He managed the state’s entire budget for 8 years. When the political winds changed in 1998 he was ready for a new challenge and accepted the offer to be President of Francis Marion University. It was a great day for the Pee Dee Region.
Since taking the helm of FMU 16 years ago, Fred has secured $82 million in private funding. Eleven new building projects have been brought to the Florence area and injected $102 million in new construction dollars into the local economy. 10,000 students have graduated. There are new programs in Engineering, Nursing, Music Industry and Health Care Administration. Fred says, with pride, that many of their graduates have jobs before they graduate.
Perhaps the most important thing Fred has done is to make FMU a part of the Pee Dee’s culture and people’s everyday lives. The University has even been a big part of Florence’s redevelopment.
