William Dean Meredith, M.ED.

Appalachian State University

Universities and colleges--Faculty

Dr. Richard D. Howe

J. Beth Carlton

1987

Biographical sketches

Boone (N.C.)

https://www.geonames.org/4456703/boone.html

1980s

2000-2010

Professor Emeritus

Professor Emeritus of Elementary Education William Dean Meredith (July 18, 1916-), retired college professor and admin­istrator, was born in Buckner, Virginia the son of Chester B. and Mary M. Meredith. Meredith attended Apple Grove High School and graduated in 1932. He is married to Faye Hubbard Meredith, the daughter of John J. and Victoria Hubbard of Richmond, Vir­ginia. Meredith attended Lynchburg College in Virginia where he earned his B.A. degree in English in 1936. Meredith then took a position at Bells Cross Elementary School in Louisa, Virginia where he was a faculty member and served as principal from 1937-40. He then served in the same positions at Mineral Elementary School in Mineral, Vir­ginia from 1940-42. In 1943 Meredith joined the U.S. Army where he was assigned to the Adjutant General's Department as Technical Sergeant during World War II. He served in this capacity until 1946. In 1946 Meredith went to Richmond, Virginia where he spent the next four years in the hardware business. Meredith returned to his home county of Louisa in 1950 where he was a member of the faculty and principal at Buckner Elemen­tary School in Buckner, Virginia until 1951. From 1951-57 he taught at Green Springs Elementary School in Gordonsville, Vir­ginia. During this time Meredith attended the University of Virginia and received his M.Ed, degree in elementary administration in 1954. In 1957 Meredith accepted the posi­tion of principal at Louisa County High School where he also taught ninth grade mathematics until 1961 when he was appointed director of instruction for Louisa County. As director of instruction Meredith served as assistant to the superintendent and as general supervisor of instruction. After working for one year Meredith received an offer to serve as supervisor of student teachers at Appalachian Teachers College (now Appalachian State University), which he accepted. Meredith served as supervisor of student teachers for five years (1962-67) and during this time, he supervised student teachers in all secondary subject areas and students in all elementary levels. During Meredith's next five years (1967-72) at Appalachian State, he served as University Registrar and helped the University grow from four thousand to eight thousand students in enrollment. Meredith's leadership was instrumental in the development and implementation of the first computer registration in 1972. During much of his term as registrar, Meredith and his staff were re­sponsible for the major part of all academic advisement for the entire student body. Apart from his duties as supervisor of student teachers and as registrar, Meredith also served as an assistant professor in the Department of Education for nineteen years (1962-81). Meredith was promoted to associ­ate professor in 1976 and he gained the rank of professor in 1979. During his tenure at Appalachian State University, Meredith served on the Tuition Committee of the State Board of Higher Education. At the university level he served on the following committees: Registration and Calendar Committee, Academic Policies and Procedures Committee, Admissions and Re-admissions Committee, General College Re-admissions Committee, Council of Com­puter Usage, Council on Teacher Education and Graduate Council. Professionally, Meredith has served as president for his local chapter of the Virginia Education Association as well as a member of several state committees of the Virginia Education Association. Meredith also has held membership in the North Carolina As­sociation of Educators where he served as secretary-treasurer of the Appalachian State University unit, as well as the National Edu­cation Association and the Association of Teacher Education. Meredith has been active in both his hometown and Boone communities. While in Virginia he served as president of both the Ruritan Club and Rotary Club, and acted as county chairman for the American Cancer Society. In his hometown church he served as an adult Sunday school teacher. Sunday school superintendent, deacon and elder. In the Boone community Meredith has been active in the Lions Club and has served as club president for one year. Meredith is a member of the First Baptist Church of Boone where he has served as chairman of the Centennial Committee for the church's one hundredth birthday; co-director of the train­ing union; chairman of the Board of Deacons; and chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of Snow Lodge of Boone, and member of Scot­tish Rite Bodies of Winston-Salem. North Carolina. Meredith is a member of the following organizations: American Association of Retired Persons, the Watauga chapter. North Carolina Retired Governmental Employees Association; and North Carolina Association of Retired School Personnel. Meredith retired from his position at Appalachian State University in 1981 and was granted emeritus status by the Board of Trustees the same year. He served as faculty marshal for both the 1979 and 1981 gradu­ation exercises to honor his contributions to the University. In his retirement Meredith enjoys his hobbies of gardening, reading, photography, traveling, and volunteer work with the Re­tired Senior Volunteer Program. Sources: Appalachian State University files and personal correspondence. - Dr. Richard D. Howe and Miss J. Beth Carlton