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Bonnie Cone's grave in the Van Landingham Glen on the campus of UNC Charlotte, with Cato Hall and Fretwell Hall in the background.
Cone was born to a prominent family in Lodge, South Carolina where her father served as Mayor. She earned her B.A. from Coker College and an M.A. in mathematics from Duke University. Cone was one of many mathematicians and scientists chosen to assist with the Manhattan Project during WWII.
Cone was a teacher at Central High School in Charlotte (now Garinger High School), when the University of North Carolina system opened an extension center in 1946. At the urging of principal Elmer Garinger, Cone became the center's first director. When the state began closing the extension centers in 1949, Cone was instrumental in convincing the state to keep the Charlotte Center open, clearing the way for the Charlotte City Schools to take it over and rename it Charlotte College, a two-year junior college with Cone as president. In 1957, she chose the school's current site in northeastern Mecklenburg County and helped draw up the original campus master plan. She believed that Charlotte College would grow into a university within 10 years, and believed the site was best suited to serve Charlotte and the surrounding area. Under her watch, Charlotte College became a state-supported community college in 1958, and a four-year college in 1963. In 1965, four years after Charlotte College moved to its current location, it was upgraded to university status as part of the UNC system. Cone stated that March 2, 1965–the day that the North Carolina General Assembly voted to make Charlotte College the fourth member of the UNC system–was "the happiest day of my life."[1]
Charlotte College officially became part of the UNC system on July 1, 1965. Cone served as acting Chancellor of the newly minted university until 1966, when Dean Colvard arrived to take over as full-time chancellor. Even though she had led the college since 1946, university system officials wanted a leader with experience running a four-year, public university. Cone and the university were profiled in the July 16, 1965 issue of Time magazine. In the article, she stated, "we are not here to elevate ourselves but the institution," when asked about the chancellor position. She served in various official positions until her retirement in 1973, at which time the main campus's student union was renamed the Cone University Center. Post retirement, Cone served as vice-chancellor emeritus and dean of religious studies.
Cone continued to work on behalf of the school in unofficial capacities until her death in March 2003. She is interred in the Van Landingham Gardens on the east side of the main campus, and a non-denominational meditation center is planned near the site. She is posthumously known as the founder of the school, a title she rejected during her lifetime because she felt many people had a hand in creating and building the university. During her lifetime, she received 10 honorary degrees and was inducted posthumously into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in recognition to her contributions to North Carolina history. In 2004, the stretch of U.S. Highway 29 near the main campus was officially renamed the "Dr. Bonnie Cone Memorial Highway."
Oral History Interview with Bonnie E. Cone from Oral Histories of the American South
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January 01, 1970
bonnie, ethel, cone, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, citations, additional, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, j. This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Bonnie Ethel Cone news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2022 Bonnie Ethel Cone June 22 1907 March 8 2003 was an American educator best known as the founder of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Bonnie Cone s grave in the Van Landingham Glen on the campus of UNC Charlotte with Cato Hall and Fretwell Hall in the background Cone was born to a prominent family in Lodge South Carolina where her father served as Mayor She earned her B A from Coker College and an M A in mathematics from Duke University Cone was one of many mathematicians and scientists chosen to assist with the Manhattan Project during WWII Cone was a teacher at Central High School in Charlotte now Garinger High School when the University of North Carolina system opened an extension center in 1946 At the urging of principal Elmer Garinger Cone became the center s first director When the state began closing the extension centers in 1949 Cone was instrumental in convincing the state to keep the Charlotte Center open clearing the way for the Charlotte City Schools to take it over and rename it Charlotte College a two year junior college with Cone as president In 1957 she chose the school s current site in northeastern Mecklenburg County and helped draw up the original campus master plan She believed that Charlotte College would grow into a university within 10 years and believed the site was best suited to serve Charlotte and the surrounding area Under her watch Charlotte College became a state supported community college in 1958 and a four year college in 1963 In 1965 four years after Charlotte College moved to its current location it was upgraded to university status as part of the UNC system Cone stated that March 2 1965 the day that the North Carolina General Assembly voted to make Charlotte College the fourth member of the UNC system was the happiest day of my life 1 Charlotte College officially became part of the UNC system on July 1 1965 Cone served as acting Chancellor of the newly minted university until 1966 when Dean Colvard arrived to take over as full time chancellor Even though she had led the college since 1946 university system officials wanted a leader with experience running a four year public university Cone and the university were profiled in the July 16 1965 issue of Time magazine In the article she stated we are not here to elevate ourselves but the institution when asked about the chancellor position She served in various official positions until her retirement in 1973 at which time the main campus s student union was renamed the Cone University Center Post retirement Cone served as vice chancellor emeritus and dean of religious studies Cone continued to work on behalf of the school in unofficial capacities until her death in March 2003 She is interred in the Van Landingham Gardens on the east side of the main campus and a non denominational meditation center is planned near the site She is posthumously known as the founder of the school a title she rejected during her lifetime because she felt many people had a hand in creating and building the university During her lifetime she received 10 honorary degrees and was inducted posthumously into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in recognition to her contributions to North Carolina history In 2004 the stretch of U S Highway 29 near the main campus was officially renamed the Dr Bonnie Cone Memorial Highway References edit About Bonnie e Cone Cone University Center External links editBonnie Cone Papers J Murrey Atkins Library UNC Charlotte Oral History Interview with Bonnie E Cone from Oral Histories of the American South Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bonnie Ethel Cone amp oldid 1172520475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
