President's Office -- Suttles/Palms/Day, 1973-1993

William M. Suttles was born in Ben Hill, Georgia on July 25, 1920. He received his BA in commercial science from Georgia State College (later University) in 1942, Master's degrees in religious education and later thoelogy from Emory University, a Master's in Divinity from Yale University, a PhD. in education from Auburn University, and an honorary doctorate degrees from Mercer University and Tift College. Dr. Suttles served Georgia State Unviersity from 1942 to 1989, first as Assistant Registrar, and Instructor of English and Speech, and lastly as Acting President from 1988 to 1989. He also served as Dean of Students and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Executive Vice President and Provost. Dr. Suttles died March 31, 2003.

John M. Palms received his Bachelor of Science degree from the Citadel in 1958, his Master of Science degree from Emory University in 1959, and his PhD from the University of New Mexico in 1966. In 1966 Palms joined the physics faculty at Emory University, and became the department chairman 3 years later. In the early 1970s, Palms held dual faculty positions in Emory's physics department and the medical school's radiology department, and in 1975 was named Phi Beta Kappa while serving as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. In 1988 he was named Charles Howard Candler Professor of Nuclear, Radiation, and Environmental Physics. After serving as President of Georgia State University from 1989-1991, Palms took up the position of President at the University of South Carolina.

Sherman R. Day earned his PhD. in education from the University of Georgia in 1967. Dr. Day held a number of positions at Georgia State College and University, including Chairman and Professor of the Counceling and Psychological Services Department (1969-1972), Associate Dean of the College (1973-1974), Dean of the College of Education (1977-1983), Acting Dean of Admissions (1986-1987), Professor of Counceling and Psychological Services in the College of Edcation and Professor of Crimnal Justice in the College of Public and Urban Affairs (1977-1991). Dr Day served as Acting President from 1991-1992.

Aside from his work at GSU, Dr. Day was Director of the National Institutes of Correction and Assistant Director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons for the Department of Justice in Washington D.C. (1974-1977). He was also Managing Director of Legacy and Olympic Programs for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (1992-1996), President of North Georgia College and State University (1996-1999), and in 2001 Dr. Day became Interim President of Gordon College in Barnesville, Georgia.