Fort Valley State University

On June 30, 1973, Cleveland W. Pettigrew, a graduate of Fort Valley State College who received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1943, became the third president of Fort Valley State College. He earned his master’s degree at Atlanta University, and his Doctor of Education degree at Cornell University in 1957. Pettigrew returned to Fort Valley State College in 1961 as a Professor of Education. In 1967, he was named Dean of the Graduate Division. Under his leadership, six new buildings were completed: the Florence Johnson Hunt Infirmary, 1975; the Henry Alexander Hunt Memorial Library, 1975; the Horace Mann Bond Academic Building, 1976; the Otis O’Neal Building and Houston Stallworth Research Building, 1982; and an annex to the A. T. Wilson-Timothy Roberts Physical Plant Building.

In June of 1982, Pettigrew died suddenly of a heart attack. His legacy included about a dozen new programs implemented to attract an able and racially mixed student body. The Pettigrew Center was one of those programs. Upon Pettigrew’s death, Walter W. Sullivan, Dean of Academic Affairs at the college from September 1978, was appointed acting president.

Dr. Pettigrew had a vision that a community center, made available to the area residents and the people of the State of Georgia, would bring the diversity of the people together. His vision was funded as part of the 1978 desegration plans of the University System of Georgia. The center opened in 1987 and has stood as Dr. Pettigrew’s legacy since. Although he did not live to see his vision become a reality, his forethought has worked to unite the people of the immediate area and of the state of Georgia.