conjunction with 5 acres previously donated to the town anonymously for a 10-1/2 acre community park which will be developed behind the fire station on Highway 39. This park will house our new Community Center as well as a walking track, an athletic field, several picnic shelters and a playground.
Born in Wewoka, Oklahoma in 1928, Henry Ponder grew up the eleventh of fourteen children, and excelled in academics and the student council. He received his B.S. degree from Langston University in 1951 and then served two years with the Army during the Korean War. Following the war, Ponder earned his M.A. degree from Oklahoma State and his Ph.D. from Ohio State.
The generous land donation of Dr. Ponder is another example of his life-long commitment to social and humanitarian issues that, coupled with his effective leadership and his vision for the future, has left an impressive trail across the southeast. Many lives have been changed in a large part to his efforts and we are grateful for his donation to our town, a positive impact on our town and its residents for many, many years. The Town of Wagener would like to give a big “Thank You!!” to Dr. Ponder and his family.
The following is a list of some of Ponder's accomplishments:
- Chair and Assistant Professor for the Dept. of Agriculture and Business at Virginia State College.
- Chair of the Dept. of Business and Economics at Fort Valley State College.
- Vice President of Alabama A&M University.
- President of Benedict College, 11 year tenure.
- President of Fisk University, 12 year tenure.
- Named one of the “100 Most Effective College Presidents in the U.S.”
- CEO and President of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education.
- President of Talladega College.
- Served on the Board of several organizations including American Council on Education, Nashville Chapter of the United Nations Association, United Way of Middle Tennessee, Nashville Institute for the Arts, Tennessee Repertory Theatre, and the Bishop Desmond Tutu Southern African Refugee Scholarship Fund.
- Recipient of the OSU Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus Award.
- Recipient of the OSU Agricultural Economics Alumni Award.