Trustees to honor family of former President William Haggard Thursday on 50th anniversary of his retirement

The Western Washington University Board of Trustees will honor the family of former WWU President William Wade Haggard at its Thursday meeting in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Haggard’s retirement.

Board chairman Phil Sharpe will present a photo to the family in recognition for Haggard’s long service to the university. Haggard was the fifth president of then Western Washington College, serving for 20 years starting in 1939 to his retirement in 1959. Western’s longest-tenured president, he died in Seattle in April 1977 at the age of 85.

Haggard’s term as president was marked by a period of important growth, especially in the post-war years. By the time he retired, Western’s faculty had increased from 61 to 137, and enrollment grew from 974 to 2,184. Seven new buildings were erected during his tenure, including Campus School (Miller Hall), Edens North, the Arts building, the Steam Plant and Highland Hall.

At his retirement in 1959, Haggard was designated president emeritus of the university, and the newly constructed science building was named Haggard Hall in his honor.