Considering the Past: Topics in M.C. History

On September 1, 1966, E. Bruce Heilman (1926-2019) became the fifth president of Meredith College. Previously an administrative vice-president at Peabody College (now part of Vanderbilt College), Dr. Heilman demonstrated a strong commitment to the liberal arts and to women’s colleges while at Meredith. In a 1967 interview that appeared in the Raleigh Times, Dr. Heilman described his first year at Meredith as “the most delightful experience I have ever had.”  

Under his leadership, Meredith completed a three-year fundraising campaign to raising funds to support the construction of six buildings - Carlyle Campbell Library, Cate Student Center, Weatherspoon Gymnasium, Heilman and Barefoot Residence Halls, and the Massey House – as well as overseeing the restructuring of Johnson Hall. He directed the strengthening of the College’s Board of Trustees, and the establishment of an annual giving fund. Popular with students, his time at Meredith College was commemorated by the naming of Heilman Residence Hall. (Considered modern and relatively luxurious, the new dorm was immediately nicknamed the “Heilman Hilton.”)

Dr. Heilman served at Meredith until 1971 when he accepted the presidency of the University of Richmond, where he became Chancellor in 1988. Into his 80s and 90s’, Dr. Heilman was an enthusiastic motorcyclist. He crossed the country on numerous expeditions, eventually visiting all 50 states and riding over 100,000 miles on his Harley-Davidson, trips punctuated in pursuit of furthering his interests in higher education and military veterans’ welfare. A veteran himself of World War II as a U.S. Marine, Heilman last visited the Meredith College campus as a speaker for the 2019 Veteran’s’ Day commemoration.

Dr. Heilman died on October 12, 2019 at the age of 93.