William A. Bloodworth was more than a president emeritus of Augusta University; he is remembered as someone who cared not only about the buildings and campus, but as someone who cared about those he led and served.
Bloodworth died Monday, Aug. 29 after a lengthy illness. He served as Augusta College/Augusta State University’s eighth president and held that office for 18 years, from 1993 to 2012. After retirement, he returned for a period of time as a professor.
Bloodworth was born in San Antonio, Texas. He majored in English and American civilization and earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree all in the state of Texas.
According to Augusta University’s website, Bloodworth is the author of books on Upton Sinclair, the American muckraker and novelist, and “Max Brand.”
Augusta University released statement after his death.
“The Augusta University community is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. William Bloodworth, who served 18 years as president of our legacy institution, Augusta State University,” said Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel, PhD. “Alongside a teaching career that spanned half a century, Dr. Bloodworth was instrumental in our institution’s growth, overseeing Augusta College’s transition to a state university, developing new programs, accreditations and online class offerings, as well as spearheading over $103 million in new construction and renovations during his tenure. We have him to thank for many of our Summerville Campus buildings, including Allgood and University Halls, the Jaguar Student Activities Center and student art facilities, as well as our athletics golf facilities. Dr. Bloodworth’s commitment to student success and accessible education sets an example for all of Jaguar Nation as we fulfill our mission to serve students not only in Augusta, but throughout the state of Georgia.”
In addition to the official statement, those who worked for him took their sentiments further.
Dr. Ruth McClelland-Nugent chair of the Department of History, Anthropology and Philosophy at Augusta University, says she watched him lived by a statement he said during his inaugural address in 1994.
“The accomplishments of a college lie in the lives of the students it has served,” Bloodworth said in his inaugural address.
“I wasn’t around to hear him deliver it, but I’ve watched him live out that belief ever since I got here in 2005,” McClelland-Nugent said. “Dr. Bloodworth’s love for the students we serve was clear from his work as president and later, from his work as a teaching professor in the introductory U.S. history classes he taught for our department.”
McClelland-Nugent said Bloodworth loved Augusta University and everyone loved him.
“Dr. Bloodworth was much beloved and respected by students, faculty, and staff alike. Coming from a working-class background himself, he had a strong belief in the transformative power of education, and in the unique role of higher education in creating opportunity,” she said. “He wanted Augusta College, and then Augusta State University, to be a place where diverse members of the community could come together in pursuit of learning. He always remembered people’s names and thanked all of us for playing our different roles in helping students succeed. When he retired as president of Augusta State University, he came back as a teaching professor. He found teaching invigorating, and he continued to teach even while undergoing chemotherapy for his cancer. In fact, he told me once that teaching was as good for him as the chemo — serving our students and guiding them towards a love of American history gave him purpose and passion.”
McClelland-Nugent also recalled an email Bloodworth sent to her about how Washington Hall was named. Washington Hall was the first building on campus named for any African American people in honor of Justine and Ike Washington, who were leaders in the Augusta African American community.
“My proudest accomplishment as president came in 1997 when I was able to convince the Board of Regents to allow us to rename the College Activities Center as Washington Hall,” Bloodworth said in the beginning of the email.
Kim Davies, dean of the Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, said if it wasn’t for Bloodworth, the university would not be what it is today.
“Look at the campus. I came in 1996, and it didn’t look like this,” she said. “This building, Allgood Hall, wasn’t here. The science building wasn’t here, the JSAC (Jaguar Student Activity Center) wasn’t here, Washington Hall was called something else; it was named after local African American people, which is so important here in Augusta.”
Davies, who began her academic career at AU in 1996, said Bloodworth made everyone feel important and loved them.
“There are just so many things he did, but also, he made us feel cared about and interacted with, and that had an effect where we cared for each other,” Davies said.
Davies also said Bloodworth had a big impact on her and her career, and he was very supportive.
“He is very kind; he knew who I was. He watched me and supported me and always knew what I studied,” she said. “Even up until I became dean, he came into my office and chatted with me about it. He was just very supportive, always very supportive.”
Davies says she recalls seeing Bloodworth at event when she began her career, and he knew exactly who she was.
“I ran in to him at Arts in the Hearts, and I didn’t think he’d know who I was because he was the president of the university, and I was a brand-new faculty member,” Davies said. “He knew my name, and he introduced me to people; he knew where I graduated from, he is just that kind of guy. He knew everybody like that. We’d give a custodial or an environmental service award because he funded it, because everybody matters at Augusta University.”
On Tuesday, the day after Bloodworth’s death, AU basketball Coach Dip Metress honored Bloodworth by wearing a blue shirt. Bloodworth and former Dean of Students Joyce Jones would wear their hair blue at Augusta State University homecoming basketball games.
“He was the president for me my first eight years of coaching here, and I am wearing a blue shirt in honor of Dr. Bloodworth when he painted his hair blue — I think at a homecoming game in 2010,” Metress said in a video on social media. “He will be surely missed by the Augusta community.”
A memorial service will be held for Bloodworth at 11 a.m. Monday at Augusta University’s Summerville Campus at the Maxwell Theatre.
